Sepultura’s Roots opened the floodgates for metal bands weaving their own cultural traditions into heavy music. In the decades since, acts such as Bloodywood, The Hu, Babymetal and Heilung have each taken that idea in different directions. Alien Weaponry belong firmly to that lineage, fusing muscular thrash metal riffing with Māori lyrics and traditional chanting, a combination that works because both elements share the same combative spirit. The pit opened almost immediately and remained in constant motion throughout their set. Getting metal fans to mosh is one thing, but when they claim a band as their own the loyalty tends to stick. Fifteen years into their career, Alien Weaponry are still climbing, and nothing about their performance suggested they plan on slowing down anytime soon.
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