New Zealand fashionable groove steel trio ALIEN WEAPONRY lately introduced its heaviest, strongest and mature providing up to now, “Te Rā”, due out March 28, 2025 through Napalm Information. Within the palms of veteran producer/mixer Josh Wilbur (LAMB OF GOD, GOJIRA, MEGADETH) and that includes a visitor vocal look from longtime ALIEN WEAPONRY champion Randy Blythe of LAMB OF GOD, “Te Rā”‘s gnashing mix of groove, nu, math and thrash steel shines with anthemic choruses and refreshed technical talent.
At this time, following the discharge of the album’s acclaimed first single, “Mau Moko” — a monitor Revolver, Steel Hammer, Heavy Consequence and others dubbed as among the finest new steel tracks upon launch — the band returns once more with second single, “1000 Pals”. Warning of the looming societal division and hidden risks created by social media dependency, the monitor premieres alongside a model new music video.
ALIEN WEAPONRY frontman Lewis Raharuhi de Jong says about “1000 Pals”: “‘1000 Pals’ encapsulates the shifting approach we socialize immediately, and the impression it has on the human psyche. We will usually really feel disconnected from the skin world. The human thoughts wasn’t constructed to understand the world we’re at present residing in.”
Since releasing its acclaimed debut “Tū” (2018),ALIEN WEAPONRY has been lauded for its kinetic presence and sound, in addition to its very important mix of culturally profound lyricism in each English and te reo Māori, the indigenous language of New Zealand. With their third full-length album, ALIEN WEAPONRY expands on its hallmark messages of cultural, societal and environmental resilience whereas delivering their most massive-sounding, centered musical output ever.
On “Te Rā”, listeners can hear ALIEN WEAPONRY doubling down on the aggression within the verses earlier than making use of temperance, particularly within the case of “Taniwha”, a dying metal-leaning banger that includes the significantly uncooked aforementioned visitor vocal from Blythe. Lyrically, there is a noticeable tilt in the direction of despondency, hopelessness, and frustration on “Te Rā”. Whereas bassist Tūranga Porowini Morgan-Edmonds‘s lyrics in Māori on songs like “Tama-nui-te-rā” and “Ponaturi” draw from the themes of historical past, battle lore and mysticism that made the primary two albums so wealthy, frontman/guitarist Lewis Raharuhi de Jong‘s English-language lyrics illustrate the impression when tradition collides with disenfranchisement daily. “Crown” and “Hanging By A Thread” take us into the headspace the place wrestle pushes folks to the brink of desperation, whereas on “Blackened Sky”, Lewis addresses common woes just like the looming menace of World Warfare III. On album nearer “Te Kore”, Tūranga dives into primordial nothingness on the root of the Māori origin story, whereas on “Mau Moko”, he finds the center floor between these views. Taken as a complete, “Te Rā” grapples with what it is prefer to be caught within the pull of divergent cultures — not only for the descendants of colonized folks, however for all of us.
ALIEN WEAPONRY have solidified themselves as one of many best younger steel bands of their technology with renewed musical tenacity and essential messaging. “Te Rā” is a daring, unwavering cry for a future by which we are able to all participate within the legacy of peoples just like the Māori and others throughout us – individuals who, if they are not seen, most definitely must be heard.
ALIEN WEAPONRY frontman/guitarist Lewis Raharuhi de Jong mentioned: “We actually stepped it up this time, as we understood that this album needed to go additional. We went by loads of songs and scrapped whole sections of songs. We saved working them and dealing them till we bought them proper. Then, with the best way we had been pushing ourselves musically, I knew it was essential to problem myself lyrically as properly. This time I delved into tough emotional locations and psychological states. There’s loads of existential dread operating by the album, and I attempted to seek out the suitable phrases to explain the indescribable.”
“Te Rā” monitor itemizing:
01. Crown
02. Mau Moko
03. 1000 Pals
04. Hanging By A Thread
05. Tama-nui-te-rā
06. Myself To Blame
07. Taniwha (feat. Randy Blythe)
08. Blackened Sky
09. Te Riri O Tāwhirimātea
10. Ponaturi
11. Te Kore
ALIEN WEAPONRY lately launched into a large North American tour with steel icon Kerry King, kicking off immediately. After the Kerry King tour, ALIEN WEAPONRY will embark on a headlining tour of New Zealand.
ALIEN WEAPONRY is:
Henry Te Reiwhati de Jong – Drums, Backing vocals
Lewis Raharuhi de Jong – Guitars, Lead vocals
Tūranga Porowini Morgan-Edmonds – Bass, Backing vocals
Picture credit score: Frances Carter
