Despite making it into three finals of national competitions, young Northland heavy metal band Alien Weaponry still has school to think about.
One member will even be sitting an NCEA level one algebra exam at Epsom Girls' Grammar in Auckland in between competing in the finals.
Waipu's Alien Weaponry have been strumming and screaming their way to the national finals of Battle of the Bands, Smokefree Rockquest and Smokefree Pacifica Beats.
But with the oldest member being Henry de Jong aged 15 and the other members Ethan Trembath and Lewis de Jong aged 13, juggling school life with band life means compromising.
"It's not so hard with Rockquest because it is a school competition but I've got an assessment the day we go down for the Rockquest final in September, so I'll be doing it at Epsom Girls'," said drummer Henry de Jong.
While it's the first time the band has entered the Pacifica Beats competition, it's their fourth year competing in Rockquest and the first time they have reached the final round.
"We were really surprised. I didn't think Rockquest would put a metal band in the final. They have before, when metal was in [fashion], but I think now they've had a good look at us."
The trio is the first metal band to make it to the final of Smokefree Pacifica Beats since 1999, where the band will be featuring its song in te reo Maori - Ruana Te Whenua.