Alien Weaponry Announce New Album Te Rā

New Zealand’s groove metal trio Alien Weaponry have announced the release of their third full-length album, Te Rā, scheduled for March 28, 2025, via Napalm Records. The announcement coincides with the start of their North American tour supporting Slayer co-founder Kerry King, which arrives in Montreal on February 2nd.

Since their 2018 debut Tū, Alien Weaponry has garnered attention for integrating te reo Māori—the Indigenous language of New Zealand—into heavy metal, blending cultural storytelling with aggressive musicality. Their sophomore effort, Tangaroa (2021), further cemented their reputation for tackling themes of environmental destruction and Indigenous resilience.

Te Rā appears poised to continue that trajectory, with the band promising their most focused and intense work yet. Produced and mixed by Josh Wilbur (known for his work with Lamb of God, Gojira, and Megadeth), the album reportedly leans heavily into groove, nu, and thrash metal, with added complexity and technical precision. Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe, a long-time supporter of the band, makes a guest appearance on the track “Taniwha.”

The first single, “Mau Moko,” was released alongside a music video exploring the traditional Māori practice of tā moko (facial tattooing) and its near erasure during colonization. Bassist and lyricist Tūranga Porowini Morgan-Edmonds describes the song as a reflection on cultural survival:

“Māori have a rich history of marking traditions that were nearly lost during colonization. These traditions are currently in the process of a much-needed cultural revival, and I was inspired by that. I wanted the lyrics to remind people that moko is, and always will be, a part of who we are.”

Watch the video below:

Lyrically, Te Rā delves into themes of cultural identity, existential dread, and modern societal challenges. Songs like “Crown” and “Hanging by a Thread” reportedly explore mental health struggles and feelings of disenfranchisement, while tracks such as “Blackened Sky” tackle global anxieties like the threat of war and the pervasive impact of social media.

Guitarist and vocalist Lewis Raharuhi de Jong noted the band’s determination to push their creative boundaries:

“We really stepped it up this time. We went through a lot of songs and scrapped entire sections. We kept working them and working them until we got them right. I knew it was important to challenge myself lyrically as well, so I delved into difficult emotional places. There’s a lot of existential dread running through the album.”

ALIEN WEAPONRY supporting Kerry King in North America:

w/ special guests Municipal Waste

01/15/25: San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom

01/17/25: Spokane, WA @ Spokane Live Casino

01/18/25: Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo

01/29/25: Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater

01/20/25: Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom

01/22/25: Calgary, AB @ The Palace Theatre

01/23/25: Edmonton, AB @ Midway Music Hall

01/25/25: Winnipeg, MB @ Burton Cummings Theatre

01/26/25: Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore

01/28/25: Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave

01/30/25: Detroit, MI @ The Majestic Theater

01/31/25: Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues

02/01/25: Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall

02/02/25: Montreal, QC @ L’Olympia

02/04/25: Boston, MA @ Royale

02/05/25: Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of the Living Arts

02/07/25: New York, NY @ Irving Plaza

02/08/25: Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage

02/10/25: Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theatre

02/11/25: St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live

02/13/25: Houston, TX @ House of Blues

02/14/25: Austin, TX @ Emo’s

Te Rā track listing:

1. Crown
2. Mau Moko
3. 1000 Friends
4. Hanging by a Thread
5. Tama-nui-te-rā
6. Myself to Blame
7. Taniwha (feat. Randy Blythe)
8. Blackened Sky
9. Te Riri o Tāwhirimātea
10. Ponaturi
11. Te Kore

Te Rā will be available in the following formats:

– 1-LP Deluxe Gatefold Splatter Vinyl w/ 20” Booklet, Patch, Slipmat – Napalm mail order only, limited to 300
– 1-LP Gatefold Marbled Vinyl – Napalm mail order only, limited to 300
– 1-LP Gatefold Black Vinyl
– 1-CD Digisleeve
– Digital Album