Alien Weaponry - Thrash Metal and Te Reo Māori

Alien Weaponry are a thrash metal band which often sings in te reo Māori. This Vice documentary meets them as they prepare to tour Europe, and take the metal world by storm. The quiet lives of the members — Lewis de Jong and Ethan Trembath attend different high schools, while Henry de Jong is an apprentice mechanic — are contrasted with a high intensity performance (at the Auckland release show for the band's debut album Tū). The de Jong parents share stories about their two sons, and the band travel to Lake Rotoiti, to reconnect with their whakapapa. 

The first time I came over here ... Niel [de Jong] was passing around the bass between other kids. Every body was kinda trying it out but I was the only kid that could reach the end of the bass comfortably.

– Bass player Ethan Trembath, on the qualifications that got him into the band

Key Cast & Crew

Tim Flower

Cinematographer

Josh Yong

Editor

Ursula Grace Williams

Producer

Hamish Pattison

Camera Operator

Kent Belcher

Camera Operator

Greg Cooper

Post-Production Manager