Shepherds Reign
Ala Mai
Golden Robot Records
25 August 2023
Folk metal band Shepherds Reign is ready for the world with their new work Ala Mai. Known for their particular interpretation of folk metal; in their case, they take the sound of heavy grooves and work it into a specific conconction of ear-friendly heaviness. An interesting possibility is that American fans of Pantera, Sepultura, Fear Factory and Machine Head may end up liking the sound of this band, given the emphasis on groove. One way to think of it would be to imagine that type of groove linking up with some folk elements, such as in the percussion in some places and in the language of the lyrics. Imagine the sound of Sepultura's Chaos A.D. and Roots being repurposed by a band from South Auckland, New Zealand with one foot in metal and the other pointing towards indigenous Maori culture, and you might just find yourself enjoying Shepherds Reign.
Check out these two videos to get an idea of what to expect.
Shepherds Reign - Aiga - OFFICIAL VIDEO
Shepherds Reign - Nafanua - OFFICIAL VIDEO
https://www.facebook.com/shepherdsreign/
