10 Best New Heavy Metal Bands Of 2018

Almost every metalhead has been involved in a teen band: a group of you and your likeminded schoolmates who were, naively, determined to smash the system and become arena-filling heroes, despite no chance of it ever happening.

Alien Weaponry is a teen band that has actually achieved those visions. With members between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, the New Zealand trio wowed this year as the brilliance of their Māori metal belied their youth.

Their 2018 debut, Tū, is named after the Māori people’s awe-inspiring god of war. Tū is just as imposing as its namesake, as three youngsters that aren’t old enough to rent a car create a heavy, poignant and tribal masterpiece. At its core, it’s equal parts thrash, groove and nu metal, providing all the perfect ingredients for some destructive yet head-bang-inducing anthems.

But it’s what Alien Weaponry add on top of their hook-laden backbone that makes Tū so impressive. Polynesian chants and the Māori language are commonplace, as are lyrics centred around persecution, alienation and prejudice.

In the end, Tū is Sepultura’s Roots for 2018. It is doubtlessly going to be a large stepping stone for Alien Weaponry, who have started a promising career extremely young.