Keeping Māori Culture Alive with Thrash Metal: Alien Weaponry
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- Опубліковано 11 вер 2018
- VICE first spoke to Alien Weaponry when the then 14- and 16-year-olds had clear plans for world domination. Fast-forward a couple of years and the Waipu locals are well on the way with their songs of historical revenge and scathing social commentary. Signed to Austrian label Napalm records, their first album Tū debuted at the top of the New Zealand music charts, and this past summer they played Wacken Open Air, the biggest metal festival in the world.
In this documentary, Alien Weaponry: Thrash Metal and Te Reo Māori, our colleagues at VICE New Zealand go behind the scenes to embed with the de Jong brothers Henry (drums) and Lewis (guitars and vocals)-and their "honorable brother," friend Ethan Trembath (bass). We road tripped to Otaramare on the shores of Lake Rotoiti where the brothers reconnect with their iwi Ngāti Pikiao and Ngāti Ruakawa. At home, at school, at work, and on stage, we get a glimpse of the workings of a band on the rise, and their dedication to the resurgence of Te Reo Māori as it struggles for survival.
"We as Alien Weaponry want to get Māori out there to the world, in order to inspire New Zealanders to actually fight to keep the language," says Henry.
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"We as Alien Weaponry want to get Māori out there to the world, in order to inspire New Zealanders to actually fight to keep the language."
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This was great
I’m a brown Maori and these guys are more Maori than me
Honestly, this is my favourite band 🤙🏽
Jamal Sadler as a full blooded indigenous Mexicano(Náayeri to be exact) that is pretty sad that you feel these white partial natives are more indigenous than you are.
Big E in the UP Highly doubt that bud, since my family comes from small villages with a population of no more than a 1,000 people in the states of Nayarit and Jalisco, Mexico along the Sierra Madre Occidental, where the overwhelming majority of the population being primarily indigenous to be more exact Náayeri the name of my people and the Huichol the name of our ancestral neighbors. Mexico is also home to the largest population of full blooded indigenous peoples in the entire Western Hemisphere, so nice try.
@@juicyjay831 You do know that blood is meaningless in this sort of things right? It really doesn't matter what your blood or skin colour is, as long as you are part of the culture. And culture(along with language) is something that you learn, you do not carry it in your genes. For example: you may be a "full blooded" guy from China, but if you grew up in another country, you're not going to speak chinnese as your first language, you won't think like a chinese(because the dominant culture is another one, so therefore your emotional intelligence won't be the same as a chinnese).
@@juicyjay831 your name is Spanish, so you can understand the integration of foreign cultures into native cultures right.
I am NZ pakeha and I don't think colour has anything to do with your culture
When I first heard Kai Tangata on the radio. I didn’t get the name of the band. Then I heard it on Sirius radio on the metal station I got the name Alien Weaponry. The opening of this song got me hooked and when the singing started I was blown away. I’m thinking these guys are in their late 20’s or early 30’s. I looked them up and they’re younger then my boys. This album really took me in and I’m truly amazed at their talent and keeping a language Alive. My hats off to you guys. Looking forward to seeing a show here in Detroit. 🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟
2:59 That is NOT what I was expecting their dad to sound like.
hahahahahh yeah made me crack up lol
LOL.
@dingir xul He was one of the people in the video for *Raupatu,* I think. And he sounded fairly raspy to me. ua-cam.com/video/CrGHGwH2wlg/v-deo.html
He sounds kinda like Rhys Darby
This is so sick. Kinda reminds me of Roots-era Sepultura. It's really cool that they decided to sing in Maori, even sounds fitting for metal music. Funny how Lewis looked like he was trying to get a haka started towards the end
Damn Noisey, you're filming in _my_ homeland ! Goodluck to these young men .
*Thrash* the world with Te reo Māori !
So fucking PROUD of these young fullahs for just repping themselves, theyre whaanau, theyre hapuu theyre Iwi and theyre country-man they blow me away!!
Im very grateful they have embraced theyre whakapapa to theyre Tuupuna and r doing them and our culture justice.
I am part Ngati Pikiao from Okere Falls-Taheke Marae and am pleased n proud to see them go bk to theyre roots-and for myself-at least-I feel they r helping us all-Humanity to realise theres beauty in who we r-and we cn go forward in the world and share it with others and likewise accept wat others share with us. We r one family-the Human race, with totally awesome subtle differences and and uniquenesses that add to the beauty of wat life is all about.
No reiraka, aku Rangatira, nga whanaunga, nga uri o Houmaitawhiti-kaare roa aku koorero, engari ka huri au ki teetehi koorero o Kiingi Tawhiao " Kootahi te kowhao ka whati. Ki te kapuia, e kore e whati".
