SPEED and hardcore are two words that have become synonymous on a global scale. The Sydney, Australia based band have staked claim on the genre through exhilarating live performances, epic music videos, and staying true to themselves. Today, the five-piece release the new album ONLY ONE MODE out through Flatspot Records (USA) and Last Ride Records (AUS).
The debut exemplifies the band’s growth while still delivering the SPEED ethos. This is what they’re about: Hardcore, played hard, played fast, “for us, by us”—explicit, immediate, definitive—hinting at all the crucial bands that have come before them.
Lyrics on ONLY ONE MODE embrace perspectives, channeling everything from the loyalty and realness they’ve learnt from hardcore to some of the band’s most vulnerable output yet. It’s a manual that explains SPEED’s beliefs, the five guys’ personalities, what they bring to the table, and what’s special about their scene.
The album was produced by Elliott Gallart, vocalist Jem Siow’s oldest high school friend; Jack Rudder, a longtime partner and collaborator, has directed all of SPEED’s music videos. The cover photo was taken by James Hartley, the prolific Australian hardcore photographer from the 2000s, when SPEED first started, as young hardcore kids, going to shows.
This is a hardcore band from Australia who surpassed what they thought they might do at the start, and has since doubled down, ONLY ONE MODE, as fast and as hard as possible. SPEED are doing what they do for the love of their friends, family and the culture of Australian hardcore. They’re under the global spotlight for now, bright enough that their whole scene’s right there with them.
SPEED will play a sold out record release show in Los Angeles, CA at The Belasco tonight, then make their way to the east coast U.S. for shows in New York and Massachusetts supporting Have Heart. In August the band have a headline tour across Australia, followed by North American headline tour in September. Full dates below.
SPEED is Jem Siow (vocals), Aaron Siow (bass), Josh Clayton (guitar), Dennis Vichidvongsa (guitar), and Kane Vardon (drums).
Tour Dates:
Jul 12: Los Angeles, CA – Belasco Theatre (Record Release Show)
Jul 17: Amityville, NY – Amityville Music Hall w/ Pain Of Truth, Regulate
Jul 19: Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Monarch w/ Have Heart
Jul 20: Boston, MA – Roadrunner w/ Have Heart
Jul 21: Boston, MA – Middle East w/ Death Before Dishonor, Haywire
Aug 22: Brisbane – Princess Theatre w/ High Vis, Pain Of Truth, Fuse
Aug 23: Sydney – Enmore Theatre w/ High Vis, Pain Of Truth, Fuse
Aug 29: Melbourne – Stay Gold w/ High Vis, Pain Of Truth, Fuse
Aug 30: Melbourne – Northcote Theatre w/ High Vis, Pain Of Truth, Fuse
Aug 31: Adelaide – Unibar Outdoors w/ High Vis, Pain Of Truth, Fuse
Sep 1: Perth – Magnet House w/ High Vis, Pain Of Truth, Fuse
Sep 10: Seattle, WA – Neumos w/ Apex Predator, End of Dayz, Brave Out & Odd Man Out
Sep 11: Denver, CO – HQ w/ Wide Man, Sewerslide & Shit Eating Grin
Sep 12: Berkeley, CA – 924 Gilman w/ King Nine & Human Garbage
Sep 13: Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory OC w/ King Nine & Human Garbage
Sep 16: Louisville, KY – Portal w/ Kharma, Hold My Own & Buggin
Sep 17: Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall w/ Kharma, Hold My Own & Buggin
Sep 19: Austin, TX – Mohawk w/ Xibalba & Day By Day
Sep 20: Dallas, TX – Trees w/ Xibalba & Day By Day
Sep 21: Mesa, AZ – Within These Walls Fest
Sep 23: Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church w/ Big Boy & Sudden Demise
Sep 24: Brooklyn, NY – Elsewhere w/ Angel Du$t & Big Boy
Sep 26: Worcester, MA – The Palladium Upstairs w/ Angel Du$t & Big Boy
Sep 27: Montreal, QC – Les Foufounes Électriques w/ Angel Du$t & Big Boy
