Summer Of Hardcore 2025 - Bleeders, Saving Grace, Brainwave And More

Deadboy Records proudly presents the return of the biggest NZHC show of the year back by popular demand across two weekends in Auckland and Wellington in February.

Headlining SUMMER OF HARDCORE in 2025 are New Zealand's very own hardcore / punk legends BLEEDERS.

Formed in 2002, the West Auckland legends need no introduction - in their debut year they released the seminal 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.

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 including AFI, Good Charlotte, Avenged Sevenfold and many more before recording their self titled sophomore album in 2007.

BLEEDERS returned and released the comeback EP “Darkness Falls” in 2019. This marked the bands return to their roots teaming up with 1157 records once again. The new EP was released on 12 inch vinyl with the “B side” a remastered version of the  “A Bleeding Heart E.P”.

Having amassed a following of dedicated fans from rock, punk and hardcore audiences across two decades, BLEEDERS have proven over and over again that their music stands the test of time and unites fans from all backgrounds.

New Zealand hardcore / metal powerhouse SAVING GRACE join the top card after returning to the stage with new vocalist Josh Bain and headlining SUMMER OF HARDCORE in 2024 before heading to Australia with metalcore legends BLEEDING THROUGH.

Saving Grace will celebrate 20 years as a band since their formation in 2005 which has seen the band release four studio albums and tour worldwide winning thousands of fans with their signature brand of metallic hardcore and sharing stages and festival bills with countless heroes of the genre including Parkway Drive, Hatebreed, As I Lay Dying, Darkest Hour, KoRn and many more.

Rounding out the triple header are Wellington's very own hardcore / thrash favorites BRAINWAVE who join BLEEDERS and SAVING GRACE across both weekends to bring their signature crossover sound and pit fury to the masses.

Having recently released the brand new single 'The Truth' BRAINWAVE have gone from strength to strength in recent years winning over hearts and minds since the release of their 2020 debut 'The Decline' and subsequent releases including last year's 2023 Summer Promo featuring the singles 'Burn' and 'Mouth of Gold'.

NZHC legends RICKY BOBBY will grace the stage at Valhalla for what is one of the most sought after hardcore punk reunions in Aotearoa. Having made waves across Aotearoa for most of the late 2000s as one of the country's most beloved acts they toured with the likes of TRAPPED UNDER ICE, CRUEL HAND, TERROR, BACKTRACK and BITTER END.

The band released two full length albums with their self titled in 2009 and 'No Place For You' in 2010 before the split release with REALITY CHECK in 2011.

Vocalist and founder Olly Martin is back on the mic to bring their furious style of relentlessly fast aggression into the psyche of the new generation of kiwi hardcore fans and we could not be more hyped to welcome RICKY BOBBY to SUMMER OF HARDCORE 2025.

Wellington's STRESS GHETTO joins the bill to bring their infamous brand of chaotic hardcore powerviolence to the kids freshly back from their most recent USA tour with Scotland's ENDLESS SWARM.

Up and coming NZHC darlings SHUV-IT join the bill to bring their catchy style of hardcore punk to SUMMER OF HARDCORE after a busy year playing shows up and down the country to an overwhelming response winning the band numerous new fans off the back of their 2024 EP 'EXIST'. 

Auckland City's metallic hardcore monsters DREDGE will play their first capital city appearance after debuting in 2024 and being added to a number of stacked bills and fests including FULL NOISE 2024, FOUNDATION FEST and HALLOWEEN HARDCORE.

Finally, Christchurch visceral hardcore act UTTERANCE will join the bill to open up the capital city event. 

Bringing a crushing cacophony of hardcore, sludge and doom, the band released their debut album 'The Fragile Line Between Strength And Arrogance' in 2021 followed by 2022's sophomore effort 'Too Far Into The Shit And Blood To Care'. 

The most recent offering and new single 'Bound In Flesh' was released in November and we can't wait to welcome UTTERANCE back to the capital.

Do not miss out on your opportunity to see the best of the best of Aotearoa's burgeoning hardcore scene under one roof.

Doors open 5PM sharp, merchandise and drink specials available.