Farmakon

Farmakon formed in Seattle around 2010, started by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Marissa Nadler with guitarist and bassist Kurt Ballou. Their early material drew some criticism for being too bleak, but they kept working on it. The duo eventually expanded to include drummer Jeremy Barnes and keyboardist and vocalist Tara Jane O'Neil.

They put out albums like 'Total Abuse' in 2012 and 'Bestial Burden' in 2018, but the 2013 record 'A Temporary Death' gave them one of their most recognized tracks. That song, along with others like 'Coma September' and 'Faint Light,' builds on layers of dark ambient textures and industrial noise. The sound isn't easy to pin down, sitting somewhere between atmospheric drift and structured unease.

Nadler and Ballou have described the work as an exploration of darker themes, which has led to occasional debates about its tone. They've worked with other artists in that sphere, including Chelsea Wolfe and King Dude. The music tends to avoid conventional hooks, favoring mood and slow-building tension instead.