This New Zealand Band Is Trying To Save Maori Culture One Head Banger At A Time

Brothers and bandmates Henry and Lewis de Jong, 17 and 15 respectively, were brought up on two things: culture and metal music. The two New Zealand natives fully embraced their heritage at a young age. They attended a Māori immersion primary school — known as a Kura Kaupapa — where they learned to speak fluent Te Reo Māori, the language of the country's indigenous population. Meanwhile at home, the boys were also being brought up on metal music. Their father-turned-band manager, Niel, used, , Lamb of God and Pantera. So when the brothers formed Alien Weaponry in 2010, mixing Māori with metal is just what they decided to do. Along with bassist Ethan Trembath, 15, who joined the band two years later, they're attracting a lot of attention for their songs addressing Māori issues sung in full Te Reo Māori. The video for their single "Rū Ana Te Whenua" (which translates to "The Trembling Earth") is sung in Te Reo and is reminiscent of haka, a traditional war dance of the Māori people.