International groove metal firebrand Alien Weaponry have confirmed the March 28th release date of their newest full length album, Te Rā. The album continues the band's tenure on Napalm Records and sees the Maori collective teaming with producer Josh Wilbur to maximize their massive sound.
Along with the potent combination of the trio's big instrumentation and hefty composition - bridging important themes with an aggressive soundtrack - the band get the added muscle of a feature from Randy Blythe of the mighty Lamb of God.
Marking an auspicious start to the new year, the news from Alien Weaponry arrives on the same day the band begin their North American tour dates supporting the legendary Kerry King alongside Municipal Waste in what is one of the most anticipated tours of the start of 2025.
In addition, the band have debuted the newest single from the album in "Mau Moko”. Featuring te reo Māori lyrics, the bombastic single frames the traditional Māori face tattooing on a loaded track that weighs preserving time-tested customs while still adhering to cultural norms. The combination of style and substance is signature to what Alien Weaponry has become championed for.
Bassist and songwriter Tūranga Porowini Morgan-Edmonds shared of the single, "Māori have a rich history of marking traditions that were nearly lost during colonization. These traditions are currently in the process of a much needed cultural revival, and I was inspired by that.
I wanted the lyrics to remind people that moko is, and always will be, a part of who we are. With the song's video, we wanted to show the darker side of the history of moko and how the head trade played a part in the near extinction of the tradition. We fought through it and continue to fight for its revival still today!"
Speaking to the greater scope of the album, frontman Lewis Raharuhi de Jong explained, "We really stepped it up this time, as we understood that this album had to go further. We went through a lot of songs and scrapped entire sections of songs. We kept working them and working them until we got them right. Then, with the way we were pushing ourselves musically, I knew it was important to challenge myself lyrically as well. This time I delved into difficult emotional places and mental states. There’s a lot of existential dread running through the album, and I tried to find the right words to describe the indescribable.”
Catch Alien Weaponry on tour with Kerry King this month. A full list of dates and cities can be found below. Get tickets - HERE
Te Rā lands March 28th via Napalm Records. Order the album - HERE
