It's hard to see how NZ thrash metal band Alien Weaponry could top their successes so far this year.

The release of their debut album, Tu, to rave reviews internationally, a highly successful first tour of Europe, Australia and the UK, including performances at Wacken Open Air, MetalDays and Bloodstock, and four Tui nominations in the Vodafone NZ Music Awards.

Their third single, Ru Ana Te Whenua, is about band members Henry and Lewis de Jong's ancestor, Te Ahoaho, who fought in the historic battle at Gate Pa, Tauranga.

Now, they have announced they will be touring North America for the first time ever, supporting industrial legends Ministry.

The tour starts November 21 in San Francisco, CA and runs through December 21 in Los Angeles, CA.

The three teenagers, described by American Music and youth culture channel Noisey as a band ‘well on their way to world domination,' got the news just a week before heading home from Europe.

'We are so excited to get this opportunity,” says lead singer and guitarist Lewis de Jong.

'We have been getting so many emails and comments and messages via social media asking us to come to the USA and Canada, we knew it was going to happen sooner or later, but this is a lot sooner than we expected.”

'Ministry was one of the bands we listened to a lot growing up,” adds drummer Henry de Jong.

'So to be on stage with them on our first North American tour is going to be pretty amazing.”

The trio depart for the US just four days after their upcoming performance at the Vodafone NZ Music Awards, where they are also nominated for four Tuis; Best Album, Best Rock Artist, Best Group and Best Maori Artist, and arrive home on Christmas Day.

'As much as we are looking forward to the Ministry tour, we are also looking forward to being home for the summer, and doing some shows here in New Zealand,” says bass guitarist Ethan Trembath.

Alien Weaponry will be announcing New Zealand tour dates for 2019 in the near future.

Alien Weaponry with Ministry and Carpenter Brut:

21/11: San Francisco, CA at the Warfield Theatre.

23/11: Salt Lake City, UT at The Depot.

24/11: Denver, CO at The Fillmore Auditorium.

25/11: Minneappolis, MN at Skyway Theatre.

29/11: Joliet, IL at The Force.

30/11: Cleveland, OH at the Agora Theatre.

1/12: Detroit, MI at the Majestic Theatre.

2/12: Toronto, ON at Rebel.

4/12: Rochester, NY at Anthology.

5/12: Silver Spring, MD at The Fillmore.

6/12: New York, NY at Irving Plaza.

7/12: New York, NY at Irving Plaza.

8/12: Philadelphia, PA at Electric Factory.

10/12: Asheville, NC at The Orange Peel.

11/12: Memphis, TN at the New Daisy Theatre.

12/12: Dallas, TX at Gas Monkey Live.

13/12: Houston, TX at the House of Blues.

14/12: Tempe, AZ at the Aztec Theatre.

16/12: Tempe, AZ at the Marquee Theatre.

18/12: San Diego, CA at the House of Blues.

20/12: Los Angeles, CA at The Fonda Theatre.

21/12: Los Angeles, CA at The Fonda Theatre.