We were introduced to Margaret Chardiet via the most bloodcurdling scream on a record this year. It’s not theatrical, it’s not noticeably manipulated, it’s not done with the skill you get from metal singers — it’s simply recorded and uncomfortably raw. It sounds like something that was genuinely painful to make. It doesn’t go away either, the tail end of it hanging in the air, stretching into what becomes the opening drones of Abandon. Those five seconds are in miniature what you’ll find on Pharmakon’s volcanic debut. Composed with a surgical precision, but delivered with the heavy force of an abattoir knocker, Abandon is more than just one of the best albums of the year, it is a great service to noise music specifically. The entire album, and most notably the throbbing war march of “Crawling On Bruised Knees,” has the power to introduce newcomers to this world and remind old fans why they fell in love with the genre to begin with. Abandon will be remembered as a landmark in noise music, and we’re looking forward to to Chardiet’s next move. –Miles [LISTEN]