Magus Release Debut Album Music for Mandrax, A 70s-Inspired Exploration of Psychedelic Rock
- The Night Temple
- Apr 20
- 2 min read
Magus returns with their debut album, Music for Mandrax, now available via Language of Stone.
Formed by Greg and Jessica Weeks, the project introduces a dark, atmospheric take on psychedelic and progressive rock, drawing from classic influences while expanding into a more contemporary sound.
Across its eight tracks, Music for Mandrax blends ominous synth textures with heavy guitar work and layered vocal performances.
The album channels the spirit of bands like Black Sabbath and Deep Purple while incorporating a more immersive, meditative structure, allowing compositions to unfold gradually through extended instrumental passages.
Named after the barbiturate associated with 1970s musicians (including Leonard Cohen), the record evokes a dreamlike, hypnotic atmosphere, balancing weight and fluidity throughout.
Before the album’s release, Magus released two singles that defined its theme and sound.
Lyrically fueled by modern-day politics on the brink of a societal collapse, the pace of "Exodus" is turgid and aggressive, an intentional choice made to remind those listening of what is at stake. Conceptually, "Exodus" was inspired by folk horror, drawing influences from the poems "The Second Coming" and "Ozymandias". The former is an apocalyptic vision of society in collapse, while the latter is an investigation into the downfall of a despot.
Conceptually, “Through Darkened Glass” owes its existence to the phantasmagorical. Sonically, the song juxtaposes sludgy riffs with shimmering synth and Rhodes lines. Both reflect the song's thematic origins in folk culture and lineage in psychedelic rock. Shrouded in mystery, the new track by Magus is a perfect fit for fans who like their psychedelic rock of the 70s variety and their messaging oblique.
Recorded at Hexham Head in 2025, Music for Mandrax was mixed and mastered by Brian McTear and Amy Morrissey at Miner Street Recordings, with vinyl mastering by Alex Abrash.
The album’s visual component is created by designer Hogan McLaughlin, whose artwork reflects the project’s balance between precision and surrealism.
Based in rural Pennsylvania, Magus is led by Greg Weeks and Jessica Weeks, whose previous projects include Espers, Grass, Woodwose, and The Valerie Project. Joined by Jesse Sparhawk and Ben McConnell, the band expands into a full-band format, exploring a heavier, more experimental sound.
Their music draws from a lineage that includes Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Flower Traveling Band, while also incorporating elements of gothic rock, proto-metal, and psychedelia.
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