Years active 2010–present Website alienweaponry.com Genres Thrash metal, Heavy metal | Labels None (Independent) Origin Waipu, New Zealand (2010) | |
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Members Lewis de JongHenry de JongEthan Trembath Similar Profiles | ||
M ori heavy metal band alien weaponry takes out rockquest and pacifica beats
Alien Weaponry is a three-piece teenage thrash metal band from Waipu, New Zealand, formed in 2010 by brothers Henry & Lewis de Jong. The band consists of Lewis de Jong (Guitar & Vocals), Henry de Jong (Drums), and Ethan Trembath (Bass guitar). Alien Weaponry's début single, Urutaa is sung partly in te reo Māori and was originally about a clash of ideas and expectations leading to stress and unhappiness, which was likened to a plague or urutaa (an outbreak). The Maori lyrics refer to specific events which occurred in the Bay of Islands in the 1800s and what followed after a pocket watch was inadvertently dropped into the harbour. The misunderstanding culminated in what is notoriously known as 'The Burning of the Boyd'. a grim set of events in New Zealand's colonial history. Says the band "This incident is used in this song as a metaphor for the misunderstandings that continue to plague us today – between cultures, generations and individuals who torment each other through lack of understanding."
Contents
- M ori heavy metal band alien weaponry takes out rockquest and pacifica beats
- Band History
- Albums
- Songs
- References
Band History
Alien Weaponry was formed in Auckland in 2010 by guitarist & vocalist Lewis de Jong and drummer Henry de Jong who were only 8 and 10 years old respectively. The brothers named the band Alien Weaponry after watching the movie District 9 and after moving to the small town of Waipu were joined by bass guitarist Ethan Trembath in April 2013. Trembath replaced Wyatt Channings who had briefly played bass for the band the previous year. Having been regional finalists in the New Zealand Smokefree Rockquest four years running, the band gained second place in the New Zealand national final in 2015 and in 2016 won both the national finals of Smokfreerockquest and Smokefree Pacifica Beats, the only band in New Zealand history to have ever won both events. The band also toured with New Zealand chart topping band Devilskin on their "We Rise" tour in 2014 and performed at The Powerstation in support of Shihad in May 2015. Alien Weaponry are believed to be youngest recipients to have ever received New Zealand on Air funding with their song Ru Ana Te Whenua in October 2015. They received a $10,000 grant to complete recording of their song and produce a video in 2015 and then another two $10,000 NZ On Air grants in 2016 to record their singles Urutaa and Raupatu and produce music videos. In 2016 the band was named by UK Metal Hammer Magazine as one of New Zealand's top 10 hard rock and metal acts.
Albums
Alien Weaponry released their début EP "The Zego Sessions" and in August 2014 and began work on a new album at Neil Finn's Roundhead Studios in Auckland with record producer Tom Larkin in September 2015. In November 2016 Alien Weaponry released their single and music video for Urutaa as the first offering from their upcoming album.
Songs
Urutaa2016
Hypocrite2016
PC Bro2017