Are these teenage metallers NZ's next big thing?

The three members of Alien Weaponry: Lewis de Jong, Henry de Jong and Ethan Trembath. Photo/Richard Voss

Metallers Henry de Jong (top left), Ethan Trembath and Lewis de Jong (front).

Three teenage metallers from Northland have become the youngest artists to receive NZ On Air funding.

From the band Alien Weaponry, the Waipu teens have been awarded $10,000 towards making a video for their song Ruana Te Whenua (The Trembling Earth).

They were chosen as one of 12 acts to receive funding from a pool of 123 entrants.

The death metal sound of brothers Lewis de Jong, 13, (guitar & lead vocals), Henry de Jong, 15, (drums) and friend Ethan Trembath, 13, (bass) has been dubbed "Te Reo Metal" and earned comparisons with cult genre figures like Pantera and Brazilian metal band Sepultura.

The band, whose song is written entirely in te reo Maori, are recording their debut album at Roundhead Studios in Auckland with Shihad drummer Tom Larkin.

"These kids are leagues beyond their years and there is some incredible stuff on the way from them," Larkin said. Larkin contacted the band this year after he saw some of their YouTube clips.

"Working with Tom has been really inspirational," drummer Henry said.

NZ On Air music manager Brendan Smyth said the group were "set to take the heavy metal world by storm".

In September, Alien Weaponry placed second in the national finals of both the Smokefree Rockquest and the Smokefree Pacifica Beats competitions.

- nzherald.co.nz