In 2021, New Zealand's global metal frontrunners ALIEN WEAPONRY released their sophomore full-length album, Tangaroa - a record immersed in important historical accounts and cultural heritage of the Māori people. Their role in uniquely spreading vital tales of their culture to an international audience even resulted in recent accolades - last year and for the second time, the band was awarded one of the most significant and prestigious awards in New Zealand’s music industry, the Aotearoa Music Award for Te Kaipuoro Rakapioi Toa (Best Rock Artist).
The band continues to share their history with the release of an artistic new music video for Tangaroa album track "Īhenga". The video tells the story of Īhenga - perhaps the greatest explorer of the Te Arawa people - and the nephew of one of the de Jong brothers’ ancestors, Kahumatamomoe.
The singing style on the track is known as mōteatea - an ancient form of poetry or chant sometimes used to convey who you are and where you come from by reciting your landmarks.
ALIEN WEAPONRY on the track:
"When the Te Arawa people first came to Aotearoa (New Zealand) from Hawaiki (greater Tahitian Island group), they set about exploring the new land. Īhenga traveled throughout the North Island of Aotearoa and named many places that still have these names today."
Just announced - New Zealand based fans will have a chance to catch ALIEN WEAPONRY live in 2024! The band will perform at the Homegrown Festival, taking place in Wellington, NZ on March 16. This festival performance follows their upcoming set at Froth & Fury 2023, taking place in Port Adelaide, AUS on November 18.
Visit www.alienweaponry.com for tickets and more information.
ALIEN WEAPONRY won over fans and critics alike with their latest album, Tangaroa. The album coalesces the band’s growing maturation with an undisturbed songwriting process, resulting in their most inspired, honest and informed material yet. In addition to lyrics written in te reo Māori, many Tangaroa tracks feature traditional instruments, called taonga puoro, providing the tracks their own warrior-like attitude. While ALIEN WEAPONRY sourced inspiration from their culture and environmental surroundings while writing most of Tangaroa, the band also looked inward - drawing vision for other portions of the album from within.
Since releasing their acclaimed debut Tū (2018), ALIEN WEAPONRY's kinetic presence and sound - combining elements of thrash and groove metal with lyrics in the native indigenous language, te reo Māori - has attracted throngs of fans and media supporters across the globe. In addition to amassing millions of cross-platform streams and YouTube views, the band has seen bounds of success at SiriusXM Liquid Metal, was recently hailed the “future of metal” by Metal Hammer and was voted by Revolver Magazine fans as “one of the bands most likely to break out in 2021”.
Furthermore, in the last few years alone, ALIEN WEAPONRY has had the privilege of performing with the likes of Guns N' Roses, Gojira, Slayer, Black Label Society and more.
ALIEN WEAPONRY are:
Henry Te Reiwhati de Jong - Drums, Backing vocals
Lewis Raharuhi de Jong - Guitars, Lead vocals
Tūranga Porowini Morgan-Edmonds - Backing vocals & guitar
ALIEN WEAPONRY online:
