Brother Magh - Stardust and Soul Retrieval

​Brother Magh

Stardust and Soul Retrieval
​self-released; 2024

​3.9 out of 5

​​By ​Dino DiMuro

Brother Magh is both the project name and artist name for a one-man studio musician from Missouri who’s just released a concept EP titled Stardust and Soul Retrieval (Remixed and Remastered). Apparently this album is one of a continuing series following the “journey of a person traveling through another reality called The Dreamtime.” Running just over 16 minutes, the work encompasses four tracks that segue directly into each other, so it’s important to download or play this album on a streamer that has gapless playback.

Conceptually, the character of Brother Magh is given a chance to affect his world by “observing it from a backstage point of view.” He’s constantly jumping timelines, sometimes as an observer but at other times helping to change the outcome. He then imparts on “a forever quest for kindred souls” searching the vast Dreamtime for the truest of treasure. Sonically, the sounds that link the four tracks represent the ethereal planes of existence. Every new album release is a part of the overall journey, and the music itself is “laced with healing spells and positive magic, designed to break brain-washing exchanges from (popular) music and visual arts.”

Musically, Magh identifies with progressive metal. Similar artists and influences include Tool, Nine Inch Nails, Rob Zombie, Drowning Pool, Ministry, Porcupine Tree, Soulfly, Soilwork, Sleep Token, Katatonia, Paradise Lost and A Perfect Circle. Recording took place at AYMN Studios in St. Louis.

“Soul Retrieval” begins the album with a miasma of noise, feedback, discorporated voices and backward sounds. In the psychedelic era this was quite common (check out “Axis: Bold As Love” by Jimi Hendrix) but not so much today. Only a minute long, but it’s a cool-sounding introduction. “Stardust” is the first song proper, and is built on a heavy rock riff with highly processed vocals in the style of NIN and some of the other bands Magh mentioned, along with the James Hetfield “cookie monster” voice. The main lyric and thrust of the song is “we are made of stardust.” The rock band sound Magh creates is tight but with a ragged undertone, and is bathed in atmospherics that approximate a phasing, uncertain reality. At two minutes Magh takes an understated but cool-sounding guitar solo. Watch out for the occasional low-frequency booms!

“Phenomenal Anomaly” is lyrically a bit more like a traditional rock track, though the vocals are low, processed and somewhat insinuating, like a scary old wizard started whispering frantically into your ear. Musically it’s a tumbling stew of toms and wailing guitars in a minor key, with more of those painful croaking vocals where the chorus would be. The riffs remind this old metal fan of classic Black Sabbath. 

“Sic Vita Est” is Latin for “Thus Is Life” (you’re welcome) and feels a bit like a slower version of the previous song, though the guitars are dialed down a bit and actually weave a lovely picked pattern. Given the quieter backing, the vocals are a bit easier to hear but still hard to decipher. Like the guitars, they are multilayered and create a powerful effect with all the different vocal styles immeshed. Again, make sure your stereo system can handle the sudden subsonic booms! For me this song is the best combination of shredded vocal chords and metal guitars. 

As mentioned, this is a short album but just one part of a continuing series. Check it out and see if you want to follow Magh’s journey!

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