Alien Weaponry – Te Rā – Album Review
31st March 2025Te Rā, the latest sonic explosion from Alien Weaponry, comes from those delightful New Zealand lads who make music so loud it could wake up a hibernating moa (if only the poor things hadn’t already shuffled off their mortal coil). This album is what happens when heavy metal, Māori culture, and the collective fury of a thousand angry tūī collide in a recording studio
From the first thunderous note, Te Rā grabs you by the earlobes, gives them a firm shake, and politely informs you that you are now part of a mosh pit, whether you like it or not. The guitars roar like an over-caffeinated taniwha, the drums thunder like an All Blacks scrum, and the vocals channel the spirit of warriors past, probably wondering why nobody ever gave them electric guitars in the first place.
The band’s signature use of te reo Māori in their lyrics is not only a cultural triumph but also an excellent way to ensure that your attempts to sing along sound like a particularly confused sheep. By the end of the album, you’ll have a deeper appreciation for the rich history and stories of Aotearoa, or at the very least, you’ll have learned how to headbang without injuring yourself.
Standout tracks include Te Riri o Tāwhirimātea, which is so powerful that it may have briefly caused my furniture to rearrange itself, and the track Taniwha (feat. Randy Blythe) made me want to grab a taiaha and charge into battle (or at least aggressively do the dishes)
In conclusion, Te Rā is an album that makes other albums sound like they need a nice cup of tea and a lie-down. It’s fierce, it’s exhilarating, and it’s so metal that my toaster is now afraid of me.
Score 9/10
Track List01 Crown
02 Mau Moko
03 1000 Friends
04 Hanging by a Thread
05 Tama-Nui-Te-Rā
06 Myself to Blame
07 Taniwha (feat. Randy Blythe)
08 Blackened Sky
09 Te Riri o Tāwhirimātea
10 Ponaturi
11 Te Kore
Label – Napalm
Release – 28th March 2025
