Alien Weaponry have returned to earth. The New Zealand trio have announced that their long-awaited sophomore album, Tangaroa, will arrive later this year via Napalm Records, and today (June 16th), they're giving us a taste by letting us hear its title track.
Like the songs on their lauded 2018 debut, Tū, "Tangaroa" is another showcase of the band's unique approach to tribal groove metal. Alien Weaponry offer up an urgent chorus — sung in their indigenous language, te reo Māori — a rubbery lead riff and some seriously crushing drum patterns.
Its equally intense music video sees the band swimming with sharks, octopi and other sea creatures while alternating between singing underwater and thrashing to stay afloat. Check it out above via YouTube.
"We decided to write this song about how the ocean is being suffocated by humans and their waste," vocalist-guitarist Lewis de Jong commented. "The ocean is an important part of my life, and it's important to protect it."
"'Tangaroa' is a heavy and angry message about how we are destroying the ocean with pollution and overfishing," added drummer Henry de Jong. "The video ties in with this message, with us drowning in plastic conveying the struggle of ocean life."
Tangaroa is due out September 17th via Napalm Records and pre-orders are available now. Peep the cover art and track listing below.
Tangaroa track list:
"Titokowaru"
"Hatupatu"
"Ahi KāT"
"Tangaroa"
"Unforgiving"
"Blinded"
"Kai Whatu"
"Crooked Monsters"
"Buried Underground"
"Dad"
"Īhenga"
"Down The Rabbit Hole"
