Earlier this month, Australian hardcore stalwarts SPEED announced ONLY ONE MODE, their debut full-length set for release July 12th through their label homes Flatspot Records (USA) and Last Ride Records (AUS).
Launching with in-your-face single “REAL LIFE LOVE,” the band give the next taste of the record today with “THE FIRST TEST.” The single is full of dynamics – held notes, groove-driven riffs, and most notably a tasteful flute break performed by vocalist Jem Siow.
The lyrics speak on finding oneself as a marginalized individual—in Siow’s case, as an Asian-born Australian: striking out alone and growing in a beautiful and ugly world. The music video, produced by SPEED and friends Jack Rudder & Thomas Elliot, shifts from parking lot mosh to a powerful performance from the band.
SPEED is currently in the midst of a six week North American tour supporting Knocked Loose, Show Me The Body, and Loathe.
From there the band will head to Europe for a number of shows and festival plays, including appearances at Download, Hellfest, and Flatspot World. The band will then head back to the US for their record release show July 12th in Los Angeles, CA at Belasco Theatre, open two Have Heart reunion shows, and more. All dates below.
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. The five-piece have coined the phrase ONLY ONE MODE, so it’s no surprise it declares the title of their debut record. 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.
Formed in 2019, the members of SPEED – brothers Jem Siow (vocals) and Aaron Siow (bass), guitarists Josh Clayton and Dennis Vichidvongsa, and drummer Kane Vardon – never set out for popularity. The band has always done things on their own terms, working with the same collaborators since inception – producer Elliott Gallart and videographer Jack Rudder. When 2021 single “We See U” was released, the song quickly rose to a million streams, unprecedented for a hardcore act from Sydney at the time. 2022’s Gang Called Speed EP became a definitive moment for the band. Following the crtically acclaimed release, SPEED found themselves touring across the world – North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia – and documenting it all along the way.
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.
ONLY ONE MODE is available for preorder now through Flatspot Records.
Tour Dates with Knocked Loose, Show Me The Body, Loathe
May 29: Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore
May 30: Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Steel
May 31: New York, NY – Terminal 5
Jun 01: Boston, MA – Roadrunner
Jun 03: Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall
Jun 04: Montreal, QC – Olympia
Jun 05: Toronto, ON – History
Jun 07: Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
Jun 08: Atlanta, GA – The Eastern
Jun 09: St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live
Jun 10: Orlando, FL – The Abbey w/ Day By Day, Three Knee Deep
European tour:
Jun 14: Leicestershire, UK – Download Festival
Jun 15: Leeds, UK – Brudnell Social Club
Jun 15: London, UK – Flatspot World
Jun 18: Darmstadt, GER – Oettinger Villa
Jun 19: Oberhausen, GER – Kulttempel
Jun 20: Ghent, BE – De Chinastraat
Jun 21: Rennes, FR – Superbowl of Hardcore
June 22: Guardamiglio, IT – Low L Festival
Jun 23: Gräfenhainichen, GER – Full Force Festival
Jun 24: Nuremberg, GER – Kunstverein
Jun 25: Karlsruhe, GER – Die Stadtmitte
Jun 26: Viveiro, ES – Resurrection Festival
Jun 28: Clisson, FR – Hellfest
July 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
