Kiwi Te Reo-metal band Alien Weaponry have dropped a grooving, hard hitting track "Ahi Kā," their first new material since the 2018 release of the trio's debut album, Tū.
The cut, which premiered via Billboard, will also appear on Adult Swim's forthcoming compilation Metal Swim 2, which comes out tomorrow (May 3rd) and feature new tracks from Author & Punisher, Baroness, Botanist, Eyehategod, Nervosa, Oathbreaker, Sunn O))), the Body, Vile Creature, and more.
'Ahi Kā' was inspired by the Auckland city council's decision to burn down what they considered to be the unsightly indigenous Maori village at Okahu Bay in advance of Queen Elizabeth II's 1953 visit," Alien Weaponry's singer-guitarist Lewis de Jong says of the track, which, like many of the band's songs, is sung in New Zealand's indigenous language Te Reo. "The eviction sparked a 40-year battle for the local Ngāti Whātua Orākei to reclaim their land, including protests and clashes 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 "Ahi Kā" below.
The band have just this week arrived in the USA to play headline shows and festivals as part of a six month world tour that takes them to North America, Europe and the UK and with over three million YouTube views on their video "Kai Tangata" the group are gearing up for a massive year.