After Metal Hammer hailed them as the most important new metal band of 2025, this year, Mawiza continue to pound the drum for indigenous metal.
The modern day Mapuche warriors started 2026 by shaking the foundation of Gojira frontman Joe Duplantier’s studio before sharing the stage with Avenged Sevenfold and Mr. Bungle. Now, as they prepare to journey across Europe’s major summer festival circuit, the indigenous metal band are debuting a new song for the first time since their groundbreaking, critically-acclaimed and Chilean Grammy-nominated album ÜL.
Today, Mawiza are releasing a lyric video for their new single “MÜR”. While unplugged, by joining forces with Mira Ceti (Heilung) and Anne Olsen (Danefae), the Mapuche metal band lead a new anthem for indigenous people everywhere.
“In English, MÜR means ‘Together’”, Mawiza vocalist and guitarist Awka says. “This song connects with our ancestral values and reminds us the importance of working together across generations”.
“We wanted this song to not only represent the Mapuche people, but indigenous people all over the world who have lost a part of their culture to colonizers”, Mawiza bassist Zewü says.
Stream “MÜR” here: https://orcd.co/mawizamur
The video for “MÜR” was created by Jesus Carrillo.
Additional video credits
Images and footage by Andres Hetzler and Bluemphasis
Produced by Awka Nawel and Unai Garcia
Lineup
Awka – Lead vocals & rhythm guitar
Karü – Lead guitar & backing vocals
Zewü – Bass & backing vocals
Txalkan – Drums & percussion
Guest vocalists for “MÜR”
Fabi Hidalgo
Anne Olsen (Danefae)
Mira Ceti
Songwriting credits for “MÜR”
Music by Mawiza
Production credits
Produced by Awka Nawel and Unai Garcia
Mixed by Dario Llancaman
Mastered by Chalo Gonzalez
ÜL is available now on Season of Mist. Order & Stream: https://orcd.co/mawizaul
Amongst scene elders like Mercyful Fate, Slipknot, Mastodon and Gojira, Mawiza are known for infusing groove metal with the thunderous spirit of their Mapuche ancestors. But the band’s new single reveals that they sound just as heavy when unplugged from their ESP guitars. Like the streams that feed Chile’s Mapocho River, “MÜR” builds from one voice to a roaring, ceaseless chant.
“Kiñewküleliyiñ wewpayaiñ (If we unite as one / we will claim victory)”. As the kultrún (drum) dances to the beat passed down to the Mapuche by a sacred choike (ostrich), two pifilka (flute) join together to create a dissonant harmony that is piercing in its resolution. “Chew mapu rume tuwlu / Chem rume txipantulelu (It does not matter where we come from / It does not matter how old we are)”.
“Today, the Mapuche are separated between colonized life in the city and the traditions of our ancestors”, Awka says. “As members of the younger generation, we must not only remember the strength and wisdom of our elders but walk together in the ways of our culture”.
Mawiza’s call for unity is supported by the very nature in which their new indigenous anthem came together. Written and recorded in 2025 around the release of ÜL, “MÜR” now arrives as the band’s first song to feature a female vocalist. Joining Mira Ceti and Anne Olsen is Fabi Hidalgo, Awka’s partner. Each guest is blessed with their own unique singing style, but by repeating the same verse, they exemplify the song’s message.
“It’s beautiful”, Awka says about collaborating on “MÜR”. “When I wrote this song, I needed someone who could sing certain high notes, so I asked Fabi. She is always present whenever I am writing songs for Mawiza”.
“Mira and Anne understood where we are coming from with this song”, Zewü says. “Mira sings in Occitan, while Anne sings in Danish. Having them both sing in their confidence language speaks to the message of ‘MÜR’”.
“When I received the invitation to collaborate with Mawiza, I felt it would be like a bridge spanning continents”, Mira Ceti says. “As an Indigenous woman from France, living on the territory of my ancestors and striving to keep alive my connection to the land, I draw great strength and inspiration from other Indigenous cultures.
“‘MÜR’ is a song about people coming together”, Ceti continues. “Joining in with so many beautiful voices from across the world is a great honor. I chose to sing in Occitan, a language from the southern half of France, as a way to remind us of the importance of keeping a diversity of culture alive”.