Nga mihi mahana kia koutou, Paimarire tonu kia raatou maa i wehe atu ki te ao whakamoe Ariki taenoa ki teeneki ao marama kia taatou oratanga. Teenaka koutou teenaka koutou teenaka taatou katoa.
This is the best thing to come out of New Zealand since Hobbits.
I 100% agree lol
You guys in the comments bringing these boys down need to chill out. They're just doing what they want to do and they're putting their best that they can put into it. Even if their skin was brown and looked Maori, the point of their existence as a band wouldn't change. They want to bring their cultural roots out in a time where it matters the most to them; let them be.
This comment section is a waste land. Shot to these brother's for sticking to their roots and doing something original
They probably play Thrash cause the dad looks like Tom Araya
Lmfao
Tom Araya comes from indigenous Native/ South American descent.
I think they'd ALL take that as a back handed compliment.
Metal always keeps cultures alive worldwide,Sepultura honoring Brazilian culture, Burzum keeping Nordic culture alive with their music
Though I agree that metal can keep cultures alive, there are better representations of Norwegian culture in artists other than Burzum
Lol Amon Amarth much?
@@Rreptillian they're Swedish and although I love them I was not talking about them. But in general I'm not a fan of Varg Vikernes, his way of "keeping the culture" means destroying other parts of it
Lol Burzum is Varg's wet dream "totally not nazism" brand of insanity. There are bands much closer to actually honoring Nordic culture (and without attacking other cultures too!) like Amon Amarth (Swedish, but still honoring Nordic/Norse culture), Tyr, etc.
Amorphis in Finland, though i dont buy that Burzum honoring any Norweigian :D
I saw the boys a week ago. Awesome (sold out!) show. And met their mother after the show, at the merch-stand. Great band!
I should try this here in Canada with Cree and Ojibwa
G4MER GUY nah that’s not needed 🤧
Don't infect this Western genre into the traditional music of the indigenous Americans.
Too late, you already have Testament and Anthrax for native US-Americans (Chuck Billy and Joey Belladonna), Sepultura for Brazil, Wrust for Botswana, Akvan for Iran, and tons from India, Indonesia, and most of the world. Metal is a global tribe of outcasts, many of whom use metal to revive their own culture. Cultural purity only kills culture.
please do brother...
G4MER GUY I’ll support 💪🏽
13:43 Grandma was queen
Skin pigment is one thing, but if it's in the blood it's in the blood.
Blood quantum doesn't actually matter either; upbringing, ancestral connections in the present, resisting assimilation, and practicing the Maori way of life is what matters. That doesn't mean just anyone can do it, their has to be reciprocity from the collective and the individual; it'd be like allowing someone who is 1/32 Indigenous with no upbringing to speak for those who have suffered at the hands of settler colonialism while they have not.
Resisting Assimilation??? what a joke.... HAHA is this Traditional Maori Music??? they are playing "Colonialists " ROCK AND ROLL!!! HAHAAAHAHA
And would you use that same argument on Indigenous dance and hip-hop/rap artists?
I would argue that you are still looking at skin colour and BQ; the medium changes, whereas the culture and messages remain similar and reproduced over time. Genre need not matter.
It would be problematic if someone were to produce this or even "traditional Maori music" from a colonial background without the connection to the culture, where this video shows these individuals are Maori regardless of BQ/pigment.
Yes, resisting assimilation is a thing, proven by cultures and Indigenous peoples who still remain as they have always been even against settler-colonial states, like the US, Canada, NZ, and Australia (to name the most reprehensible), and their assimilationist policies.
LOL..Indigenous dance and hip hop artists??...LOL..!! Which of those two is "resisting assimilation?..the hypocrisy is saying "what matters" is "resisting assimilation". HAHA....while these...um.... "Maori"......kids play non Maori "colonialist" music, on non Maori "colonialist" instruments, sounding just like "colonialist" bands,wearing "colonialist" style clothing, probably on their "colonialist" phones all day ..."practicing the Maori way of life"??.....but they are "resisting assimilation"??,,.....nah, not so much..they began assimilating when their great great great great grandfather Hongi Hika, and his tribe,the Ngapuhi iwi started trading his war victims shrunken heads for "colonialist" muskets,..
Its amazing how perfectly Te Reo Māori and Metal work together! Was never expected or considered, but they fit and work together so perfectly!
What's with all the negativity? These kids are awesome! I just became a fan, and I'm not even into metal
johnny kamuij : poseurs .
@@KYurbanHOMESTEADINg how exactly?
is goooooooooooood watch ut
exactly the point
Sounds interesting, I remember when sepultura was the hottest shit in the Americas simply because they injected some of their culture into the music.
Hope they can put maori into the music, aswell as the vocals
@@maxotto9877 Everyone at an Alien Weaponry concert.
They do. Watch the music videos. ua-cam.com/video/LQLd2T2TuMo/v-deo.html is one of the good ones, Leon.
