New Zealanders Alien Weaponry have released details of their new studio album, ‘Te Rā’, which will be available on March 28 via Napalm Records.
The first single from the album is called ‘Mau Moko‘, a song in honour of the traditional facial tattoo of the Māori culture, called ‘Moko’.
“Māori have a rich history of commemorating traditions that were almost lost during colonisation. These traditions are currently undergoing a much-needed cultural revival, and that inspired me. I wanted the lyrics to remind people that moko is, and always will be, a part of who we are. With the video for the song, we wanted to show the darker side of moko’s history and how the head trade played a role in the tradition’s near extinction. We fought against this and continue to fight for its revival even today,” says Tūranga Porowini Morgan-Edmonds.
Since releasing their acclaimed 2018 debut ‘Tū’, the band have been praised for their kinetic presence and sound, as well as their vital blend of culturally profound lyricism in both English and Māori, the indigenous language of New Zealand. With their third album, Alien Weaponry expand on their distinctive messages of cultural, social and environmental resilience while delivering their most focused and massive-sounding musical output to date.
In the hands of veteran producer/mixer Josh Wilbur (Lamb Of God, Gojira, Megadeth) and featuring a special appearance by Lamb Of God’s Randy Blythe, Te Rā’s grinding mix of groove, nu, math and thrash metal shines with a renewed technical prowess.
‘Te Rā’ – Tracklist:
1. Crown
2. Mau Moko
3. 1000 Friends
4. Hanging by a Thread
5. Tama-nui-te-rā
6. Myself to Blame
7. Taniwha (feat. Randy Blythe)
8. Blackened Sky
9. Te Riri o Tāwhirimātea
10. Ponaturi
11. Te Kore
