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Tangaroa (album)

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Tangaroa
Cover art of the album
Studio album by
Alien Weaponry
Released17 September 2021
GenreGroove metal, thrash metal, alternative metal[1][2][3]
Length1:25:59
LanguageEnglish, Māori
LabelNapalm
Alien Weaponry chronology
Tū
(2018) 		Tangaroa
(2021)
Singles from Tangaroa
  1. "Ahi Kā"
    Released: 2 May 2019[4]
  2. "Blinded"
    Released: 12 July 2019[5]
  3. "Tangaroa"
    Released: 16 June 2021[6][7]
  4. "Buried Underground"
    Released: 5 August 2021[8][9][10][11]
  5. "Hatupatu"
    Released: 17 September 2021[12]

Tangaroa is the second studio album by New Zealand metal band Alien Weaponry, released on 17 September 2021 by Napalm Records.[6][13][7][14][15] The album is the last to feature bassist Ethan Trembath and the first with Trembath's replacement, Tūranga Morgan-Edmonds.[16]

As with their debut, the album features tracks sung both in English and in Māori and incorporates elements of native music,[17] including the usage of taonga pūoro[6][18] such as the pūtātara.[19]

Following the album's release, the band is expected to support Gojira on their American tour, alongside fellow support act Knocked Loose.[7]

Lyrical themes

The first single to be released was "Ahi Kā", which talks about how the Auckland City Council removed Ngāti Whātua people from their homes in Ōkahu Bay and then proceeded to burn the houses down in order to beautify the city in preparation for a visit by Queen Elizabeth II in the early 1950s.[20][4][21] It was included on Adult Swim's Metal Swim 2 compilation and premiered on Billboard's website on 2 May 2019,[4][21] later receiving a video.[21]

The second single, also released in 2019, was "Blinded", a song that had originally been released as a B-side of "Ahi Kā". Frontman Lewis de Jong said that the song has a "very personal meaning" for him, but that the band wanted the video to "leave things more open, so people can interpret it their own way".[5]

The third single was the title track, released on the day of the album's announcement, which discusses the pollution of the oceans by plastic materials.[6][13][7][14][15] It received a video shot almost entirely underwater[22] and aims at supporting the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.[7]

The fourth single and video was "Buried Underground", which received a video alternating images of the band live or in front of animated graphics with images recorded by fans in which they appear dancing a stomping-like choreography to match the song.[8][9][10][11] Its lyrics discuss the effects of drug abuse.[7]

On the day of the album's release the fifth single and video was also released, "Hatupatu", which tells the tale of the homonymous Māori mythological figure.[12]

Other tracks deal with New Zealand and Māori history, such as "Titokowaru", which tells the tale of Ngāti Ruanui chief Tītokowaru, and his military victories over British colonisers. There are also songs about personal battles, such as "Unforgiving" (about self-loathing and insecurity) and "Dad" (about parent absenteeism).[7][16]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
RAMzine[17]
Metal.de5/10[1]
Metal Hammer[16]
Kerrang!3/5[2]
Blabbermouth.net8/10[3]
Tuonela MagazineFavorable[20]

Jay Brown from RAMzine compared the band's usage of native elements with early Soulfly and the album's modern sound with Gojira's Fortitude. He concluded saying that "as the band have matured, their music has too, [...] this isn't a run of the mill, appeal to everyone record and neither is Alien Weaponry, this is a band with a purpose and this album was made to serve that purpose and it does so extremely well."[17]

Metal Hammer's Elliot Leaver called Tangaroa "the natural successor to Tū". He considered it "a more mature release that sees Alien Weaponry both consolidate their sound and progress as an outfit" and that with the album, the band proves "they're not a flash in the pan; Alien Weaponry have come of age."[16]

Angela Davey, on her review for Kerrang!, said that "there's a freshness that keeps every song interesting" and reflected that now they join "the likes of Gojira and Cattle Decapitation in their fight to save the planet", finishing her review with "they are unlike any other band and it's this uniqueness that makes them truly great."[2]

Writing for Blabbermouth.net, Dom Lawson considered Tangaroa "a much stronger record than its predecessor. [...] this is a record that crackles with enhanced urgency, as if ALIEN WEAPONRY are militant and myopic in the pursuit of their musical dreams, and its finest moments seem to confirm that the Kiwis are well-equipped for the long haul." He ultimately called it "a brave, invigorating and frequently surprising record", hailing the trio as "promising young upstarts" who "sound rather more like battle-hardened diehards with a point to prove and the conviction, and songs, to back it up."[3]

Tuonela Magazine's editor-in-chief Laureline Tilkin noted some progressive elements in the band's instrumentation and called Tangaroa "a versatile album combining elements from ALIEN WEAPONRY's first album with a more progressive edge. This mix of new elements into the sound makes their songs more mature and very layered. [...] This album breathes an organic nature, is incredibly raw, but somehow it still sounds big and epic, while not using any of the gimmicks that are in fashion right now." She ultimately considered it a contender for album of the year.[20]

