Shepherds Reign are a New Zealand-based heavy metal band. They have released two albums, a self-titled one in 2018 and ''

Ala Mai ''Ala Mai'' is the second studio album by New Zealand heavy metal group Shepherds Reign. It was released on Golden Robot Records in 2023 in both CD and vinyl LP format. The lyrics are sung in both English and Samoan. Background Having previ ...

'' in 2023.

Background and influences

Two members of Shepherds Reign have a background in classical music. Lead singer Filiva'a James had begun classical music training, playing piano from the age of five. As a teenager, Oliver Leupolu had also learnt classical piano. Filiva'a James' interest in metal music goes back to when he at the age of five saw the

Guns N' Roses Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985 as a merger of local bands L.A. Guns and Hollywood Rose. When they signed to Geffen Records in 1986, the band's "classic" line-up consisted of vocalist Axl R ...

music video for the song "

November Rain "November Rain" is a song by American hard rock band Guns N' Roses. Written by the band's lead vocalist Axl Rose, the power ballad was released in February 1992 as the third single from the band's third studio album, '' Use Your Illusion I'' ( ...

". According to ''NZ Musician'', the group started out a trio in 2013 which was made up of guitarist Oliver Leupolu, drummer Shaymen Rameka and keyboardist / vocalist Filiva'a James. According to 2023 interview with '' Far Out'', the influences are

Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (German: �joːhan zeˈbasti̯an baχ ( – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his prolific output across a variety of instruments and forms, including the or ...

and Chopin for Fili James and Oliver Leupolu. The band also listens to French metal band

Gojira is the original Japanese name for Godzilla, a giant monster at the center of a media franchise. It may also refer to: Films *Godzilla (franchise), ''Godzilla'' franchise, known as in Japan **Godzilla (1954 film), ''Godzilla'' (1954 film), relea ...

and in the early days they were listening to

Avenged Sevenfold Avenged Sevenfold (abbreviated as A7X) is an American Heavy metal music, heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1999. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist M. Shadows, rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance, lead gui ...

Lamb of God Lamb of God (; , ) is a Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, title for Jesus that appears in the Gospel of John. It appears at wikisource:Bible (American Standard)/John#1:29, John 1:29, where John the Baptist sees Jesus and exclaims, " ...

, and Slipknot.

Career

2010s

In 2018, Shepherds Reign released a self-titled album of eight songs. It contained the lead single "Concrete Walls".Audio Culture, 24 April 2022 �
Shepherds Reign – Gareth Shute
/ref> On 27 December 2019, their single "Le Manu" was released. According to the review by ''The Big Idea'', the track was possibly the first heavy metal song sung in Samoan language. It was also said to capture the bands raw energy. According to ''Heavy Magazine'', the song notched up over 2 million YouTube views.

2020s

In 2023, the group played at the annual Teuila Festival in Samoa. Afterwards, they were invited to play at the Manumea Hotel. The event had a positive response and according to the group, people were open and curious. On 12 July 2024, the group played the midnight slot at the

Riddu Riđđu Riddu Riđđu () is an annual Sami people, Sámi music and culture festival held in Olmmáivággi (Manndalen) in the Gáivuotna Municipality (also known as Kåfjord Municipality) in Norway. The goal of the festival is to bring forward both Sámi ...

festival in Norway. In 2024, their second album ''

'' was released on

Golden Robot Records Golden Robot Records is an Australian independent record label that has released, among others, the albums '' Mother of the Sun'' by Jefferson Starship, ''Silver & Black'' by Leadfinger, ''Into the Night'' and ''Tomorrow Never Comes'' by The New ...

. It features songs in both English and Samoan. It won awards in the SunPix Best Pacific Language category and the Best Pacific Music Album category. According to the 22 November 2024 publication of ''Metal Roos'', Shepherds Reign are to be special guests on the 2025 Alien Weaponry tour beginning in March.

Members

* Filiva'a James – lead vocals, keyboards * Oliver Leupolu – guitar * Joseph Oti-George – bass * Shaymen Rameka – drums * Gideon Voon – guitar ABC, 16 June 2023 �
Singing in Samoan was a risk for metal band Shepherds Reign, but 'it just blew up' By Michael Chow, Jacob McQuire, and Dinah Lewis Boucher
/ref>

Discography

*2018: ''Shepherds Reign'' (self-released) *2023: ''

'' (

)

References

{{reflist 2013 establishments in New Zealand Alternative metal musical groups Groove metal musical groups New Zealand heavy metal musical groups Golden Robot Records artists