I want them to be huge, they deserve every single bit of it, so much potential!
This was just a pleasure to watch. Well made!
AWESOME AWESOME, my family has been here since 1842 so you could say my blood line is committed to our fantastic land of Aotearoa. This generation of "Kids" has it sussed combining heavy metal with Te Reo Maori lyrics. When I first heard this sound I had tears streaming. So proud of how far we have come as a nation. Tea Kaha Kiwis
Loved seeing this video with your folks. We love your music so much!
Awesome noisey that u featured this band. They're awesome with original sick talent. Good to see them noticed and documented. They bring Maori culture and metal together and it works well. I just hope they put english titles on their songs and subtitles for people who don't understand, or lyrics. So people can sing along to the Maori language. Cool to see their life. : )
My fav song of there's is "Rū Ana Te Whenua..it's so badass, u guys should check it out.
#AlienWeaponry #Maori #NewZealand #metalband #metalhaka #haka #metal #music
I saw them in Wacken, awesome show! I hope these guys are gonna become really big
Zaphod how tall is Lewis?
Trooper Trooper I’m 6’1” and he was about my height when I met him
Saw them in the Netherlands, I was blown away, great talents!
My first with 30 years ago was Māori. She passed while we were married but I will always be in love with her culture and be connected to her past.
Keep this alive kids.
Great job.
Amazing video and insight. Amazing band and vision. Amazing history and culture.
Yes you pretty much are doing a karakia to the world my cuz, glad you're aware of the tapu. Fuckin love tōu koutou mahi 👋 from Raukawa too!! Chyeeeea, maha ōu koutou whakapapa rangatira e whanau mā
Just bought Tu. Such a refreshing listen and reminds me that metal thrives and still has the ability to surprise.
No se si alguien entenderá este comentario en español, pero siento que lo que tengo que decir es muy importante: Es impresionante el compromiso que estos jóvenes músicos tienen con sus raices ancestrales e históricas y que hayan escogido el Metal para expresarlo. Deseo fervientemente que no se dejen envolver y dominar por la efímera fama que atrae y corrompe a muchos metaleros, especialmente si son jóvenes cómo ellos; que sus antepasados Maoris les den sabiduria y madurez para que crezcan en su música y tradiciones y lo transmitan a través del Metal con el mismo o mayor poder que tienen en la actualidad. He visto comentarios donde los comparan con el Sepultura de Roots, pero aunque soy un gran fan de esa banda y especialmente de ese trabajo discográfico, considero a Alien Weaponry más sincero en su visión musical y cultural que a los brasileños, porque estos asumieron esas raices ancestrales (especialmente Max) mucho tiempo después de iniciada la banda. Pero los chicos de Alien no escogieron o se apropiaron de una cultura en particular: Ellos viven diariamente y tienen en su sangre sus vínculos con la cultura Maori, así que imaginense lo que puede lograr cómo músicos y cómo personas. Para finalizar... Larga Vida para Alien Weaponry...Larga Vida para el verdadero Heavy Metal...
All the heavy metal guys come from quite places which is awesome.
Always be proud of who you are, your roots and your culture! This band is AMAZING!
This is great! I would totally buy this music.
im from texas and i like this band.
Same
I third this
The language and metal are wicked combo love this band there new album was dope
I was looking up maori in mental health because I'm so lost and came across this .... pretty awesome boys, I would have never thought. Keep it up xo
I love these guys and everything they stand for!
How can I get some alien weaponry merch in the US?
Jacob Tittle www.alienweaponry.com/MerchDirect.html
they just started the US store. when you goto the site select the American store
Loved this!!! Amazing! Te hei mauri ora🤙🏽😛
Can't wait to see you guys in New Mexico US!!!
What are they rehearsing at 9:05
EDIT (found the song it was called pc bro)
As a Maori, this is awesome.. Mum n Dad even are dope..
can't wait to see em at download
Kyel Gibson side shows available in AUS as well. Seeing them 3 days before Download and Slayer 2 days before in Brissy. Gonna be an epic metal week!
These boys are great love their music
17:26 Dave Murray from early 80's time traveled to watch Alien Weaponry
Remind me of Sepultura
What's the first song called? Sounds absolutely epic.
Newy 1895 i agree.
Simple and humble kids doing amazing heavy music 👏❤
You guys should be SO PROUD!
This is so cool
More power to these guys!! Preserve your culture and keep creating your music! You have fans all over the world.
These guys crushed at bloodstock
Buy the album Tu!
Don't say "Lewis is loud but we're all loud"... jeezz
Wow!.....this documental make me feel that they have a very strong roots and a very close community. Beautiful. I started to love this culture and language. I wish to All the members of the group a successful career and all the best for the future.❤
mean brothers!! they're killing it now!!
That's badass. Keep doing what your doing boys, you'll be glad you did.
