2 minute read
Alien Weaponry
By Tank New Zealand thrash metal trio Alien Weaponry has just signed to the prestigious Rick Sales Entertainment Group. Other artists signed with the Rick Sales Entertainment Group include Slayer, Gojira, Mastodon, and Ghost. “We couldn’t be more excited to work with Rick Sales and be a part of the company that manages some of our favorite artists,” said Henry de Jong, drummer of the powerhouse trio. “Rick Sales is a legend, and an influential figure in the metal scene worldband to have ever won both of these events. wide.” In 2015 the band had previously came in Lewis de Jong, singer/guitarist adds, second in the Smokefree Pacifica Beats, “We’re pretty humbled to be welcomed into however for four years prior to that they were this exclusive family of artists”. regional finalists. Alien Weaponry are the The band has been busy writing and youngest band to have ever received New recording their new album in New Zealand in Zealand Air Funding with their song “Ru Ana anticipation of a 2021 release date. Alien Te Whenua” in October of 2015. They Weaponry had been planning a 2020 release wound up receiving a $10,000 dollar grant, date, but due to the Covid-19 outbreak, they which they used to complete the recording of have postponed that release date. their song, as well as producing a video for it. The band hails from Waipu, New Then they went and scored again the Zealand and was formed in 2010 by following year in 2016 and received another brothers Lewis (bass) and Henry de $10,000 which they used to record their Jong (drums). Rounding out the newest singles, “Urutaa” and “Raupatu”, as band is guitarist Turanga Morganwell as produce music videos for the two of Edmonds. All of the band members them. Without a doubt, Alien Weaponry is have Maori ancestry and their songs among the top ten of New Zealand metal acts. are written in a combination of Already the band has toured the United English and Maori, the native te reo States and Europe extensively. In the latter Maori language. part of 2018 the band opened for Ministry on So far the band has released their U.S. tour. In Europe the band pereight EPs and one album release, Tu, formed at several festivals, including which was released in 2018. Tu Metaldays, and the Wacken Open Air festival. debuted at number five on the New Last year they performed to a crowd of over Zealand album charts. 10,000 people at the Copenhell Festival in The brothers de Jong named Denmark and at their final European show their band Alien Weaponry after last year they opened for Slayer in Stuttgart, watching the movie District 9. In Germany. 2016 Alien Weaponry won both the It will be interesting to see what this national finals of the band has up their sleeves for next year once Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree the Covid-19 crisis is over. Pacifica Beats. They are the only October 2020 • Rock and Blues International 79
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