M.A.G.S. releases expansive new album ‘Destroyer’ via Smartpunk Records
Elliott Douglas, aka M.A.G.S., has released his cerebral journey of an album ‘Destroyer’ today via Smartpunk Records. M.A.G.S. is making a mess of things, but it's for the better. ‘Destroyer’ centres around the idea that in order for true growth to really happen, we have to go through some sh*t first. Sounding like a hybrid of Motown and Fueled By Ramen, ‘Destroyer’ throws you head-first into a realm of sonic and emotional turmoil, opening a proverbial Pandora's box of self-realisation. Old school emo inspirations live alongside melodies driven by a love of Motown and mind-boggling math rock calculations give way to pure indie pop vibrations.
M.A.G.S. ruminated on the motivations behind the record: "I started therapy last year, and while it was helpful for me, what I really took away from it was that I've known the answers to all my problems the whole time. Healing has to be a choice. You can know what's right and STILL do the wrong thing because accepting the truth requires real sacrifice. There has to be a level of ‘fuck it’ to everything in life, otherwise things can get really overwhelming and the darkness will swallow you."
"I’ve made the same mistakes over and over without ever realizing I was going in circles. I’ve burned bridges, I’ve hurt people and ran away from fires that I started…. The biggest theme of ‘Destroyer’ is destroying yourself for the purpose of growth. A tree can’t grow until you prune the dead limbs, we’re the same way as humans. There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel, there’s always a way through the pain and desolation.”
There's dark surrealism embedded between all the fuzz and chaos that defines the record as a whole, as embodied in the track 'Swimming'. This odd-metered composition pulls you deep into unknown territory, a world shrouded in mystery and shadows. It requires you to surrender your expectations and plunge headfirst into darkness, hold your breath until you find the light again. “In our modern world it’s become increasingly obvious that most of what we think we know is a facade; a veil pulled over our heads to keep us in line," comments M.A.G.S. "Have you ever tried to think for yourself without the influence of the social media or your friends? Do you really like that shit you think you like? When you look past the surface you’ll see how deep the iceberg really goes, but it's still your choice to search for the real truth or to accept the reality that's being spoon-fed to all of us.”
After navigating a plethora of emotions and genre influences in the most creative of ways throughout ‘Destroyer’, M.A.G.S. closes out the album with a final message of hope. 'Supermoon' takes everything from the songs prior and zooms all the way out, viewing the collection as a whole from an elevated place. M.A.G.S. says of this particular outlook, “Your home, your friends and family, all the things that have ever happened in history…. all from the viewpoint of the moon. It all seems so insignificant from up here, like you could just reach out and hold it all in your hands. The destruction seems so massive when you’re walking through the aftermath if you don’t have an elevated perspective. I started therapy last year and while it was helpful for me what I really took away from it was that I’ve known the answers to all my problems the whole time. Healing has to be a choice. You can know what's right and STILL do the wrong thing because accepting the truth requires real sacrifice. There has to be a level of ‘fuck it’ to everything in life, otherwise things can get really overwhelming and the darkness will swallow you. I’ve made the same mistakes over and over without ever realizing I was going in circles. I’ve burned bridges, I’ve hurt people and ran away from fires that I started…. The biggest theme of this album is destroying yourself for the purpose of growth. A tree can’t grow until you prune the dead limbs, we’re the same way as humans. There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel, there’s always a way through the pain and desolation.”
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