Shepherds Reign – Ala Mai
Release Date: 25th August 2023
Label: Golden Robot Records
Order/Stream
Genre: Polynesian Metal, Folk Metal, Groove Metal, Progressive Metal.
FFO: Alien Weaponry, Tengger Cavalry, Bloodywood.
Review By: Trina Julian Edwards
Proudly hailing from South Auckland, New Zealand, the fiery Polynesian metal quintet, Shepherds Reign release their long-awaited new album, Ala Mai, Friday, August 25th on Golden Robot Records. The album features the striking vocals of Filiva’a James, the dynamic duo of Gideon Voon and Oliver Leupolo on guitar, and the thundering rhythms of Shaymen Rameka on drums and Joseph Oti-George on bass.
Shepherds Reign have become well-known for their intense live performances and fierce dedication to their cultural heritage, not to mention those intimidating trademark shark tooth necklaces…this album speaks to that same energy, deftly blending various metal influences with traditional Polynesian sounds.
For their first record with Golden Robot, the band has re-released two singles, Aiga from 2020 and Le Manu, initially recorded in 2019. Aiga, which means “family” in Samoan, is based on a traditional Samoan song that is used in the intro. Aiga is a powerful, riffy reminder that your happiness is found in your family and community. This has a kind of classic metalcore feel, especially with the big, catchy chorus, but they’ve got some serious groove on the verses. The rhythms are tight, and the vocals are striking and dynamic.
Le Manu, or “the Beast,” is a war chant about a great Samoan warrior, Manu Samoa. It’s sufficiently war-like in the rhythms and the shouted vocals, but it’s also groovy as all get out. Getting some Lamb of God vibes here on the verses, but the chorus is all gorgeous In Flames-like melodeath. You can’t go wrong with a fusion like that.
Aside from the previous two singles, Nafanua was also a highlight for me. It’s the story of Samoa’s goddess of war, daughter of the god of the underworld, who was a fearsome warrior defending her family from all comers. This song certainly does her justice. The composition is so beautifully realized, you get a feel for the story even if you don’t speak Samoan. It’s ridiculously speedy in parts, with some killer drumming driving this monster, but it’s also quite dramatic with the abrupt chord changes and the tempo drops. A little bit proggy, too, and that’s just fine with me.
Ua Masa’a means “It Has Spilt.” It tells the tragic story of the death of vocalist Filiva’a James’ sister at the hands of her husband and her husband’s family. This track goes straight into that ferocious groove of theirs again, throwing out plenty of 2000s-era Lamb of God feels. This song really highlights James’ range, with smooth, melodic cleans, warrior-like shouts, and terrifying low growls. You can feel the rage underlying the words. This depth of emotion combined with the moving guitar leads, and tricky rhythmic patterns make this track a real powerhouse.
Ala Mai, or “Awaken,” is a call to the band’s ancestors to guide and strengthen them as they tell these stories to the world. There are so many influences here I can barely describe them, and yet somehow they all work. The traditional elements mixed with the groovy riffs is reminiscent of Sepultura, but when they add this proggy Dream Theater-esque chorus…it’s glorious. I can’t stop listening to it.
Next up is The World Bleeds, which focuses on the suffering of the world in modern times. The speedy, thundering rhythm keeps this track flying through the verses, but there’s a return to a more metalcore-tinged chorus, and we’re treated to some really lovely cleans from James in the down-tempo section.
Cold Summer’s Night is a respite from the onslaught. For all intents and purposes, it’s a ballad about living with and overcoming depression. James’ vocals are gorgeous, with just the right amount of grit to balance the smooth. It’s an odd sort of hybrid, with some elements of 80s rock ballads with a bit of the guitar twang familiar to fans of American country and western music. It’s rather unexpected, but I can’t deny it’s well done.
Finally is a song about finding the love of your life after you had given up hope. It ruthlessly tosses us back into the fray with a boatload of radio-rock energy. The rhythm chugs along at a nice clip, there’s a huge, expansive chorus that just begs you to sing along, and there’s a sweet solo that’s not to be missed. I expect this to be a big favorite live.
Fair warning — James’ piano work and the choral intro to Never Forgotten had me tearing up right from the start. It’s an emotional homage to guitarist Leupolo’s son, Tom, who passed away. It’s alternately sung in Samoan, English, and Tongan to represent the different aspects of his culture. The vocals gave me goosebumps, and those 80s-style solos were both blistering and soulful. Shepherds Reign have the gift of infusing their music with so much emotion that it doesn’t matter if you speak the language. However, I’m not gonna lie, when James sang,
“You always walk beside me in my dreams
It burdens me to wake up from my sleep…”
I cried like a baby. It’s a beautiful piece that will speak to anyone who has ever known loss.
Atali’i, which means “son” in Samoan, is a song the band wrote about their love for their children. This was another highlight for me. The string intro was a nice touch, and something about that rhythm and the cadence of the vocals on the verses put me in mind of August Burns Red, but with (mostly) cleans. The growls were particularly fine here. That chorus is harmonious and hooky as hell because it had me humming along before I even realized it. The groove is fierce, the solos are fire, and the vocals are superb. The abrupt ending left me wanting more, but in a good way. This is my new favorite.
The air raid siren at the beginning of Samoa Mo Samoa took me by surprise, but it’s a fitting start to the final track. This song is an absolute beast. The weighty subject matter focuses on the bravery of the people who fought to keep their land free, and the narrative matches the brutal rhythm perfectly. Shepherds Reign has the groove down pat, and I can’t get enough of it. Feeling some Gojira-like influences on this one, and I’m all for it. The album outro is another traditional song, nicely bookending our epic journey.
I am shamefully forced to admit I had forgotten about the previous singles until I listened to Ala Mai. In all fairness, it has been a few years, but I won’t be making that mistake again. While the narratives often speak to the stories of their shared culture, there are universal themes here in the importance of family, the willingness to fight for the things that matter, and the human experiences of love and loss. You can hear a multitude of influences in these compositions, but they’ve masterfully woven some very disparate genres into a cohesive whole. Although not every single song was to my particular taste, they were all top-notch performances. Their musicianship is undeniable. It’s becoming more and more difficult to stand out in an increasingly oversaturated genre, sub-genres included. However, Shepherds Reign have managed it. I’ll freely admit Ala Mai is one of the best albums I’ve heard so far this year, and I’ve heard a lot.
(4.5 / 5)
