Listen: Alien Weaponry Share New Song ‘Ahi Ka’

New Zealand rockers Alien Weaponry have shared their new song “Ahi Ka,” which premiered over at Billboard. The track, which recounts a dark episode in Waipu’s history, is their contribution to Adult Swim’s compilation Metal Swim 2. Listen to it below.

The song is inspired by the Auckland city council’s decision to burn down the indigenous Maori village of Okahu Bay prior to Queen Elizabeth II’s visit in 1953. This led to a 40-year battle for the native Ngati Whatua to take back their land, including protests and fights with the police. After much criticism, a small portion of the original land was returned with an apology and some compensation.

“We decided to write about it because it’s one of these untold stories in New Zealand history that really had a great impact on a lot of Maori,” guitarist Lewis de Jong told Billboard. His older brother, drummer Henry de Jong, adds, “For us, it’s something we felt needed to be brought to light more than it was. Me and Lewis are big fans of Adult Swim and all the shows. We thought this would be good for their compilation.”

The track appears on Adult Swim’s streaming only compilation Metal 2, which comes out May 3rd. The album also features tracks from Eyehategod, Baroness, Sunn O))), and Nervosa.

Meanwhile, Alien Weaponry will kick off their first headlining North American tour in support of their latest album Tu on May 4th in Mexico City. Their outing will include stops at various festivals, including Domination Festival, Chicago Open Air, and Rocklahoma. Check out all their dates here.

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