Bleeders – Summer of Hardcore 2025
Sat 8 Feb – Whammy Bar, Auckland
Sat 15 Feb – Valhalla, Wellington
By Dave Borgioli-Jones
Bleeders are set to tear up the stage at Summer of Hardcore for the first time, bringing their signature energy to the 2025 lineup. With a legacy spanning over two decades in New Zealand’s hardcore and punk scene, the band continues to evolve. We caught up with frontman Angelo to talk about all things Bleeders.
Tahuna Te Ao Mārama breathed new life into All That Glitters and the short documentary showed how deeply personal and relevant it is to your work in corrections. Can you expand on how this re-recording has connected with your work and what doors it has opened for you?
Well really it was an absolute honor to record in te reo especially considering I’ve been on my own journey with that. I’m not sure if it opened any doors per se as that was never the intention of the project but I know it definitely introduced our band to a new audience and we are really happy about that.It was cool to show a narrative of the mahi I do and that we are doing our best to work with all Maori and works view.
Do you remember the moment or catalyst for re-recording the vocals in Māori?
We just got asked by Waita anthems and it was an immediate yes! I never thought we would be considered but we need to thank bands like Alien Weaponary, Kora and every man got himself for opening those doors for a heavier sound to introduce the reo.
Looking back at Blood Spit with Antiform, collaborations have always been an interesting aspect of your journey. If you could team up with any artist now (hardcore/punk or otherwise) who would it be and why?
Man I dunno I’d love to do anything with anyone interesting or any genre. I reckon a mash up with hip hop group Run the Jewels would be dope
If Bleeders had to cover a song completely outside of punk and hardcore what would you pick, and how would you put your spin on it?
We have actually done covers from many artists outside the genres such as David Bowie, Danzig and Bodycount to name a few. I think it would be rad to do sonthing by New Order as that would be a total challenge!
Bleeders have been part of New Zealand’s hardcore/punk DNA for over two decades. How do you see the local scene now compared to when you started in 2002? What’s changed for better or worse?
I think some things are for the better, some things not so much. I personally don’t like how there’s all these “sub genres” Metalcore,Hardcore punk, Beatdown, Screamo or whatever. When I was younger all different styles played together now it feels like you could have 2 shows on one night that could be a unified scene to make things better. Having said that the one thing I do like is people seem to have more open minds now and you see that through the rise of Turnstile or Speed etc where everyone is celebrating success, I think the scene used to be alot more clicky so I’m glad those changes have happened. Big ups to people like Gareth and Bones in Hamilton at NZHCPP for driving the resurgence!
You’ve shared stages with huge international acts like AFI and Avenged Sevenfold. What are your most memorable moments from those tours?
Just playing to so many new people and in places we would have never dreamed! It’s an absolute honor and memories to cherish. I was a huge AFI fan growing up so that’s one of my highlights of the band.
Sweet As Sin went Gold and cemented Bleeders in NZ rock history. When you think about that album now, what do you feel it captured that resonated so strongly with people?
We are proud of it, it’s certainly our most successful record. In retrospect I think I can speak for everyone and say it’s a little over-produced and not our fave record but they’re is some great songs in there!
There’s a real resurgence of interest in punk and hardcore worldwide, both my kids are asking me for vinyl from bands I loved when I was a kid. Do you see a new generation coming through in New Zealand, and are there any up-and-coming bands you rate?
I’m not sure if it ever died but the resurgence of a stronger scene will attribute to social media and YouTube etc it’s exposed it outside of the underground I guess. There’s certainly a great new scene coming through hardcore, bands like Heavy Step and Dredge are kicking ass alongside strong new bands with older guys like standover. I love punk rock but not so sure in NZ what’s happening there, they scene seems to have taken a hit.
If you could go back to when Bleeders first started, what’s one piece of advice you’d give yourself?
Hmmm I dunno I don’t regret anything along the way but maybe the fact we were young we went for the big guns when they were presented and could of stayed more niche and prioritise touring internationally more as opposed to do the Nz music scene thing where you do the summer tours, okay the fests etc in Australlasia where I wish we had toured more internationally then we did.
If you had to sum up Bleeders entire journey in just three words, what would they be?
Fun, Rewarding, Friendship
Hardcore and punk have always thrived on a DIY ethos. That translated well to creating physical things like vinyl, posters etc. In a world where streaming, social media, and AI are changing how music is made and consumed, do you think that DIY spirit is easier or harder to maintain now compared to when Bleeders first started?
I think the way things are now is much more DIY. Bands can put their songs online themselves and don’t need a record deal to reach an audience. This is the one thing I love about the digital age. Only thing that sux about it is people don’t seem to appreciate full albums as much, it’s seems to revolve around songs rather than full peices of work like when you buy an album on vinyl.
You’ve had some long gaps between releases over the years which you’ve explained in past interviews, but is there anything in the pipeline to follow up the Delusions EP / Tahuna Te Ao Mārama?
We live all over the place that why we are much more part time now. I think there’s some new ideas kicking around so you never know!
What next after these shows?
We will concentrate on our other music projects again that we variously do and then plan for 2026 for Bleeders.
Thanks for doing the interview!
Thank you very much for giving us the time and coverage guys!
