Bestial Burden

Noise artist Margaret Chardiet, aka Pharmakon, was preparing to go on tour when she was struck with a medical emergency that required surgery (including the removal of an organ) and three weeks of recovery. That sudden ordeal inspired much of this album, which bears track titles like “Body Betrays Itself,” “Autoimmune,” and “Primitive Struggle.” When our bodies fail, we are reduced to our animal selves, and that sensation of fear and helplessness comes through the layers of hiss, crackle and hum and the anguished, distorted screams that make up this short (less than 33 minutes) but purgative album.