Performed entirely in their indigenous language of te reo Māori, the lore rooted in the track is not only cultural but connected to the de Jong brothers’ ancestry.
Heavy New Zealand export Alien Weaponry have released their long-awaited sophomore album, Tangaora, with the hype surrounding the band being entirely affirmed in the 12-track collection.
Echoing the acclaim garnered by the first two showings from the album in the title track “Tangaroa” and the fan-driven “Buried Underground”, Alien Weaponry are marking the album’s release with a third offering which is arguably their most compelling yet in “Hatupatu”.
Showcasing their culture on a global stage, the cut is performed entirely in the indigenous language of te reo Māori. In addition, the cultural lore of the track and it’s depiction of the evil bird-woman Kurangaituku is a story directly connected to the de Jong brothers’ ancestry. The band’s drummer Henry de Jong explains,
“The story of ‘Hatupatu’ is one Lewis and I grew up with – our father was the first person to tell us as children. Having a family connection with it only made creating a song more intriguing for us. Traditionally, Māori legends were passed down through families by re-telling them, not by having them written down in books. It only makes sense for us to be re-telling this story as our tūpuna (ancestors) did for generations. We cannot wait to share with the rest of the world.”
Presenting a reverence for their roots as well as their environment, Alien Weaponry’s second full length truly serves to embrace their cultural identity, rather than exploit it as a hook. In addition to lyrics written in te reo Māori, a sizable portion of the album features traditional instruments, called taonga puoro, providing a sincere extension of where the band came from. The album is personal, powerful, and poignant all while never forgetting to pay attention to the frenzied pace of the mosh pit.
Alien Weaponry are set to tour this fall with Gojira and Knocked Loose, and have added a handful of headlining dates during the run. The complete list of dates can be found below.
Tangaroa from Alien Weaponry is now available via Napalm Records. Order the album – HERE. Watch the gripping visual for “Hatupatu” below.
ALIEN WEAPONRY Tour Dates with Gojira & Knocked Loose:
^ = ALIEN WEAPONRY ONLY/HEADLINER
October 8 – Boise, ID @ Revolution Center
October 9 – Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock (festival)
October 11 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Union
October 13 – Kansas City, MO @ Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
October 14 – Wichita, KS @ The Cotillion
October 15 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom
October 16 – Houston, TX @ Bronze Peacock @ House of Blues^
October 17 – New Orleans, LA @ Civic Theatre *SOLD OUT*
October 19 – Tampa, FL @ Jannus Live
October 20 – Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live
October 22 – Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works *SOLD OUT*
October 23 – Asheville, NC @ Thomas Wolfe Auditorium *SOLD OUT*
October 25 – Stroudsburg, PA @ Sherman Theater
October 26 – Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus^
October 27 – Portland, ME @ State Theatre
October 28 – Rochester, NY @ Main Street Armory
October 29 – Cleveland, OH @ The Agora *SOLD OUT*
October 30 – Albany, NY @ Albany Capital Center
November 1 – Richmond, VA @ The National
November 2 – Knoxville, TN @ Civic Auditorium
November 3 – Chattanooga, TN @ The Signal *SOLD OUT*
November 5 – Madison, WI @ The Sylvee
November 6 – St. Louis, MO @ The Factory at The District
November 7 – Ft. Wayne, IN @ The Clyde Theatre
November 9 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line^
November 10 – Chicago, IL @ Cobra Lounge^
November 12 – Cincinnati, OH @ Madison Live^
November 13 – Atlanta, GA @ Vinyl^
November 14 – Daytona Beach, FL @ Welcome To Rockville (festival)
November 16 – Austin, TX @ 3 Ten @ ACL Live^
November 17 – Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey Bar N’ Grill^
November 19 – Tucson, AZ @ Encore^
November 20 – Window Rock, AZ @ Navajo Nation^
November 21 – Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater^
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