In a mixed review for Metal.de, Tim Otterbeck also noted more progressive elements, but saw them as a problem because "the progressive insertions sometimes drag the songs out too artificially, but without creating the necessary tension over long stretches." He also criticized De Jong's singing for lacking "pressure"; the drums' mixing for making them sound "thin" and said the album lacks "real bangers" and that many songs "take a long time to even begin and then they just stumble irrelevantly towards the end."[1]

Track listing

Tangaroa track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Titokowaru"5:51
2."Hatupatu"5:31
3."Ahi Kā"3:45
4."Tangaroa"5:42
5."Unforgiving"7:10
6."Blinded"5:37
7."Kai Whatu"5:16
8."Crooked Monsters"4:23
9."Buried Underground"3:56
10."Dad"4:51
11."Īhenga"5:18
12."Down the Rabbit Hole"5:04
Total length:1:05:19
Bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."Tangaroa" (radio edit)4:48
14."Buried Underground" (radio edit)3:36
15."Hatupatu" (radio edit)4:46
16."Titokowaru" (radio edit)4:14
17."Ihenga" (radio edit)3:16
Total length:1:25:59

Charts

Chart performance for Tangaroa
Charts (2021) Peak
position
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[23] 19
New Zealand Artist Albums (RMNZ)[24] 4

Personnel

  • Lewis Raharuhi de Jong – lead guitar, lead vocals, original drawing of cover art[7]
  • Ethan Trembath – bass, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Dad"
  • Henry te Reiwhati de Jong – drums, backing vocals
  • Tūranga Porowini Morgan-Edmonds – rhythm guitar, bass (credited, but does not perform), backing vocals on "Unforgiving"[6][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c Otterbeck, Tim (16 September 2021). "Alien Weaponry - Tangaroa". Metal.de (in German). Versus Media UG. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Davey, Angela (17 September 2021). "Album review: Alien Weaponry – Tangaroa". Kerrang!. Wasted Talent Ltd. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Lawson, Dom. "CD Reviews - Tangaroa Alien Weaponry". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  4. ^ a b c Graff, Gary (2 May 2019). "Alien Weaponry Release Historically Minded New Adult Swim Single 'Ahi Ka': Premiere". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  5. ^ a b Lewry, Fraser (12 July 2019). "Alien Weaponry launch epic video for Blinded". Metal Hammer. Future plc. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e "ALIEN WEAPONRY Announce September Release Date For Tangaroa Album; Music Video For Title Track Posted". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Global Metal Stars ALIEN WEAPONRY to Release New Album "Tangaroa" on September 17, 2021 via NAPALM RECORDS". Sonic Perspectives. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  8. ^ a b DiVita, Joe (5 August 2021). "Alien Weaponry Unveil 'Buried Underground' Video Featuring Fan-Submitted 'Stomp' Clips". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  9. ^ a b Scarlett, Elizabeth (5 August 2021). "Alien Weaponry get their fans involved in the awesome music video for new single Buried Underground". Metal Hammer. Future plc. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  10. ^ a b "See Alien Weaponry Get Fans Stomping in New "Buried Underground" Video". Revolver. Project M Group LLC. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  11. ^ a b Michels, Alexandra (5 August 2021). "ALIEN WEAPONRY - 'Buried Underground'-Clip enthüllt". Rock Hard (in German). Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  12. ^ a b Gonzales, Ramon (17 September 2021). "Alien Weaponry celebrate the release of their sophomore album 'Tangaroa' with their most ferocious single to date, "Hatupatu"". Knotfest. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  13. ^ a b Sacher, Andrew (23 June 2021). "Alien Weaponry releasing new LP 'Tangaroa' (exclusive blue vinyl pre-order & new video)". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  14. ^ a b DiVita, Joe (16 June 2021). "Alien Weaponry Return With Pounding 'Tangaroa' Title Track, New Album Announced". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  15. ^ a b Carter, Emily (16 June 2021). "Alien Weaponry announce new album Tangaroa; unleash powerful, important title-track". Kerrang!. Wasted Talent Ltd. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  16. ^ a b c d Leaver, Elliot (16 September 2021). "Alien Weaponry's Tangaroa: Māori metal sensations come of age". Metal Hammer. Future plc. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  17. ^ a b c Brown, Jay (20 September 2021). "Alien Weaponry continue their cause on second album". RAMzine. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  18. ^ Bauer, Simon (16 June 2021). "ALIEN WEAPONRY - Titeltrack zum "Tangaroa"-Album im Musikvideo". Rock Hard (in German). Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  19. ^ Harris, Brenton (20 September 2021). "Interview - Alien Weaponry Talk 'Tangaroa' And Bringing Māori History To The Metal Masses". Maniacs. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  20. ^ a b c Tilkin, Laureline (6 September 2021). "REVIEW: Alien Weaponry – Tangaroa". Tuonela Magazine. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  21. ^ a b c "See Alien Weaponry Rage Against Māori Oppression in New "Ahi Kā" Video". Revolver. Project M Group LLC. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  22. ^ "Māori thrash-metal band Alien Weaponry announce new album and share single/video 'Tangaroa'". RNZ. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 17 June 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  23. ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 25 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  24. ^ "OFFICIAL TOP 20 NZ ALBUMS". Recorded Music NZ. 25 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
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