ALBUM REVIEW: Tangaroa – Alien Weaponry
Hype can make or break a band. The expectations for the second album from young metal upstarts ALIEN WEAPONRY were enormous, and that precious killer follow-up could either see them shot into the metal stratosphere or hit that sophomore slump and slowly drift off into the ether.
Exploding onto the scene almost out of nowhere, the New Zealand trio garnered much attention from the metal press as well as fans due to their stomping riffs, killer drums and their choice to sing in Māori as well as English. While they flip back and forth between two languages, their decision to sing in a tongue that isn’t too familiar is incredibly bold but makes them stand out from the crowd and allows them to artistically explore their ancestry in the form of heavy metal.
While their 2018 debut Tu was a reasonable success, it was their adrenaline-filled live shows that really pushed them into the spotlight, along with their obvious talent at such young ages. The overall consensus was that these kids were something truly special and this fuelled the hype train for their next release. Tangaroa is ALIEN WEAPONRY reaching maturity and really coming into their own while staying true to their roots. On it, they delve deep into the stories of the native Māori people and create some of their most inspired and passionate tracks to date.
The album starts with the hypnotic rowing rhythms of Titokowaru. Chants open the track until the riff kicks in and it opens into a driving barrage of guitars. It flips back and forth in pace throughout and is a slightly slower burn of an album opener than expected. Hatupatu hits more like an opening track should and straight away forces your neck to headbang along. The Haka chanting we’ve now come to expect psyches you up during the verses and the chorus melody will no doubt be rolling around in your head long after the track comes to its conclusion, which is a welcome change-up filled with gang shouts and a pummelling riff.
The title track Tangaroa (name after the Māori God of the sea) is a big middle finger to those that don’t respect our oceans. The GOJIRA influence throughout is noticeable without ever getting close to plagiarism. The band are obviously strong advocates of supporting our marine life and battling climate change, and their passion shines through on this raw and thoughtful track. Speaking of raw, the production on this album is far from sparkling, but its almost hollow sound actually plays to the band’s advantage. METALLICA tried this kind of approach on St. Anger which didn’t pay off, but on Tangaroa the spartan sound makes the themes and stories told throughout hit all that harder. It adds aggression and gives it that sound you’d expect to hear from them on stage. It’s all very organic and not at all overly polished like a lot of metal albums released in recent years.
Fan favourite Ahi Ka features a speech from our lizard ruler herself, Queen Elizabeth II, during a trip to Auckland in which native people were removed from their villages to make way for her arrival. Knowing the background of the track gives it that extra punch.
The band’s proggier side comes out during the tracks Unforgiving and Crooked Monsters. Their ability to build a track up to an explosive end shows their maturation and improved songwriting skills since their debut. The vocal ability of Lewis De Jong is brought more to the forefront and you can hear the improvement in his voice quite clearly. His confidence has grown tenfold and he’s starting to experiment with different techniques.
Buried Underground is probably the only slight misstep on Tangaroa. It’s a very simple radio-friendly stomper that sadly doesn’t really add anything to the album and feels like a filler track. Its saving grace is that it could possibly be a live favourite. Fortunately, the album ends with a few high notes, first with the again GOJIRA inspired Ihenga, which gives off Flying Whales vibes from its melodic introduction that eventually opens up into some chunky riffs and guitar squeals. The final track Down The Rabbit Hole is a pissed off mid-tempo rager that rounds off the album in style.
ALIEN WEAPONRY prove once again why they are one of the most hyped bands in the game right now. Tangaroa is more of a Tanga-grower than a Tanga-shower – due to its slow burn it may take a few listens to become invested – but give it the time and love it deserves and you will become immersed in an album full of history and passion. Their improved songwriting skills and larger sidestep into the prog metal genre is well suited to them and these young lads still have so much time to perfect their craft.
Rating: 8/10
Tangaroa is set for release on September 17th via Napalm Records.
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