In case you hadn’t noticed, hardcore is having a moment. Between Knocked Loose playing eye-popping shows in huge rooms and bands such as Gel, Zulu and Scowl igniting the scene’s foundations with boundary-pushing records, the post-Turnstile glow up continues at breakneck pace. Another name to keep a very close eye on is Speed.
The Australian five-piece made a name for themselves with their furious EP ‘Gang Called Speed’ in 2022 and on their debut album ‘Only One Mode’ they absolutely justify the hype, delivering a 23 minute tirade during which they bludgeon, slice and brutalise.
Real Life Love opens with intriguing piped melodies before giving way to ominous guitar chords that signify the start of their takeover.
Elsewhere, huge gang choruses on The First Test and album highlight No Love But For Our Own are ready-made to be screamed at full force, whether you’re in the sanctity of your own car or ducking spinkicks at a show.
It would be easy to say that the one mode here is aggressive as hell and, to a point, that’s true. The 10 tracks here are utterly relentless, but there is a lot going on within the maelstrom that sets Speed apart.
Their tempo changes, for instance, give so much life and texture to tracks like I Mean It, while their tendency to shout their own name (including a particularly deranged instance on Send Them 2 Sydney) drips with character and charisma. The album is full of moments like these, stopping you in your tracks to make sure you heard them correctly.
It became clear very quickly that Speed were destined for greatness and with ‘Only One Mode’ they’ve achieved exactly that. This is one of the finest hardcore records released in recent years. If this music is at a cultural zenith right now, Speed are here to keep those good times rolling.
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