Indigenous Metal from the Mapuche Nation: Mawiza’s Acoustic “Mamüll Reke” Echoes Through the Forest

Some bands go acoustic and suddenly sound like a coffeehouse act trying to impress a Tinder date. Not Mawiza. The Chilean Mapuche metal collective have just released an unplugged version of their towering single “Mamüll Reke,” and while the amps may be off, the voltage is still very much on.

Yes, this is the same band that’s earned nods from the Chilean Grammys and praise from metal titans like Gojira and Slipknot. But even when unplugged, Mawiza don’t lose their bite. Instead, they lean harder into what makes them unique: the pulse of ancestral drums, the soul of the forest, and a message carved deep into the land itself.

From Wallmapu With Fire (and Acoustic Guitars)

“Mamüll Reke” comes from ÜL, Mawiza’s upcoming third album (out July 18 via Season of Mist), and this stripped-down version proves you don’t need distortion pedals to deliver a gut punch. “Like the other songs from ÜL, ‘Mamüll Reke’ was written so it could be reduced to melody and kültxung,” explains vocalist/guitarist Awka, referencing the traditional Mapuche drum. “The melody and lyrics are strong enough to guide the song on their own.”

Spoiler: he’s right. Without electric guitars roaring like chainsaws, the focus shifts to the rhythmic pulse of the percussion and the raw, unwavering vocals. Awka chants like a man possessed — not by rage, but by duty.

Watch the unplugged video here (filmed in Santiago’s endangered Panul Forest):

Heavy Without the Heaviness

And here’s the twist — this acoustic rendition might actually feel heavier than the plugged-in version. The brittle strumming, the relentless tribal percussion from drummer Txalkan, and the lyrical defiance? It’s protest music in its most ancient and powerful form. Think less MTV Unplugged, more sacred ceremony for a wounded planet.

“We aim for the unplugged versions of our songs to be even heavier and darker,” Awka adds. “Without the distortion and loud drums, the message comes through more clearly. It might even be easier to feel our territory.”

That “message” isn’t subtle. “Mamüll Reke” translates as something akin to “like the tree that dies standing.” The song is a vow: Lhayaiñ ka — “We will die too.” It’s poetic, sure. But it’s also a call to arms.

A Forest, a Flame, and a Fight

Mawiza didn’t just record this video anywhere. They chose the Panul Forest — Santiago’s last native forest and a symbol of the very struggle “Mamüll Reke” honors. The area faces unrelenting urban development, yet continues to resist — just like the band. “The forest has no protection,” Awka says, “but the Machi, the spiritual leader of the area, has always invited us to visit, sing, bring joy and share our newen (energy).”

And in the final verse of the song, they do more than share. They awaken:
“Txüfken mew püruan kuyfi nhewen txepeam” — “I will dance on the ashes to awaken the ancient forces.”

More Than a Single, a Statement

This unplugged release is only a glimpse of what ÜL — which means “chant” in Mapuzugun — promises to be. Equal parts sonic ritual and spiritual resistance, the album draws from dreams, oral history, and old wounds. There are shamans, hummingbirds drinking from fingertips, and even a guest appearance by Gojira’s Joe Duplantier on the closing track. Because when you’re defending ancestral land through metal, sometimes it helps to have friends with big amplifiers.

But even when they set those aside — as with “Mamüll Reke” — Mawiza don’t lose their power. They amplify it through silence, space, and spirit.

Pre-save or pre-order ÜL here:
🔗 https://orcd.co/mawizaul

Catch Mawiza on their upcoming European tour with Ater. Bring earplugs — and maybe an offering to the spirits. You never know who’s listening.

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