Moja – I’m Hungry
Moja – I’m Hungry
Overdrive Records
26/09/2025
Review by Beth Morait
8/10
Focus Wales has become a mainstay multi-genre festival in my hometown of Wrexham, driven by providing a platform to showcase Welsh bands, as well as some of the more obscure and niche bands from around the world. And it was during Focus 2015 that I discovered Japanese Noise Rock duo, Moja. It was one of those moments that I’ll always remember, because it was one of many epiphany moments I’ve experienced in my pursuit of music. It’s also potentially where my hearing loss first started, but we won’t go into that!!
They played in a tiny venue, South Central, which has long-since defunct, and the space was absolutely packed to the rafters, such was the draw of the Moja sound, which could be heard clear as day from outside the venue, because they’re just that frikkin loud! But the most impressive thing about them was the huge sound created by just two people, the immense technical wizardry they employed to make that happen, and the sheer energy they put into everything they do.
They returned to Focus Wales a few years later, around the time Ever Metal was born, and I spoke to them after the gig to let them know we existed, and they could send us music to review. But life gets in the way, and I didn’t manage to keep contact or hear their music again… UNTIL NOW! Last weekend to be precise! When their new album, “I’m Hungry” dropped into our inbox. And it is classic Moja through and through. So what does that sound like?
Opening with ‘Excuse Me’, we’re instantly greeted by the fuzzed out, heavily effect-laden bass of music man and vocalist Haru, and then we get punched in the face by percussionist extraordinaire Masumi (honestly, the power this woman has on the drums would strike the fear of God into anyone). It’s a raucous, loud, Post-Punk-esque opening, full of tech to create a guitar line that mirrors the bass, and calamitous cymbal hits that make it sound like the band fell down a large flight of stairs whilst recording it.
‘Food’ is slightly more ‘normal’, with a steady rhythm, solitary bass, and vocals to start, before launching again into out and out Noise for the chorus. But it all comes back down very neatly to go into the verse. Their attention to dynamic detail is really on point, considering how wildly insane and out of control their songs could end up. I think this song is probably my favourite on the album, because it feels more controlled and ordered, and my probably spicy brain likes that.
The first two tracks on this album are long, and that really expresses who Moja are, because what they produce isn’t just music in a neat genre. It’s art, and expressiveness, driven by their passion, and their intense technical abilities. Although, ‘No Thank You’ begins a buck in this trend, coming in just under 3 minutes. It’s the most Punk track here, but again it’s cleverly handled, using moments of silence, and delivering a bass drum line that feels like getting repeatedly punched in the mouth. The lyrics are easy to remember too!
This is definitely not an album that you’d choose to have a nice relaxing bath to. It’s a schizophrenic, spikey, and intense audio assault. But it’s magical, and definitely one for fans of the endearingly insane! A must listen for all you Drum and Bass loving Noise Rockers if you want to get yourself in the mood to punch inanimate objects! The musician in me gets a bit irritated at the fact that they don’t vary the key signature that they write in. But, again, this is part of their sound, almost creating a monotonous hum like the electrical hum around a power station. Mental, loud, calamitous, always feeling on the verge of complete breakdown, yet somehow controlled. That’s what Moja sound like.
TRACKLISTING:
01. Excuse Me
02. Food
03. No Thank You
04. Oh My God!
05. Alien
06. Making Noise
07. ZERO
LINKS:
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