Northland metal band Alien Weaponry score major US tour support slot

Northland teen thrash metal band Alien Weaponry have scored a major coup, opening for industrial rock band Ministry on a major US tour.

They are not yet out of their teens, but Northland thrash metal band Alien Weaponry are advancing in their aim of world domination by scoring a support slot for rock legends Ministry on their massive North American tour.

Alien Weaponry, comprising Henry De Jong, 18, Lewis De Jong, 16, and Ethan Trembath, 16, hail from Waipū, Whangārei and have had a stellar few years, winning multiple awards in New Zealand and playing at some of Europe's largest rock festivals.

Earlier this year they released debut album, Tū, which has metal songs in te reo Māori, to rave reviews internationally; had a highly successful first tour of Europe, Australia and the UK, including performances at Wacken Open Air, MetalDays and Bloodstock; and have four Tui nominations in the Vodafone NZ Music Awards.

But the band's latest achievement could push them to the next level of musical stardom and expose them to tens of thousands of American rock fans.

They will be touring North America for the first time ever – supporting industrial legends Ministry. The 22-date tour - which also includes a gig in Toronto, Canada - starts on November 21 in San Francisco and runs until December 21 in Los Angeles.

The three teenagers, described by American music and youth culture channel Noisey as a band "well on their way to world domination", got the news just a week before heading home from Europe.

"We are so excited to get this opportunity," says lead singer and guitarist Lewis de Jong.
"We have been getting so many emails and comments and messages via social media asking us to come to the USA and Canada, we knew it was going to happen sooner or later, but this is a lot sooner than we expected."

Ministry was one of the bands the teens listened to a lot growing up, drummer Henry de Jong said, "so to be on stage with them on our first North American tour is going to be pretty amazing".