Concert Review

New Zealand’s Alien Weaponry Invade Brooklyn’s Saint Vitus

On a dark October night severe weather conditions loomed with heavy rain falls predicted for the New York City area, yet this would not stop fans from braving these conditions to pack into Saint Vitus for the chance to see New Zealand’s thrash metalers Alien Weaponry as they made their stop at the well known Brooklyn venue on their ‘Tangaroa North American Tour‘. This tour is a bit of special unlike most for the fact that these dates are one offs with only one local band supporting from the area they’re playing while the group is out on the road as special guest opening for Gojira. Embarking on my trek in a torrential downpour I found myself having to take cover under an overpass a couple of blocks from the well known Brooklyn venue. After trying to wait out the downpour I realized it wasn’t going to let up anytime soon and continued my journey to the venue. Soaked on every inch that my umbrella didn’t cover I finally arrived just in time to catch end of Loss Becomes set.

While waiting for the young trio to take the stage fans gathered in the bar area grabbing drinks and socializing whiles others kept themselves planted towards the front of the stage so they wouldn’t lose their spots as the crowds would begin to pour back into the stage area. Still very much damp I made my way to the stage as the cheers began to rise as the house lights dimmed. Alien Weaponry took the stage to a welcoming roar from fans as this power trio went full force into the opening of their set. Since seeing the band for the first time back in 2018 when they supported Ministry on their North American tour supporting their newest release ‘Tangaroa.’ This show was the first seeing the band with their new bassist and long time high school friend Tūranga Morgan-Edmonds. Alien Weaponry’s unique thrash sound breaks down many barriers of traditional thrash music, with lyrics in both English and their native Māori language their songs are true reflection of their native roots with lyrics that refer to the grim events from New Zealand’s colonial past.

Laser focused on the stage, fans old and young expressed their enthusiasm by holding their fist high in the air and yelling out their favorites in between breaks. With small circle pits starting up during the songs and I say small in the sense that the crowd was well packed with bodies, both Lewis de Jung and Morgan-Edmonds thrashed about the stage. As vocalist/guitarist Lewis de Jong expressed his love for being in New York and playing Saint Vitus, a roar from the crowd uprose expressing their love for the band. Pounding through a blistering set compiled of both old and new and what seemed almost two hours long, the adrenaline fueled trio melted the faces of the crowd young and old and certainly dried off anyone who was soaked from the rain myself included.

Alien Weaponry are a young band that has received a great deal of recognition since hitting the scene in the states and have long road of success in front of them.

Alien Weaponry:

Lewis de Jong – Vocals/Guitar

Henry de Jong – Drums/Backing Vocals

Tūranga Morgan-Edmonds – Bass/Backing Vocals

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