Review | Alien Weaponry – Te Rā

Napalm Records

The powerful new album of Alien Weaponry, `Te Rā’, is a triumphant blend of melodic hooks and intense raw power, cementing their place as one of the most innovative forces in modern heavy metal. Their blend of melodic metal, powerful grooves, and anger laden roar is towering on its delivery. Hailing from New Zealand, the band continues to weave their Māori heritage into their music, creating a soundscape that is both culturally resonant and universally compelling. An impressive monument of modernity!

CULTURAL FINESSE

From the punching opening track, ,,Crown” Alien Weaponry sets the tone with groove-laden riffs and accessible melodies. Nesting immediately, the song is a display of melodic power. The band’s ability to pair brute force and driving guitars with cultural storytelling and tribal accolades is evident throughout the album. Tracks like the electric ,,Mau Moko” delve into Māori traditions, such as facial tattooing, while balancing historical reverence with modern social commentary. It crosses borders, culturally immersive. The incorporation of te reo Māori (the indigenous language of New Zealand) not only enriches the music but also underscores themes of identity and resilience. It all feels impressively natural, while it emphasizes the tradition.

Much like Sepultura’s collaboration with Tambours du Bronx injected the right dose of Brazilian groove, Alien Weaponry injects cultural finesse into their groove driven music. The language is the exclamation point for this cultural manifestation.

The standout ,,Tama-nui-te-rā” displays Alien Weaponry’s skills of blending traditional percussion with heavy metal aggression, extraherent the previously mentioned blend. This track is a rollercoaster of intensity, showcasing the band’s ability to fuse cultural elements seamlessly into their modern driving sound.

STORYTELLING THROUGH METAL

Similarly, ,,Ponaturi” explores traditional Māori lore with a groove-heavy approach, offering a fresh perspective on storytelling through metal. It combusts with energy and packs wonderful memorable hooks, making it nest on the spot.

`Te Rā’ strikes a perfect balance between melody and heaviness. Producer Josh Wilbur ensures every breakdown, riff, and vocal scream is amplified to its fullest potential. The mix is clear and powerful, adding to the experience. The grooves pack intensity and swagger while the melodies are highlighted in spotlight briskness. The balance is perfect!

Tracks like ,,1000 Friends” and ,,Blackened Sky” highlight Alien Weaponry’s evolution as songwriters, combining razor-sharp hooks with introspective themes such as mental health and societal decay. It is fresh and heavy, it hits airwaves!

The collaboration with Randy Blythe (Lamb of God) on ,,Taniwha” adds another layer of intensity to the album. Blythe’s venomous low growls complement Lewis Raharuhi de Jong’s dynamic vocal delivery, making this one of the most viscerally charged songs in Alien Weaponry’s catalogue. The contrast in vocal approach is lifting the song, and this tension is emphasizing the sizzling broil of the song. One of the song’s and the album’s greatest strengths lies in its accessibility without sacrificing depth. It all wells with tremendous intensity and drive.

ALIEN WEAPONRY – THE CONCLUSION

Tracks like ,,Myself to Blame” showcase introspective melodies that reward repeated listens, where anthems like the immensely rich and dynamic driven ,,Te Riri o Tāwhirimātea” are instant crowd-pleasers with blasting live tendencies. The album’s closing track, ,,Te Kore” is the perfect closer, shifting gears with a haunting reflection on the Māori concept of primordial nothingness, and it is a highly philosophical finale that contrasts beautifully with the album’s relentless energy.

With `Te Rā’, Alien Weaponry has delivered their most mature and well-balanced work to date. The album is a powerful statement of identity, legacy and musical growth, blending cultural storytelling with modern metal aggression in a way that feels both vital and timeless. This vitality is invigorated by the cultural elements and Maori language. It blends! From thunderous grooves to soaring melodies, Alien Weaponry proves they are not just the future of metal. They are its present!

Must hear!

Release date: 28 March 2025