An estimated 6000 heavy metal fans performed the haka alongside New Zealand te reo Māori thrash metal band, Alien Weaponry, at a Danish metal music festival over the weekend.
The Northland group performed at the Copenhell festival in Copenhagen, Denmark. The band usually begins their performances with a traditional haka, and were joined on stage by Kane Harnett-Mutu, who has been teaching the haka in Copenhagen for two decades.
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The trio were shocked when the audience suddenly started taking part.
Harnett-Mutu taught the predicted 6000 metalheads how to respond to Alien Weaponry's opening haka, at the request of Copenhell's communications chief, Morten Skovgaard.
In a video posted to Copenhell's YouTube account, the festival noted that the audience's participation allowed the fans "to express their respect for both the band and Māori culture," creating "a shared, emotional and powerful experience."
One festival attendee waved the New Zealand flag as the audience took part in the haka.
"I think I'm possibly in love with Denmark now," drummer Henry de Jong told the camera. "I loved it, you guys did so well. The whole show, you guys were amazing.
"I don't think we've had a haka that size at one of our shows... to have a few-thousand people doing it is absolutely mind-blowing."
Alien Weaponry, who are "most noted for [their] fusion of Te Reo Māori with thrash metal", are currently on a world tour playing at festivals such as Download, MetalDays and Hellfest. They are also set to open for popular metal group and musical influence, Anthrax.
A reporter documenting the moment asked vocalist and guitarist Lewis de Jong if the "haka is metal?"
"It is now!" he laughed.
Newshub.
