Alien Weaponry | Te Rā | Napalm Records

 

Alien Weaponry is a groove metal trio from Aotearoa (New Zealand), formed in 2010 by brothers Lewis Raharuhi de Jong (vocals, guitar) and Henry Te Reiwhati de Jong (drums), later joined by Tūranga Morgan-Edmonds on bass. The band gained international attention with their debut Tū (2018), praised for integrating te reo Māori into heavy music. Their second album, “Tangaroa” (2021), cemented their global rise with a more refined sound and growing maturity. Over the years, they've opened for major acts such as Slayer and Gojira, and performed with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. By 2025, they were featured in a documentary, “Kua Tupu Te Ara”, that premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, further broadening their cultural and musical impact.

“Te Rā”is a heavy, focused third album that expands Alien Weaponry’s reach into darker and more frustrated territory, both musically and lyrically. The band continues to interweave English and Māori with conviction, alternating between history and current societal unease. The sound is built on thick, grooving riffs and rhythmic intensity, grounded in a mix that benefits from the clarity and weight provided by producer Josh Wilbur.

The songs swing between tight aggression and more restrained passages, with tracks like “Taniwha” adding a harsher edge thanks to guest vocals from Randy Blythe. The lyrical direction leans toward expressions of cultural tension, isolation, and the psychological burden of modernity. Tracks like “1000 Friends” and “Crown” carry a heavy emotional undercurrent, while “Mau Moko” and “Te Kore” return to the spiritual and mythic elements that have long defined the band’s identity.

Rather than drastically changing course, “Te Rā” refines the sound they’ve built so far—heavier, more somber, and lyrically more pressing. There’s growth in dynamics and purpose, even if the genre lines remain largely familiar. This is not a reinvention but a solid and thoughtful continuation, delivered with clarity and care. A grounded, impactful album that strengthens Alien Weaponry’s presence without relying on overstatement or overproduction. “Te Rā” speaks with weight, purpose, and authenticity.

Score: 7/10