Antagonist A.D. & Bleeders [SOLD OUT]

Saturday 30 July 2022 at Galatos, Auckland

With support from:
Pale Flag
Drop Off Point

For the first time since international borders were closed, hardcore heavy-hitters Antagonist A.D. and punk pioneers Bleeders return to the New Zealand stage for a night of celebration in Auckland City.

Antagonist A.D. return to promote their new EP ‘All Things’, following up a huge Australian tour throughout March/April as well as appearances at Knight & Day Festival and Full Tilt Festival Melbourne. ‘All Things’ - released in 2021 - is the second EP in a three-part series, recorded by Kurt Ballou at GodCity Studios in Salem, MA.

Bleeders are back after releasing a new music video for ‘Darkness Falls’, taken from their 2019 release ‘Delusions’. After selling out the first pressing of the ‘Delusions/A Bleeding Heart’ LP, which features five new tracks as well as their 2003 break out release, a second pressing is now available on yellow vinyl.

This show is dedicated to the loving memory of friend and fan Leon Taylor.

ANTAGONIST A.D.

In a world as turbulent as ours, the flood more often than not follows the fire; for hardcore mainstays Antagonist A.D., both are more than mere metaphor. Following up the inferno that was Through Fire, with the tempest that is All Things, the band have used their current trajectory to refine what it means to be a band and what that band stands for. Antagonist A.D. have built a platform to scream for justice at the top of their lungs. From racial to animal to social justice, the band have solidified their beliefs, and now find themselves holding nothing back.

Fifteen years have seen the band grow from the city of Auckland in New Zealand, into one of the most important bands in the hardcore scene, touring the world over supporting acts such as The Ghost Inside, Emmure, Parkway Drive, Deez Nuts and many more. Never ones to rest on their laurels however, 2018 saw Antagonist A.D. joined with Kurt Ballou to embark on their most ambitious concept yet. The EPs ‘Through Fire’ and ‘All Things’ made up the first two parts of a three-part series.

The bands unwavering stance in a world built to stand against them has garnished them both a fanbase and reputation that will last long after the flood wipes the land clear, and the world begins to heal.

BLEEDERS

It had been 12 long years since Auckland punk, hardcore, rock’n’roll outfit Bleeders graced us with new music. Now, 18 months on from the 2019 release of Delusions - after a year of forced hiatus due to the global pandemic - Bleeders are stoked to announce the second pressing of the out-of-print Delusions/A Bleeding Heart LP. Available in stores April 30th, 2021 on yellow vinyl.

Formed in 2002, it didn’t take long for Auckland-based Bleeders to take off - in their debut year they released the legendary hard-core punk classic ‘A Bleeding Heart’ EP. This, followed by constant sold out shows all over the country, saw the band rewarded for their hard work and ever-growing success by signing a major record deal with Universal Music NZ in 2004.

2006 was a huge year for the Bleeders. Their debut album, ‘Sweet As Sin’, reached #2 in the charts, garnered them Best Break Through Artist and Best Rock Album at the 2006 New Zealand Music Awards and went on to sell Gold certification status. The band toured like maniacs in New Zealand and headed across the Tasman no less than five times at the invitation of numerous international touring acts.

The self-titled follow up to ‘Sweet As Sin’ rejected any notion of resting on their laurels. Produced by Clint Murphy and the band at Auckland’s York Street Studios and mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in New York, ‘Bleeders’ was a return to the brutal vitality that first brought them to people’s attention.

As Real Groove magazine once said of them, they “lack the sense of exclusivity that confines so many bands to their cliquey pigeonholes... If you buy a Bleeders album or go to a show, you’re in the gang, no further questions.”