Alien Weaponry drop new single "Taniwha" featuring Lamb of God's Randy Blythe

This Friday, March 28, New Zealand modern groove metal trio Alien Weaponry will release their heaviest, most powerful and mature offering to date, “Te Rā” via Napalm Records! Today, in celebration of this week's release, the band has unleashed one of the album's most aggressive, death-metal leaning offerings, Taniwha, featuring a raw, heavy-hitting contribution from longtime supporter and metal icon Randy Blythe of Lamb Of God.

Take a listen to the new track now – a special bonus listen two days in advance of the album's drop – and see below for insight into the track's inspirations! The new anthem follows acclaimed latest singles Mau Moko ("...top-notch technical thrash metal..." - Heavy Consequence) and "1000 Friends" ("a driving, riff forward affair that makes it super easy to bang your head to" - MetalSucks).

Alien Weaponry said about Taniwha:
“Lamb of God played a significant role in making Alien Weaponry what it is today and this collaboration with Randy Blythe feels like one of those ‘pinch yourself’ moments that our teenage selves would never believe possible. Randy’s lyricism and vocal expertise was an amazing addition to this song and we are beyond stoked to share this song/milestone with the world.”

You can listen to Taniwha on YouTube below:

Alien Weaponry have solidified themselves as one of the greatest young metal bands of their generation with renewed musical tenacity and crucial messaging. Since releasing their acclaimed debut “Tū” (2018), the band have been lauded for their kinetic presence and sound, as well as their vital blend of culturally profound lyricism in both English and te reo Māori, the indigenous language of New Zealand.

With their third full-length album, Alien Weaponry expand on their hallmark messages of cultural, societal and environmental resilience while delivering their most massive-sounding, focused musical output ever. In the hands of veteran producer/mixer Josh Wilbur (Lamb Of God, Gojira, Megadeth), Te Rā’s gnashing blend of groove, nu, math and thrash metal shines with anthemic choruses and refreshed technical skill. “Te Rā” is a bold, unwavering cry for a future in which we can all take part in the legacy of peoples like the Māori and others all around us – people who, if they aren’t seen, most certainly need to be heard! Taken as a whole, Te Rā grapples with what it’s like to be caught in the pull of divergent cultures – not just for the descendants of colonized people, but for all of us.

You can pre-order a copy of “Te Rā” from Napalm Records HERE.

On “Te Rā”, listeners can hear the band doubling-down on the aggression in the verses before applying temperance, especially in the case of Taniwha, a death metal-leaning banger featuring the particularly raw aforementioned guest vocal from Randy Blythe. Lyrically, there’s a noticeable tilt towards despondency, hopelessness, and frustration on “Te Rā”. While bassist Tūranga Porowini Morgan-Edmonds' lyrics in Māori on songs likeTama-nui-te-rā and Ponaturi draw from the themes of history, battle lore and mysticism that made the first two albums so rich, frontman/guitarist Lewis Raharuhi de Jong's English-language lyrics illustrate the impact when culture collides with disenfranchisement day to day. Crown and Hanging by a Thread take us into the headspace where struggle pushes people to the brink of desperation, while on Blackened Sky and 1000 Friends, Lewis addresses universal woes like the looming threat of World War III and the damaging effects of social media. On album closer Te Kore, Tūranga dives into primordial nothingness at the root of the Māori origin story, while on Mau Moko, he finds the middle ground between these perspectives. As the lyrics honor the traditional Māori practice of face tattooing, they also delve into the social costs of maintaining customs that are at-odds with dominant cultural norms.

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