See Alien Weaponry Rage Against Māori Oppression in New "Ahi Kā" Video | Page 2 | Revolver

See Alien Weaponry Rage Against Māori Oppression in New "Ahi Kā" Video

Song was inspired by the burning down of an indigenous village in Auckland

Last week, rising New Zealand trio Alien Weaponry debuted the bruising new protest song "Ahi Kā," their first new material since their 2018 debut album, Tū. The cut, which premiered via Billboard, also appears on Adult Swim's killer compilation Metal Swim 2 alongside new tracks from Baroness, Eyehategod, Nervosa, Oathbreaker, Sunn O))) and more. Today (May 10th) the group has offered up a music video for the song, which sees the band bashing out "Ahi Kā" in the studio, the footage augmented by psychedelic effects and filters, and intercut with archival footage of Māori people in their homeland.

"'Ahi Ka' was inspired by the Auckland city council's decision to burn down what is considered to be the unsightly indigenous Maori village of Okahu Bay in advance of Queen Elizabeth II's 1953 visit," frontman Lewis de Jong said of the song, which, like many of Alien Weaponry's compositions, is sung in New Zealand's indigenous language Te Reo Māori. "The eviction sparked a 40-year battle for the native Ngati Whatua to reclaim their land, including protests and battles with the police. Amid worldwide criticism, a small portion of the original land was ultimately returned with an apology and some compensation.

"We decided to write about it because it's one of these untold stories in New Zealand history that really had a great impact on a lot of Maori." Check out the "Ahi Kā" video above, and watch the group's recent NYC performance of standout cut "Rū Ana te Whenua" below.