Estamos a 2004 y todavía sigo escuchando a esta banda que es una de las mejores que sigue habiendo en metal. ❤❤❤
Cheers 🤘🤘🥋From N Seattle. 🌎💲💲
Hope you all go on a U. S. Tour soon
Aye I was there, good show.
Lovely intimate vibe.
This is great, but I wish it had subtitles for Maori terms I don't understand :P
Thing is those terms are names, so they dont get translated. A whapua for example is like a village or settlement or better, a community.
Very cool idea
Great band. So tight
aye cleaned up the house for the fancy interview huh, miss u bro when im back come down to pap and see us
Loss of language is an issue for all indigenous peoples across the world. I am a Seneca Iroquois and can speak very little of Iroquoian language.
The Mohawks who are are brothers have a radio station that teaches language and recently my own tribe has created programs to create more fluent speakers... Their job is literally to learn to speak Seneca. Once they are proficient the plan is to have them teach classes to the young in school.
We have had to turn to technology and shed old perceptions of copying our language and customs down bc we have lost so much. The U.S.As genocide of our people and culture has left us with very few elders who speak fluently. Luckily we have finally taken the steps to capture those elders lessons before they move on so we can regain what was stripped of us using today's video and audio tech...
It is difficult because in the U.S and even on our people's territory there is no... Necessity I guess to use our own language because everyone speaks English. I'd say that is the biggest barrier we face reviving our language.
My sister is a fluent speaker and she uses "immersion" with the children she teaches (including mine) and her own children my nieces and nephews where she forces them to use Seneca language for sets amount of time per day. Like 4 hours of nothing but Seneca is used or aknowledged. So for example if the kids want something to drink they are forced to ask in Seneca, if she scolds them... She does it in Seneca. She will not respond to them using English. It forces them to find a usefulness for the language bc as kids they aren't aware of the precarious situation or the gravity of the history that is effecting us to motivate them to use the language.
Anyways I hope your people find a way to regain what was lost. Be weary of the day the elders who hold this knowledge are lost and be sure not to let that knowledge fade away with them. I always tell my fellow Senecas that we can always find new ways to do things. We did not stop existing as people. Nobody but us can dictate to us what is Seneca. So if we need to borrow technology or methodology from other people to forge our way forward in this world to exist... Then we must. We can not allow ourselves to be forgotten to history as a people that "used" to be. We must continue to grow and evolve as a distinct people and culture...
Good luck to your people I think the world could really use some of our values in the future. The world is teetering on the edge and maybe some of the values that indigenous people held so dearly yet were so thoroughly suppressed may be what is needed to pull humanity back from that brink...
Awesome band Awesome culture Maori!!!! Thanx!!!!!
I've long considered myself a thrash connoisseur, but had no idea that any such scene existed in New Zealand. It's official: I'm an idiot. :)
down to earth brothers!!
These guys are the future of Metal \m/
Very very cool.
District 9 is a cool movie my friends! Straight from my home country
Great story! Respect...
Cool Neo Thrash band. I saw them open for Ministry and they killed it. I wish them the best.
when he sings at 9.00 it remoinds me of bathory :O
thats awesome
Good video
Tu Meke e hoa ma, kia kaha kia maia kia manawanui - mauri ora
They are THE BEST!!!
Ill Bill should do a song with them.
Mauri' boys.. keep doing the mahi💯👆🏽✊🏽
Love these guys 🤟😜🤟💖
Ti hei Mauri ora, Tino pai rawa- Got the album, Kia ora Alien Weaponry,, Piki te ora piki te kaha, piki te Maramatanga, piki te mautaurangatanga, piki te manawanuitanga,, Mauri tu Mauri ora, Homia e Hui e Taiki e, Ka mau te wehi te roopu AW ARRRR
Chur, boys!!!
3:44 on to 4:24 sounds like classical Spanish flamenco guitar.
Ka pai tama maa.
Second Soulfly
"It's ginni bi si fin ti bi stick with thisi giys fir thrii mints"
Kia kaha the cuzzies
Haha. What makes Roto iti spooky?
Metal transends culture
These kids fucking rock
20:57
I love the way Lewis looks at Ethan like he’s a total snack
Keep the culture
He taua, HE TAUA! ✊
Fucking amazing!!! Maori will never die!!!
Did vice steal this from noisey or vice versa? Hahaha, don't really care because I'm stoked to see this video and this band get more views!
Can someone tell me how to pronounce it properly? I used to think it was "Mow-ree", but it sounds like one of them in the interview said, "Mow-dee".
Elidoransgar if you cant roll your R then say mouldy but say the d fast
Mouh rhee. Locals say Moh-ri. The language itself is called Te Reo
Māori, maaori, r is rolled as mentioned.
( Māo-ri )
Pretty cool parents :-)