1 Nov 2024
Alien Weaponry - Gig Review: Alien Weaponry @ Galatos, Auckland - 02/06/2018
05 Jun 2018 // A review by ShelleySketch
It’s a damp night, it was 8pm and the doors opened. The crowd began to pack in and I’ll admit there was more than I expected. It was awesome to see other musicians there in support as well, along with the boys from Alien Weaponry. To kick off the night there was a short presentation of the VICE documentary on the band. The snippet showed who the guys are, where they're from and how Alien Weaponry came to be. It is clear there is more to see, and I'll look forward to watching the full documentary.
After the snippet finished, the crowd moved forward as Average Mars Experience took the stage. I hadn’t heard their music before, but their music was what I would call heavy and ambient metal instrumental. There’s something nice about appreciating the music and not having to actually put words to it. The crowd was rather still at first but then began to head bang along. There was one guy at the front of the crowd who was having a one-man mosh party. Then towards the end of the set the whole crowd became a mosh pit. As the band thanked Alien Weaponry, the crowd kept the energy up and continued raging.
They held that energy as Alien Weaponry took the stage. The crowd packed in even closer to the stage, to get the best view they could. The guys stood strong looking out at the crowd as their intro Whaikorero played out making for a fantastic way to start the set. The crowd was moshing aggressively straight away as they played PC Bro and it was what I would consider a true mosh pit. The crowd were rough, but they helped each other up and seemed to also embrace each other at points.
Alien Weaponry had been “waiting for this night” and after working “3 years to perfect the album”, that night was here. They transitioned to their Te Reō dominated tracks beautifully by playing the instrumental track that “represents a journey” which is clearly what these guys have been on as well. However, this was about the “journey of our ancestors from Hawaiki to Aotearoa”. Things seemed so crazy. The crowd only seemed to get crazier and they guys decided to test that by organising the crowd to do a wall of death during the performance of their most recent single release, Kia Tangata. But to keep it a bit more interactive and light-hearted, Alien Weaponry decided to play a game of Simon Says. “Simon says Raupatu”. “Raupatu”. It was clear what the band wanted when they performed Raupatu and they got it.
It’s a damp night, it was 8pm and the doors opened. The crowd began to pack in and I’ll admit there was more than I expected. It was awesome to see other musicians there in support as well, along with the boys from Alien Weaponry. To kick off the night there was a short presentation of the VICE documentary on the band. The snippet showed who the guys are, where they're from and how Alien Weaponry came to be. It is clear there is more to see, and I'll look forward to watching the full documentary.After the snippet finished, the crowd moved forward as Average Mars Experience took the stage. I hadn’t heard their music before, but their music was what I would call heavy and ambient metal instrumental. There’s something nice about appreciating the music and not having to actually put words to it. The crowd was rather still at first but then began to head bang along. There was one guy at the front of the crowd who was having a one-man mosh party. Then towards the end of the set the whole crowd became a mosh pit. As the band thanked Alien Weaponry, the crowd kept the energy up and continued raging.
They held that energy as Alien Weaponry took the stage. The crowd packed in even closer to the stage, to get the best view they could. The guys stood strong looking out at the crowd as their intro Whaikorero played out making for a fantastic way to start the set. The crowd was moshing aggressively straight away as they played PC Bro and it was what I would consider a true mosh pit. The crowd were rough, but they helped each other up and seemed to also embrace each other at points.
Alien Weaponry had been “waiting for this night” and after working “3 years to perfect the album”, that night was here. They transitioned to their Te Reō dominated tracks beautifully by playing the instrumental track that “represents a journey” which is clearly what these guys have been on as well. However, this was about the “journey of our ancestors from Hawaiki to Aotearoa”. Things seemed so crazy. The crowd only seemed to get crazier and they guys decided to test that by organising the crowd to do a wall of death during the performance of their most recent single release, Kia Tangata. But to keep it a bit more interactive and light-hearted, Alien Weaponry decided to play a game of Simon Says. “Simon says Raupatu”. “Raupatu”. It was clear what the band wanted when they performed Raupatu and they got it.
After performing Hypocrite which was “about one of their teachers” the crowd began chanting but not for one more song, for 10 more. There was clearly a demand for more and the energy was high. They took a photo with the crowd and played one more song. Rū Ana Te Whanua, which was an incredible track to end their set on. It's fast and heavy which is what the crowd wanted and needed.
I left the gig a little bit bashed up, but all I have to say is Alien Weaponry have done an incredible job with their music and with their new album. If the crowd was anything to go by, these guys are really establishing themselves and not only sharing their music but sharing Te Reō. It really opens up people to Te Reō in a new way and shows them it’s nothing to be afraid of. It’s a beautiful language that needs to keep going. After this incredible album release show I’m excited to see Alien Weaponry dominate overseas with their music and Te Reō.
Review written by Shelley Te Haara
I left the gig a little bit bashed up, but all I have to say is Alien Weaponry have done an incredible job with their music and with their new album. If the crowd was anything to go by, these guys are really establishing themselves and not only sharing their music but sharing Te Reō. It really opens up people to Te Reō in a new way and shows them it’s nothing to be afraid of. It’s a beautiful language that needs to keep going. After this incredible album release show I’m excited to see Alien Weaponry dominate overseas with their music and Te Reō.
Review written by Shelley Te Haara
About Alien Weaponry
AW was formed in 2010 by brothers Henry and Lewis de Jong, who have been listening to bands like Metallica, Anthrax and Pantera since birth; and started jamming and writing songs before they learnt the alphabet. Current influences include Lamb Of God, Tryvium, Subtract and System of a Down, but the band has developed its own distinctive thrash metal sound, destined to endure into future centuries.
Not content to rely on the shock value of their extreme youth, the group understands the value of professionalism, and works crowds to a frenzy with their tight, thrashy energy and wild stage performances. Their plans for world domination include playing at Wacken in Germany and touring the big international metal festivals. They refuse to play covers, and have enough material to begin recording their first album later this year.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Alien Weaponry
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