ALBUM REVIEW: Destroyer – M.A.G.S.
Elliott Douglas is the man behind M.A.G.S., a punk act that was inevitable. Douglas was immersed in music at an early age as his parents are musicians. After teaching himself to play various instruments and getting a demo version of Adobe Audition during his formative years, his musical pathway was set. He started M.A.G.S. in 2015 with the release of an EP called Cellphone, following this with a self-titled debut album two years later, and another EP shortly after that. Now he returns with Destroyer, a nine-song album that marks the beginning of a new chapter for M.A.G.S..
The title track kicks off the album and takes the form of a rock-infused song whose minimalistic drums, guitar and bass allow Douglas‘ voice to be centre stage. This is apart from the last third, where all hell breaks loose. The screamed vocals hint at what is to come, and all told it is a riotous start to the album.
Sins ramps the energy up and then allows it to fade out. However, the chorus brings it back up to speed as it shocks you awake. It is a perfect juxtaposition between the heaviness and gentleness of M.A.G.S.‘s music, but Swimming breaks this up. It is a slower song, with hints of synths during the last half of it. It is obvious that this album shows that M.A.G.S. is not just a one-trick pony; there are layers to the music.
The change in sound also helps bridge the first half of the album to the second. This is generally a more mellow and relaxed side, but it still has loads of energy scattered throughout. Not only does this make the album consistent, but also shows several different sides of M.A.G.S.. Wednesday has a bass-heavy groove whereas Her is more indie-rock influenced. In less capable hands, this change in sound might have caused the album to fall to pieces, but this doesn’t happen here; each song stands on its own but they also all work together as a group.
Destroyer shows the growth that M.A.G.S. has been through musically over the past eight years, but it is also accessible for new listeners who haven’t heard any of their music before. Closing song Supermoon is a quiet one; it’s a stark contrast to the opening song, but in another way it just signifies the journey that has gone on throughout the album.
Overall, despite the pessimistic title, Destroyer is a fun, consistent and entertaining album. Covering everything from fast-paced punk to mellow indie rock, the album never loses its core sound, in large part thanks to the production. All the songs fit neatly together, and they all stand out on their own even whilst working as a collective. The transition from fast to slower songs sounds natural, and even during the second half of the album there are still some fast-paced songs. Overall, it shows how far M.A.G.S. has come in his career and marks the start of an exciting new chapter for Douglas.
Rating: 8/10
Destroyer is out now via Smartpunk Records.
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