More than 6000 metal fans performed a haka to respond to Northland metal band Alien Weaponry during a Danish heavy metal festival. Photo / Morten Skovgaard / Copenhell Festival
More than 6000 metal fans performed a haka to respond to Northland metal band Alien Weaponry during a Danish heavy metal festival. Photo / Morten Skovgaard / Copenhell Festival
More than 6000 heavy metal fans have gone viral after they performed a spine-tingling haka alongside New Zealand te reo thrash metal band Alien Weaponry at a music festival in Denmark over the weekend.
The Northland-based band took to the stage at the Copenhell festival in Copenhagen and opened theshow with a traditional haka, a performance they like to do at the beginning of every show.
Before starting, the band welcomed Kane Harnett-Mutu on stage, a Kiwi who has been teaching the haka in Denmark for more than 20 years.
As the three-piece band finished their welcome, they were left stunned when the 6000-strong crowd and Harnett-Mutu responded to the group with their own haka.
Copenhell's communications chief, Morten Skovgaard, requested the crowd respond to the band as a way to "express their respect for both the band and Māori culture".
In a video posted on the festival's social media pages, organisers say "two different cultures met in a shared, emotional and powerful experience".
"More than 6000 metalheads yesterday, New Zealand Alien Weaponry welcomed Copenhell with the craziest haka greeting the band has ever experienced," the festival organisers wrote.
Harnett-Mutu also took to social media to thank the crowd for their amazing performance and said he was honoured to be given the opportunity to organise a 6000-strong haka.
"The crowd were so energised and incredibly respectful. They opened their arms and embraced their haka and through it... A deeper connection to Te Ao Māori and the band.
"An honour to tautoko your mahi, boys and to be part of this fantastic experience."
Its a wrap!.... Nga mihi nui to ALIEN WEAPONRY Henry, Louis and Ethan, Niel, Jette and the whanau. Sharing the kaupapa...
Alien Weaponry are well-known for their fusion of te reo Māori with thrash metal. The Northland group are currently on a world tour playing festivals such as Hellfest and MetalDays.
