Memoirs of a Secret Empire, (otherwise known as MOASE), are a post-metal band from Portugal, and this is their debut album.
This is expansive and progressive post-metal that creates mood and feeling through instrumental songs that belie the fact that there’s only three members of the band.
Well, I say instrumental – there are some ethereal backing vocal noises here and there, but these are more of an added instrument to the band’s toolkit than vocals in the traditional sense. These are used in the same way as the additional keyboards/effects – sparingly, enhancing the tracks when they appear. I like the moods that the band create with these songs, and they easily engage the listener in what they’re doing.
This reminds me of bands like Cult of Luna, Isis and Russian Circles; like these bands, Memoirs of a Secret Empire easily take the listener on a journey through textured soundscapes and engaging compositions.
These tracks are well-written and feature the usual post-metal build/release mechanics and resplendent melodies that we’ve come to expect from this kind of thing. Don’t let that description lull you into a jaded sense of seen-it, heard-it before mindset though, as Memoirs of a Secret Empire are very effective at what they do.
A recommended listen.