{"product_id":"magus-music-for-mandrax","title":"Magus - Music For Mandrax","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMagus\u003cbr\u003eMusic For Mandrax\u003cbr\u003e2026 Language Of Stone\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA magus is a wizard -- a sorcerer. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eMagus\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the band, is certainly interested in such things (who isn't), but the name is especially apt due to the band's approach to alchemy, the blending of rock, gothic, proto metal, and psychedelic styles to create a sound that is, ultimately, unique. Part of that uniqueness comes from the instrumentation. While guitar is often a dominant instrument of the rock oeuvre, the Fender Rhodes generally plays a supportive role. Not so here, where \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eJessica Weeks\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e' deft use of the keyboard dovetails with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eGreg Weeks\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e' more standard six-string approach. Not standard is the band's sound. Doomy yet inspirational, dour yet vibrant, the duo's tunes map sinister realms whose subjects span metaphysical creatures to enigmatic portals. You know, the typical stuff that rubs elbows with a magus. Formed in late 2024, Magus sprung from a desire by both artists to experiment with darker, heavier sounds. Long enamored of artists like \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eFlower Travelling Band\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eBlack Sabbath\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eDeep Purple\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the duo delved deeply into trance like riffs and euphoric solos to create the backbone of what has become their debut album, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eMusic for Mandrax\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. This thirteenth Language of Stone offering features grounded, metronomic grooves, organic, lugubrious synth lines, and tandem vocals (supplied by both Weekses) that, in total, weave a heavy, trance-like spell sure to entice fans of bands as disparate as Sabbath is to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ePink Floyd\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Recorded at Weeks' Hexham Head studio (to analog tape, of course), the band enlisted long-time counterparts \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eJesse Sparhawk\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (bass) and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eBen McConnell\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (drums) to round out their sound and lock down the grooves that propel the album. Mixed by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eBrian McTear\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eAmy Morrisey\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e at Miner Street in Philadelphia, the band's fully realized vision came to fruition, which left only the album art to contemplate. The band, wishing to further the gothic aesthetic of their sound, enlisted fashion designer and artist extraordinaire \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eHogan McLaughlin\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eGame of Thrones\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e) to create the starkly beautiful line drawings of the front and back covers. The duo travelled to Salem, MA to complete the package with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eCourtney Brooke Hall\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, who shot the moody and evocative photographs that grace the gatefold release's inner panels.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wyrd Byrd","offers":[{"title":"Vinyl LP","offer_id":48309019607262,"sku":null,"price":24.53,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0659\/4930\/3006\/files\/LOS013LP_CU.jpg?v=1780676413","url":"https:\/\/wyrdbyrdypsi.com\/products\/magus-music-for-mandrax","provider":"Wyrd Byrd","version":"1.0","type":"link"}