As Alien Weaponry prepare to return to Australian shores this March supporting thrash metal giants Anthrax, the New Zealand groove metal force are not just riding the momentum of a new album cycle. They are stepping into this run sharpened, road tested, and operating with the kind of confidence that only comes from relentless touring and hard earned growth.
When Crannk last caught up with the band around the release of Te Rā nearly a year ago, the conversation centred around evolution. Moving beyond the teenage breakout narrative. Stepping into maturity. Owning their sound.
Fast forward to 2026, and that evolution is being stress tested on international stages night after night.
Currently wrapping a European tour run before flying straight into the Anthrax dates, the band are hitting Australia already in full stride.
“By the looks of it, it’s going to be a great tour,” they explain. “We toured with Anthrax back in 2019 over here in Europe, so it’ll be nice reconnecting and showing them that we’ve actually improved as a band.”
There is no downtime between runs. No reset button. Just flow.
“We’ll be nice and warmed up and in the groove. All our changeovers will be super snappy. It’s going to be fun.”
That polish has been forged through constant touring, including European dates alongside Avatar and previous US runs. Even with the occasional bump in the road, such as cancelled shows due to illness, the machine keeps moving.
“Shit like that happens on tour and you learn how to deal with it. It kind of gave the neck a chance to recover. First world problems.”
A Setlist Built To Convert
Supporting legacy acts like Anthrax means you have roughly thirty minutes to win over a room that may not yet be yours.
Alien Weaponry have refined that formula to near surgical precision.
“When you’re opening for a band and you’re trying to sell yourself to a crowd, the setlist we’re currently working with has just been working a charm.”
Their current live configuration blends signature catalogue staples like “Rū Ana” and “Kai Tangata” with newer cuts from Te Rā including “Mau Moko” and “Taniwha,” striking a balance between familiarity and forward motion.
“We feel like this setlist is just start to finish, perfect for a live support slot.”
They have also learned how to read a crowd.
“You can play the first few songs and the crowd’s kind of like, yeah this is cool. Then Lewis announces ‘Kai Tangata’ and they go, oh it’s this band. Then you can really wake them up for the closer.”
It is a strategic approach. Tailored depending on the headliner. Kerry King’s thrash audience demands different pacing to Avatar’s groove driven crowd.
“You look at the target audience. Kerry King is different to Avatar. You adjust accordingly.”
That adaptability will be crucial when stepping onto stages ahead of Anthrax’s Australian crowds this March.
Māori On A Global Stage
One of the most striking aspects of Alien Weaponry’s rise continues to be the global response to their Māori language material.
Watching fans in Spain and Portugal mouth every lyric despite not speaking English fluently is still something that surprises them.
“You see someone who maybe wouldn’t even speak English as a native language singing every single Māori lyric. You watch them mouth the words to an entire thirty minute set. It’s like, okay, anyone can do it.”
That moment is not lost on them, especially considering how often they were told growing up that te reo Māori would not travel beyond New Zealand.
“A lot of New Zealanders were told you’re never going to use that language outside of New Zealand. I guess what we’re doing right now is proving that statement wrong.”
The band have noticed that international audiences still strongly gravitate toward the Māori songs. If anything, that preference has reinforced an idea they are quietly exploring.
“If we were to make a conscious shift, instead of making more Māori songs, we’d probably make more bilingual songs. Songs like ‘Tangaroa’ and ‘Whispers’ are received really well.”
It is not about abandoning one side of their identity for another. It is about refining how both languages coexist inside the same sonic space.
Sharpening The Machine
Beyond songwriting and cultural conversations, a major shift in this touring era has been technical.
Alien Weaponry have streamlined their entire stage operation.
Switching to Quad Cortex units instead of traditional amp and cab setups has significantly reduced setup time. On large scale support tours where every minute counts, that efficiency matters.
“You don’t want to be the band that takes forever to get off stage,” they explain. “Their crew, their management, they all talk about how you function as an opening band.”
Now, the trio are largely running their own stage logistics with minimal crew support, tightening their changeovers to the fastest they have ever been.
“It’s so fine tuned right now. Some of these shows have big productions with a lot of moving parts. When it comes to our turn, they know we’re just going to get on and be done in fifteen minutes. It’s nice to get that positive feedback.”
It is a return to grassroots self sufficiency, but paradoxically at their most professional level yet.
Europe Versus Home
While European crowds bring undeniable intensity, the connection at home still hits differently.
“In New Zealand you look at the crowd and every ten seconds you’re like, I know that person. I know that person.”
There has also been a noticeable shift in domestic audiences. Younger fans who were once too young to attend shows are now front and centre.
“The headline run we did back home was such a fantastic tour. The energy was unlike anything we’d had before.”
Metal may still feel culturally under appreciated in Australasia compared to Europe, but the tide is shifting.
And when they bring that European sharpened edge back to Australia this March, they do so as a band that has grown into its own weight.
Down Under With Anthrax
Anthrax return to Australia for the first time since 2019, bringing their career spanning thrash assault to Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney this March.
Alien Weaponry will be right there with them.
For the band, it is more than just another support slot. It is a milestone that reflects how far they have come from those early teenage years playing small rooms and loading gear up three storey staircases in venues like Adelaide’s long closed Enigma Bar.
“It’s been too long. Way too long.”
Australia can expect a band in full flight. Tight. Focused. Battle hardened.
Get in early. Because once Alien Weaponry hit the stage, they do not waste a second.
Anthrax with Alien Weaponry Australian Dates
Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane Monday 23 March
Hindley St. Music Hall, Adelaide Wednesday 25 March
Festival Hall, Melbourne Thursday 26 March
Enmore Theatre, Sydney Saturday 28 March
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
For complete tour and ticket information, visit: livenation.com.au
