WEEK 147 – SHEPHERDS REIGN

My HeadBangers please welcome from South Auckland, New Zealand, the Metal/Hard Rock Band:

SHEPHERDS REIGN

“AIGA”

“Le Manu”

Let’s look at some bio on these tribal warriors, give to me by the band:

Tribal. Supremely talented. Fiercely noble. Richly proud.  Shepherds Reign are bringing their house to your ears, mind and heart, their power and passion unequivocal, their musical voices luminescent and majestic.  You’d do well to start paying attention…

Hailing from South Auckland New Zealand, and thus Polynesian by birth and blood, Filiva’a James (vocals and keytar), Gideon Voon (guitar), Oliver Leupolu (guitar/production), Shaymen Rameka (drums) and Joseph Oti-George (bass) are not playing games. Shepherds Reign is life, Shepherds Reign is survival, Shepherds Reign is mental and physical health and Shepherds Reign is what they are on this planet to do.  Their voice is their mighty, fearsome music and their vocation is to share with the world every aspect of lives and cultures deserve the international ear. Whether unleashing the raw, guttural tribal roar of “Aiga” or the biker-rough riffery which is “End of The Trial”, there is a special passion and power in every single note Shepherds reign share with the world, a rare presence which demands the world stage.

Shepherds Reign carry a motivation and execution which defies logic. Their videos have become a thing of independent heavy metal/hard rock legend, with narratives and production values which embarrass many an established international act, and in a covid19 era, they have managed to amass 2 million+ YouTube views with the video for “Le Manu”, whilst “Aiga”, released on December 5th 2020, has already amassed over 150,000 views.

As for their live show, Shepherds Reign are famous in Australia for their primal performance, one which evokes many aspects of their cultural heritage and fierce Polynesian pride. There’s the enormous intimidating presence of James, a towering hulk of humanity adorned with the shark tooth necklace (as are all the band members) who demands your full attention and gets it. Then there’s the gargantuan riffs and twisting dual melodies of Voon and Leupolu, whose virulent virtuosity is undeniable. Rounding out the sound is the crushing, bombastic Rameka/George rhythm section, which gives Shepherds Reign their propulsive, dynamic metal sound.

Here’s the truth.
Whether you choose to engage or not, Shepherds Reign’s raw passion, determination and sheer goddamn talent is going to be bringing them to major international stages worldwide as covid19 is wrangled.  Theirs’ is an inevitable journey.  You’d be doing yourself a favour to get on-board now before the train’s left the station and you’re kicking yourself black and blue…

“LEGEND”

Let’s meet the band:

Filiva’a James – Vocals and Keytar

Shaymen Rameka – Drums

Oliver Leupolu – Guitar/Production

Gideon Voon – Guitar

Joseph Oti-George – Bass

My Thoughts:

I have been looking at this band for awhile now and I finally had an open week and emailed them.  I was so happy when Oliver got back with me.  First, these guys met in High School and some at Music School.  The name Shepherds Reign to them is like a metaphor for each of them being a Shepherd that leads their flock whomever that may be.  You know I love to know how a band picks their name.  Thanks again to Oliver for getting back with me, I’m so glad you did.

As I said something kept drawing me back to this band.  I think my love of Nordic Folk Metal had peaked my interest because Shepherds Reign has kept the Tribal look and in their own words primal performance, cultural heritage and fierce Polynesian pride, that they carry into their music and gigs.  When I was in Finland, lucky enough to see the last Tuska Festival in 2019 before Covid, those Nordic bands just had me heart and soul and still do to this day.  That’s why I am always so interested in bands all over this planet that add their heritage to their music and Shepherds Reign does that.  Such a strong, hard performance.  You can see it in their videos, and feel it when the perform.  This Covid as really stopped bands from touring and it sucks.  I would love to see these guys in person and I have no doubt that when the world gets back to normal they will be touring.  Check them out on FB, Twitter, Instagram, they are everywhere.  You won’t be sorry, their music is killer…..

That’s it for this week my HeadBangers.  Join me next week for another band and another song.  In the meantime don’t stand to close to the fire if you can’t handle the burn…..