Brainwave’s Crushing Debut ‘Ill Intent’ Out Now
Wellington, New Zealand, is quickly becoming a hotbed for heavy music, and at the forefront of this wave stand Brainwave. Hailed as a “hardcore Toxic Holocaust,” the five-piece blends thrashing crossover with raw hardcore aggression, channeling the likes of Drain, Mindforce, and Forced Order while carving out a sound unmistakably their own.
Over the last few years Brainwave have firmly established themselves as one of New Zealand’s hardcore mainstays, bridging audiences both young and old with their furious energy and no-compromise approach. Their debut full-length Ill Intent, out today, October 22, 2025, marks a defining step forward for the band.
“It’s an extremely personal record, albeit one set against the backdrop of a world tearing itself apart. It’s about hopelessness, the pain of loss, and the brutality of everyday life. But it’s also about conquering the summit, overcoming both yourself and your detractors,” the band shares.
The striking album art by Cam Parker captures these themes vividly, balancing despair and defiance in one image.
The making of Ill Intent was a transformative period for Brainwave. The band expanded from four to five members, officially welcoming guitarist Ian Moore in March 2025. “It was hard work but we are stronger for it and learnt a lot about each other during the process. We wouldn’t change the experience for anything,” they add.
That sense of collaboration extended beyond the core lineup, Rob Thompson (vocals), Joram Adams (guitar/vocals), Ian Moore (guitar), Caleb Webb (bass), and Angus Crowe (drums), to the wider hardcore community. Guest contributions from Aaron McPhail (Lucre), Arnold Kim (Molosser), Sam Andy (Martial Law), and Luke Manson (Xile) add further grit and firepower, while Ateo Buhne (Dole Bludger/Star Time) provides auxiliary percussion.
Production for Ill Intent brought Brainwave into close partnership with Lewis Noke-Edwards, who handled producer, mixing, and mastering duties from Melbourne. Additional engineering came from TK at The Armory for drums, while Joram Adams oversaw guitar and vocal production.
The resulting ten-track record captures both the personal and the political, balancing despair with determination. It’s a record that tears at the fabric of daily struggle while rallying listeners to fight back.
