Alcatraz Line up: 2019

We all know the iconic Haka, a fierce ceremonial dance performed for a variety of reasons such as gearing up for war or welcoming guests. The young thrash metallers from Alien Weaponry find inspiration in their culture and on their maiden CD ‘Tū’ they mix their heritage with melodic thrash metal. The use of traditional instruments gives the album a vibe that calls to mind Sepultura’s ‘Roots’. Alien Weaponry formed in 2010, when founding members Lewis and Henry de Jong were just 8 and 10 years old respectively. Bassist Ethan Trembath was recruited when then they moved to Waipu, a picturesque little town nestled in New Zealand’s spectacular scenery. Their debut EP ‘The Zego Sessions’ dropped in 2014, followed two years later by ‘Tū’. The tracks are partly sung in Māori and have a war chant vibe but that’s no surprise if you know that the album was named after the mythical figure of Tūmatauenga, the god of war in the Māori culture. The lyrics on ‘Tū’ focus on historical events from Māori history. Tribal thrash comes to Alcatraz thanks to the youngest band on the bill. Time for a thrash haka in the moshpit?