What makes Magus by Thou notable?

The album received widespread critical acclaim, noted for its ambitious length and intricate compositions. It debuted at number 2 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, demonstrating its significant impact within the heavy music community and solidifying Thou's status as influential artists in the modern doom metal landscape. Released on August 31, 2018, 'Magus' is Thou's fifth studio album, arriving after their critically acclaimed release 'Clearing the Path to Ascend' in 2014. At this stage, Thou was solidifying their reputation within the underground metal scene, showcasing their evolution as they experimented with more complex song structures and themes.

Magus works well if you're into prolonged meditative listening experience, intense emotional catharsis throughout and exploratory themes of identity.

How many songs are on Magus?

Magus has 11 tracks, running approximately 75 minutes.

Magus

Thou · 2018

75 min · 11 tracks · doom metal

A dense tapestry of crushing riffs and haunting melodies that challenge the boundaries of doom and sludge metal.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Inward — This expansive opening track sets the tone for the album with its gradual build-up of intensity, juxtaposing serene sections with explosive crescendos that encapsulate the band's sonic breadth.
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Sovereign Self — At over ten minutes long, this track delves into themes of autonomy and identity, characterized by a relentless drive that mirrors its lyrical exploration of self-assertion amid chaos.
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Greater Invocation of Disgust — This track exemplifies Thou's ability to blend heaviness with poignant lyrical content, addressing societal issues through a lens of raw emotion and powerful instrumentation.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

68 /100

Alpine

Higher than 93% of albums we've rated

The album's intricate compositions and dynamic contrasts contribute to its strong appeal within the genre.

What we noticed

The album features lengthy tracks, with several exceeding eight minutes, allowing for extended development of musical themes.
Riffs are layered with both clean and harsh vocals, creating a dynamic contrast that shifts throughout the record.
The pacing varies significantly, with some tracks building tension slowly before erupting into heavier sections, while others maintain a relentless intensity.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 8/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

prolonged meditative listening experience
intense emotional catharsis throughout
exploratory themes of identity
heavy riffs for deep immersion
thought-provoking existential reflections

Maybe skip if you

seekers of quick gratification
prefer standalone short tracks

Where this album fits

Career context: Released on August 31, 2018, 'Magus' is Thou's fifth studio album, arriving after their critically acclaimed release 'Clearing the Path to Ascend' in 2014. At this stage, Thou was solidifying their reputation within the underground metal scene, showcasing their evolution as they experimented with more complex song structures and themes.
Stylistic neighbors: Bongripper· Mizmor· Eyehategod