Alien Weaponry Load in Third Album Te Rā with Lead Single ‘Mau Moko’

It’s been a hot minute since we last heard from New Zealand’s premier metal act Alien Weaponry – who won over crowds on a global scale with their ferocious display of heavy metal and youthful prowess – and following on from their last release, 2021’s Tangaroa, the next era has landed and we’re hella excited.

Launching today is ‘Mau Moko‘ the lead single from forthcoming third studio album Te Rā which is set for release on March 28th via Napalm Records. The single finds the band sharing the story of Toi Moko, the preserved heads of Māori ancestors, who were taken and traded as trophies during the 1800s.

Alien Weapony, in their native Māori tongue, rip into the storytelling with a ferocious display of complexity and tenacity as their impressive instrumental backing creating levels never before seen or heard from the act. Honing in on their metal roots with elements of contemporary metal sprinkled throughout, this has the potential to be the band’s most successful and palatable release to date.

On the new song, lyricist/bassist Tūranga Porowini Morgan-Edmonds says:

“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!”

Frontman/guitarist Lewis Raharuhi de Jong adds:

“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.”

What are you waiting for? Dive into this new phase of Alien Weaponry and get excited about the new album heading your way soon, which also features a cheeky collaboration with Randy Blythe of Lamb of God.

Stream ‘Mau Moko‘ here

Pre-order Te Rā here

Alien Weaponry – Te Rā tracklisting

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