MNZ Interview: Bleeders

Two decades after their breakthrough, Bleeders are revisiting the record that changed everything. Originally released in 2006, As Sweet As Sin pushed the West Auckland band from underground favourites into the mainstream, debuting at No. 2 on the Aotearoa charts, going Gold in its first week, and earning two wins at the New Zealand Music Awards. Produced in the US by Sal Villanueva and featuring artwork by Chris Knox, the album caught the band at full pace, without losing the connection to the people who backed them from the start. Now, with a first-ever vinyl pressing and a nationwide tour, frontman Angelo Munro reflects on a defining era that saw Bleeders share stages with acts like AFI and Avenged Sevenfold, while setting the tone for what comes next.

As Sweet As Sin went gold in its first week. Twenty years on, what is the most significant thing you notice about those songs now?

I would say that they still stand up twenty years on. At that time the punk crossover and emo thing was growing but we always never fit in one particular box. We always tried to do our own thing and I think because of that, the songs have not aged the way other stuff from that period maybe has. 

What was the technical process behind the vinyl remastering and sourcing the original artwork for this reissue?

Twenty years on and you realise how much has changed. The digital format took over which meant it was a bit of a case of “chasing up the masters”. Our record was remastered for vinyl by the very talented Luke Finlay at Primal Mastering. He remastered it so it sounds right for vinyl, this is something we value and is non-negotiable for us as the vinyl is to be “listened to” not sitting on a shelf looking pretty.

Why was it important for the band to include regional shows on this 20th-anniversary tour?

That’s a great question. Our tour is only limited to five dates, but we have a band member that lives abroad so we needed to do things over 2 weekends. We often just play the main centres these days, but we got great support in places like Hamilton and New Plymouth, so when it is feasible that’s always something that’s important to us. Both these places bring the rawkus so it’s a no brainer.

How does the band maintain the physical momentum required to perform these high-energy tracks two decades later?

Haha well yeah, luckily age hasn’t crept up with us the way it might with others in their forties. We all try to keep a baseline of health and wellbeing, and I still sing in another band which helps me to keep the vocal cords moist, albeit Bleeders is a bit spicier to say the least!

Beyond the chart success, why do you think this album has remained a landmark in the New Zealand scene?

Because the songs are bangers first of all haha. Secondly, we were not a flash in the pan band that was around 5 mins. We broke up between 2010 – 2017 (with a reunion in the middle), but since then we have played gigs basically every year, so the fans keep going back to that time in their lives and find the songs have not aged and they are still relevant today.

How has your approach to touring and band management changed since the original release in 2006?

We are self-funded when it comes to the tours for the most part, but we have some help from 1157 who helped us in the early years, then came round full circle. Also, we are self-managed now. I am lucky that I was part of a record label Deadboy Records from 2005 to about 2015-ish, so I learnt a lot about promoting bands and booking tours and the like, this enabled me to learn the tools to apply it to Bleeders. But to be fair we all chip in where we can and carry the load.

Did the process of putting this reissue together unearth any forgotten demos or memories from the recording sessions?

Maybe – not on the ASAS record, but maybe for future releases. Watch this space…

How does the band ensure these regional shows maintain a high-intensity, current energy?

By not trying to do too much. We play runs on Thursday-Saturday and that’s about the right amount at this stage. We could have tried to cram in more shows but then you look at a tired bunch of old men on stage and that’s not what people spend their hard-earned cash on!

Which specific elements of the Bleeders’ songwriting or performance style do you see reflected in the new wave of New Zealand heavy music?

There are lots of bands bringing high energy shows now which is great. I think our aesthetic, if you will, was new for the time but since then we have seen lots of bands with that dark punk/goth/emo crossover thing going on. I am going to say we started it here though 100% haha!

I also need to add that there’s lots of bands coming out of the hardcore scene doing amazing things and they have not taken from us at all – they have just carried that torch that’s existed in NZ for 35+ years. The things like handing out the mic to sing along and the crazy jumping around on stage and me stage diving into the crowd with the mic, I can’t take credit for that. Hardcore made me and influenced what I did so it’s not mine to the bands to take credit for!

Once the tour dates are finished and the vinyl is out, what is next for the band?

Knuckle down writing a new record. Hopefully we can have it out early next year. Thanks Music NZ for always showing so much love for our band!

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Bleeders are ecstatic to be reissuing As Sweet As Sin as a limited-edition marbled grey vinyl LP and hitting the road for a nationwide tour during June 2026:

Pre-orders for the limited marbled grey pressing are available now here and tickets and full tour dates are here.