Puʻuhonua o Hōnauna (City of Refuge), an ancient Hawai'an mausoleum and sanctuary site. These ki'i (tiki statues) have stood guard for thousands of years over Hōnauna Bay.
Puʻuhonua o Hōnauna (City of Refuge), an ancient Hawai'an mausoleum and
sanctuary site.
These ki'i (tiki statues) have stood guard for thousands of years over
Hōnauna Bay.
The incredible Pacific Islands have many sounds, and at least
four of the thousands are absolutely metal.
We have heard Hawai'ian, Hiri Motu (Papua New Guinea), Maori,
Melanesian and Tahitian heritage fused with heavy sound.
This is natural attraction toward this hybrid, and partial colonialism because of UK occupation in the Pacific peninsula
(RNZ).
Let's travel there now.
Alien Weaponry is a Kiwi thrash metal trio from Waipu, New
Zealand
who changed the metal
world with Kai Tangata—a haunting war
song
about
Christianity’s conquest in Maori lands.
Screenshot, 'Kai Tangata'
Tūmatauenga is a Maori war divinity from which their debut album Tū got its name.
Henry de Jong is Alien Weaponry's drummer, and he wrote much of
'Kai Tangata's
lyrics which are in te reo Maori.
“Quite a few of the songs on the album are about battles or conflict.
So we thought it was appropriate to name the album after Tūmatauenga.
Tū also means to stand strong and proud, to stand for something;
which we think is important as a band and as people.”
(YouTube)
'Blinded' YOUTUBE
Alien Weaponry are with Napalm Records, the acclaimed metal label!
Copenhell Festival showcased the band's artistic expression of Maori heritage too.
Staff reached out to Kane Harnett-Mutu, who's based in Denmark
and instructor of haka tradition for over 20 years (Metro).
Haka Flash Mob and Alien Weaponry, COPENHELL YOUTUBE
OFFICIAL SITE FACEBOOK YOUTUBE
AquaFire is a Papua New Guinean power metalcore band.
Local music enthusiasts have loved them for years and looked
forward
to their epic concerts in Port Moresby.
Anthems like 'Say Goodbye' are powerful songs about loved ones who have passed away.
Photo Credit:
Framing
Niugini
Metal explores coping and mental health in ways that other genres have not to date.
Highlights, Vember Fest 2018 YOUTUBE
You can find more Pasifika metal events on this dedicated page!
Darkaside has played
Metal United World Wide PNG and
Tritones POM Metal Fest with
AquaFire!
It all started on the year of metal for Papua New Guinea:
2017 (Loop PNG).
Cowboys from Hell
(Pantera Cover), Metal United World Wide PNG 2018
YOUTUBE
“Just this year, they are coming out and being heard as
previously heavy metal has been only an underground genre.”
'Down With The Sickness' (Disturbed Cover), Live at Bouganville YOUTUBE
Darkaside will be at
X Music Festival,
a hard rock, punk
and metal event in November. Don't miss it!
"Falls Apart" was the first heavy metal song to shred PNG radio, and Hyer hasn't slowed down (Loop PNG).
Adrian Gedisa is a Papuan underground guitarist who honed
his skills
with other virtuosos
like Jeffrey Vagalia and John Warbat (Inspirational
Papua New Guineans).
He decided to play metal after learning the instrument, and
hearing the genre as
a teenager (Loop
PNG).
Hyer is a major milestone in a long, musical journey.
This djent-melodic deathcore band lives in Waianae.
Nesta needs no help from volcanos for explosive sound.
They have an extremely impressive discography, and thought goes into every detail.
OFFICIAL SITE BANDCAMP FACEBOOK YOUTUBE
The Tahitian band is inspired by the ancestral lunar calendar of the same name.
Expect a hardcore punk edge.
Metal Fest at Helios YOUTUBE
'I'm Broken' (Pantera Cover), 2014 YOUTUBE
Their most recent performance is at Totara Rock Festival 2019 in Pirae, French Polynesia!
They are the pioneer Hawai'an metal band: heavy,
unapologetic, beloved by underground and mainstream fans.
"At the beginning of my career I loved the first Van Halen, Uli Roth, Pat Travers and things like that.
I have always been attracted by sounds that, although different from Dee's
European metal,
were always referable to rock," says Mark Kaliwahea
(Loud
and Proud (Italian)/English).
Sacred Rite has no new material since 2007 but raise your horns to these Pasifika
thrash lords.
They rock metal shows like German mega-festival Keep It True
(link)
to this day!
'Wings of Pegasus/I've Seen The Wizard', Keep It True, Live 2019 YOUTUBE
Metal never goes out of style.
OFFICIAL SITE FACEBOOK YOUTUBE
Metal's roots on the Solomon Islands originated in the United Kingdom, and took hold around 1991.
"I think in all the Melanesian countries, the Solomons is the centre of heavy metal.
Because of the British influence even way back when
rock
and roll was popular in Solomon Islands.
Up until the era of the likes of Sharzy and other
island
artists then it started to die out.
But how I see it, there are still a lot of people
who love heavy metal in
Solomon Islands,"
said Fearly Kofana, clean vocalist for Sons of Solomon (RNZ).
'New Beginning'
YOUTUBE
Their latest single is symbolic of Solomon Islands metal
and a new generation of bands on the rise.
Lead guitarist Floyd Kofela knows this is no trend.
"For me, I just feel like metal music has a part to play in the whole music industry in Solomon Islands.
So we just want to complement Solomon Islands music as a
whole and be part of the Solomon Islands music industry as well." (RNZ)
Papua New Guinea's and Pasifika metal would be less powerful without support.
So Tritones brings PNG metal to a world stage!
Carmel Pilotti is the force behind this excellent promotion company.
Credit: Kreative
Events Production/Tritones
Music
POM Metal Fest 2017 was a smash hit for upcoming bands,
and
metalheads who are eager to hear new music as well.
Metal Mania at the Cosmopolitan, Port Moresby, 2018 YOUTUBE
“Heavy metal is not really a popular genre here...the second show now?
The turn-out was just great. I think it’s great.
I think it’s only gonna grow.” (YouTube)
Varua Ino is a Tahitian heavy and thrash metal band who are musical forces against corruption, the rising tides.
Government campaigns can’t censor them!
Scum (Full Album) YOUTUBE
This is extremely underground music with a message: you cannot control the people's will.
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