Magda Novels’ Debut Shadow Work Earns 4-Star Rolling Stone Review

Magda Novels receives ★★★★☆ review in Rolling Stone for debut album Shadow Work

Great news from Rolling Stone: Magda Novels’ debut album Vol. 1: Shadow Work has been awarded ★★★★☆, marking a high-credibility endorsement from one of the world’s most respected music magazines.

In the review, Rolling Stone positions Magda Novels as a serious, artistically mature voice within Scandinavian Americana and folk noir. Rather than framing her as a newcomer, the album is presented as the work of an artist with a clear vision and emotional authority.

Reviewer Jörn Schlüter describes Shadow Work as a sparsely lit, austere folk noir record that explores the unconscious and repressed sides of the self. Opening track “Over The Moon” sets a dreamlike tone, after which the album descends into darker territory before rising again with renewed strength. Highlights include the banjo-driven “Driftwood,” the Scandinavian Americana feel of “Leaves,” and “Circles,” whose solemn folk-rock gravitas recalls The Walkabouts.

With this ★★★★☆ review, Shadow Work confirms Magda Novels as an artist who has clearly arrived: combining depth, atmosphere and a strong artistic compass.

— Rolling Stone, Jörn Schlüter