Reviews list for Alien Weaponry - Tū (2018)

One of the greater things to prove that metal is still alive is when younger fellas begin raising the metal torch higher than ever. The sounds of metal keep pumping into young bloodlines and hopefully it can keep it up for many future generations. With metal in good long-lasting hands, I can be able to have good metal dreams when I sleep at night, not that I ever remember my dreams. Alien Weaponry is a young teenage metal band, and by "young teenage" I mean, when their debut album Tū came out two years ago, they were between ages 15 and 17! Wow...

With their debut Tū, Alien Weaponry blend their powerful heavy metal sound and vocal melodies with the sound of their culture. This unique intriguing feature has opened a whole new world in heavy/groove metal. The band has unleashed Māori history and language into the metal world! It's a fresh new perspective sharing dark tales from the tribe among other themes in strong tribal elements infused into metal.

The opening intro "Whaikōrero" (Speech) is basically Maori flute in ambient rainfall as a speech is presented in the Maori language. A nice intro to set the spirit of the album! Then in "Rū Ana Te Whenua" (The Earthquake), whoever's doing the Maori speech leads a group chant as if that intro was a pre-battle speech. Then they charge to battle in a thundering breakdown that erupts into Soulfly-like thrash energy. The song has simple yet huge vitality. The guitar riffs aren't technical, but deliver a perfectly fitting tone. The chorus in the song "Holding My Breath" is where the vocals of Lewis de Jong really shines. He has exemplary vocal delivery, in which his cleans and yells aren't too deep but nicely fit his young teenage vocal range, more than mine has ever. The most aggressively crushing song here is "Raupatu" (Confiscation) with opens with a Cannibal Corpse-like riff that evolves into headbanging thrash. The bass and guitar riff sounds so clean while ripping the ambiance apart.

"Kai Tangata" (Human Food) continues the heavy aggression while having another shining melodic chorus. I love it! "Rage - It Takes Over Again" once again balances heavy rage with powerful melodies. "The Things That You Know" is one of two bonus tracks (the other bonus track at the end of the album) and it has some of the most amazing metal I've heard from a teenage band. I don't know if I should be proud of them or jealous. "Whispers" is a greatly significant song in both the production and defending their culture, with mighty powerful melodies inspired by Stone Sour, specifically Corey Taylor. The aggressive "PC Bro" has lyrics that rage against machines that have allowed social media to take over our lives.

"Urutaa" (Plague) begins with soft piano before a cool drum beat. The word "Urutaa" is shouted throughout the captivated chorus over a melodic guitar chord. The highly political "Nobody Here" continues the lyrics of how social media is corrupting the world, as the vocal range goes beyond emotional. "Te Ara" (The Way) begins with tribal percussion and native speaking with guitar buzzing seguing into an instrumental inspired by one of Gojira's long instrumentals. It smoothly transitions until a powerful Maori chant concludes the album...the standard edition, anyway. The other bonus track "Hypocrite" is a killer melodeath-ish groove track.

A great fusion of Māori culture and metal, Alien Weaponry has added something new and special in the world of metal. Telling Māori historical stories and often speaking their native language, the band has their own unique league. The album cover artwork is an incredible depiction of a Māori warrior (helmet included). Tū is a unique album, and its title represent the album's strength and pride in the name of the Māori god of war!

Favorites: "Rū Ana Te Whenua", "Raupatu", "Kai Tangata", "The Things That You Know", "Whispers", "Te Ara"