Concert Review: Alien Weaponry – The Powerstation December 5, 2020

0

Bulldozing into Auckland’s hallowed Powerstation, Alien Weaponry take no prisoners as they close out their Level One Tour with a bang.

While the rest of the world sits out the current pandemic we here in NZ are privileged to rock out as one. Tonight it’s the bone-crushing hard rock of Alien Weaponry.

The trio is sporting a new bass player…original thumper Ethan Trembath has taken his leave (his sanity a priority), so into the craziness steps new man Tūranga Morgan-Edmonds. I’ll say one thing for him, he has one of finest hairdos for a bassist since the glory days of Louis Johnson and Bootsy Collins. And his 5-string bass laid down a solid foundation for brothers Lewis and Henry de Jong to wail away on their guitars and drums.

And wail away they do…but the set begins with a Haka lead by drummer Henry and the crowd was receptive, respectful and ready to rock.

Known as a “Te Reo Metal Band” the trio proves over and over again that they are anything but a novelty act.

Bursting out of the gate with PC Bro, the aural assault continues with Holding My Breath and the aptly-named Rage all from their 2018 album, Tū.

But this wasn’t simply a run through the past, these guys have new songs and they lets us hear them loud and clear. First came Tangaroa then later Blinded and Buried Underground.

Lewis encouraged a singalong as he intro’d Urutaa, but the mosh pit really exploded during Ahi Kā and Kai tangata.

The only misstep the band made was stopping mid-set to shoot some video footage that included a bit of audience participation. If you’re going to do something like this make it quick and simple. Unfortunately they felt the need to run through three takes and the lull drained some of the energy from the room.

They resumed with Whispers and fists were raised and band and audience were back in sync.

The well-deserved encored included new song Buried Underground and then Rū ana Te Whenua, dedicated to the brothers’ great grandfather who fought in the Maori Wars in the 1860s.

A brief mention to opening act Seas Of Conflict…the Hamilton-based hard rockers were solid but somewhat generic-sounding although front man Kody Nadoo is someone to watch.

Marty Duda

Click any icon to open a full-size gallery of photos from Rachel Webb

Alien Weaponry

Seas of Conflict

Marty Duda
Latest posts by Marty Duda (see all)