“I haven’t don’t much featured work before, so I was very happy and a bit intimidated when Awka and the rest of Mawiza reached out to me about collaborating on ‘MÜR’”, says Anne Olsen.
“Heritage is a strange thing”, Olsen continues. “We can try to deny that it sets us apart, but we all have different cultures, stories and traditions. To me, ‘MÜR’ is about how these differences shouldn’t divide us; rather, they should remind us that we all come from somewhere. Naturally, if we understand each other’s heritage, we are one step closer to understanding each other. It was a wonderful song to work on, and the vocals in Mapudungun are so powerful. It was truly inspiring. Now, I just wait and hope to see if performed live some day”.
Tracklist
1. Wingkawnoam (3:38) [WATCH]
2. Pinhza Ñi pewma (4:29)
3. Ngulutu (3:50) [WATCH]
4. Nawelkünuwnge (5:06)
5. Mamüll Reke (4:24) [WATCH]
6. Wenu Weychan (6:13)
7. Lhan Antü (4:08)
8. Kalli Lhayay (3:58)
9. Ti Inan Paw-Pawkan (featuring Joe Duplantier from Gojira) (4:42) [WATCH]
Catch Mawiza this summer at select European shows.
Mawiza 2026 European Dates
August 6 – Helsinki, Finland @ WTF – Capital of Metal [TICKETS]
August 7 – Helsinki, Finland @ Hellsinki Metal Festival [TICKETS]
August 12 – Borre, Norway @ Midgardsblot [Acoustic Set] [TICKETS]
August 13 – Borre, Norway @ Midgardsblot [Electric Set] [TICKETS]
August 15 – København, Denmark @ Stengade [TICKETS]
ÜL means “chant” in Mapuzugun. The album represents the voice of the land, the origin of feeling, the first call to connect with emotions. It is the materialization of a part of the spirit that, for a few seconds, becomes one with the wind—a force we can hear, resonate, communicate with, and return to. ÜL is Mawiza’s indigenous chant, and like smoke, it rises as a message to the skies.
Like their Mapuche ancestors, Mawiza always look back. ÜL chants to awaken the energies that have fallen asleep in the land, using the power of the great cities to resist the noise of imbalance. In this way, the album becomes another element of nature, a force defending itself, speaking in its own language to keep fighting and condemning those who continue to futilely subjugate their own strength.
With ÜL, Mawiza present themself to the world with a decolonizing and empowering mission. The album proclaims that nature possesses consciousness and spirit. Opening song “Wingkawnoam” emphasizes the importance of indigenous Mapuche thought by following dreams as precise guides for one’s path in life.
“Pinhza ñi pewma” is a dream that Mawiza’s vocalist Awka had during a time when hummingbirds were nowhere to be seen. Their chant was absent and the chilco plant was disappearing. In Awka’s dream, four hummingbirds came to feed on the blood from his fingertips, as if it were nectar flowing from the flowers of the chilco.
ÜL pays tribute to nature and Mawiza’s ancestors. “Ngulutu” recalls ancient battles between the Mapuche and the Spanish in Santiago, Chile. “Mamüll Reke”, “Wenu Weychan”, “Lhan Antü”, and “Kalli Lhayay” are filled with rhythms and sounds reminiscent of the most hermetic rituals of the Mapuche people. They were used by shamans to induce trance and heal the sick, to communicate with and greet the spirits of the mountains.
Closing song “Ti Inan Paw-pawkan” features chants from members of Mawiza’s indigenous community, as well as Gojira frontman Joe Duplantier. It is here, during the album’s finale, that the band stake their claim as both indigenous and urban. The song acknowledges the mission entrusted to Mawiza by Mapuche authorities and by the land itself: to raise awareness about balance on Earth in an empowered way and to call for greater attentiveness to Mapuche territory. Otherwise, the consequences will be dire.
Follow Mawiza
Bandcamp: https://mawizakvlt.bandcamp.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mawizakvlt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mawizakvlt
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mawizakvlt
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4oJP24bXA2fbdVmNGNmCtt
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mawizakvlt
Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/mawiza/165343595
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