SPEED - ONLY ONE MODE (Album Review)
SPEED - ONLY ONE MODE
Released: July 12, 2024
Lineup
Aaron Siow // Bass
Jem Siow // Vocals
Josh Clayton // Guitar
Dennis Vichidvongsa // Guitar
Kane Vardon // Drums
Online
Day by day, SPEED have been championing a new sound for Australian hardcore; one that is situated within the beliefs of individualism, identity, and community. Exploring their abilities through a catalog of singles and EP’s, today, the Western Sydney band is on to their next venture- the release of their debut lengthened play, ONLY ONE MODE. An auditory storybook of their ethos, ONLY ONE MODE releases itself from merely being another album, but is instead a handbook to the new Sydney style. Refreshed and seeping with duality, SPEED are recreating hardcore, and here’s how.
The album begins with one of the standout singles from the cycle, ‘REAL LIFE LOVE’ which enters with a chunky riff and understated reverberation that gradually builds and glides into a pronounced and assured call to arms, with vocalist Siow’s earth-shattering exclamation of “SPEED” initiating three minutes of beautifully curated chaos. Transcending the atmospheric world-building, the track divulges into a fast-paced expression. The band’s signature style sees the song heavily layered, yet unwavering in its display of each and every element, from the smallest cymbal taps, to the fierce and swirling guitars. Bouncing between the singular vocals of Jem Siow, to anthemic callbacks between members of the band, ‘REAL LIFE LOVE’ finds its connected sense of unity not merely through its lyrics, but its collective performance. With sharp guitars initiating the track’s breakdown, ‘REAL LIFE LOVE’ holds no restriction, finding itself descending into a low, chugging soundscape, with only the utterance of the band’s namesake diverting from the grimy and hellish sounds soundtracking only your most brutal two-step. Charging back up into a flurry of questioning and back to the chorus, the track once hones into these feelings of togetherness, community, and the abandonment of toxic masculinity, and reflects on the connection that surrounds us- a universal tie we all hold. As an anthem to begin ONLY ONE MODE, the tone is set incredibly high.
Following is ‘DON'T NEED’. Charging out of the gates, with a solemn “SPEED DON’T NEED”, the track presents itself as another relentless SPEED belter. Yet, it is perhaps one of the more poignant representations of the band’s instrumental and vocal diversity. In moments before the chorus, we see the band slipping through softer more melodic vocals, aided at this time, only by an incredibly solid, face-squishing chunk of bass. Leaning sonically more towards the sounds of hardcore punk, the addition is an eye-opening one, and envelopes the song in a new sense of depth. I find this to be one of the most important elements of ONLY ONE MODE- that being the ability to branch out, redefine sounds, and implement the unheard without fear or unease, because what also comes with these elements is an air of confidence in every stylistic choice made. Loud and proud, a shout of the namesake takes the listener to some intoxicating guitar work that soon descends into an instrumental hellscape of riffage.
‘NO LOVE BUT FOR OUR OWN’ is glaringly aptly titled, perhaps the best encapsulation of the notions of community, solidarity and commitment to the cause that linger throughout this body of work. After a proclamative chant, an extended break of silence gives you time to prepare before a gruesome tempo change sees the instrumentals reset themselves for the rest of the song ahead. Now backed by a prominent drum beat, Siow takes the wheel showcasing perhaps SPEED’s most prolific element- their lyricism and storytelling. Profound and articulate, their chosen content is always displayed in the most powerful of ways, sending a message you are sure to carry beyond the listen. There is a beautiful dichotomy within the chorus, with what seems like an almost angelic choir lifting Siow’s plea of the namesake, a strong and now auditorily personified visualization of the community that stands behind, before, and within him.
Branching on from ominous warnings in the track before, with a ringing guitar, ‘NO FOES’ continues on the same expression and ideals as the track before it. In its one miniature duration, this track packs a heavy punch, with a solid emphasis on the instrumental performance. In particular, the high-energy, relentless drumming that works as such a solid backdrop to the web of layers created. This instrumental web meets its center towards the end during the breakdown, with a perfect marriage of guitar, bass and drums infiltrating you with an absolutely intoxicating feeling.
Continuing with the seamless transitions, with a sharp “Move It!”, ‘THE FIRST TEST’ begins to make itself known. Now, this track is undeniably one of SPEED’s most iconic, and made waves upon its initial drop. And truly, this could be for any number of reasons- the incredible dynamic that sees shifting tempos and stylistic expression meet, the brief glimpse of nu-metal influence with the cheeky turntable, or the radiating aggression that lingers from it. Or, of course, it could also be that unique flute section that took the world by storm when Siow pulled it out at live performances (which you can read more about in our interview with SPEED here). Regardless of why it got so popular, ‘THE FIRST TEST’ was perhaps a greater test of the parameters of hardcore. As we start to see reception blooming, and within a song as heavy and dirty as the rest, it is interesting to see that the gravitation towards a song like this is purely because of its uniqueness and display of cultural identity. Which in turn, may just sum up SPEED’s unwavering rise within the hardcore scene and beyond. Every element of this song is simply showstopping, and it is those recurring tempo changes that really keep me hooked. With a spotlight on every instrumental element among the display of both Siow’s impassioned and brutal vocals, as well as the more melodic ones seen in ‘DONT NEED’, ‘THE FIRST TEST’ holds the formula that has seen it become one of the most important hardcore songs to be released in recent years.
‘KILL CAP’ follows, and with a vengeance. With pronounced and deep drums engulfed within roaring guitars, the track takes a more fast-paced approach with the vocals on the verses. Softly behind him, the guitars soar to high and action sequence proportions, and hold a sound we haven't really heard in this album before. I’d say in many elements, ‘KILL CAP’ offers something really fresh to ONLY ONE MODE, and a lot of this simply comes from the elements within the background- perfectly curated, but subtle as to not direct attention from any one piece within the song. The song also channels perhaps the lowest bass chug and most gruesome and deep gutturals seen on this record yet- housing a feeling that is grotesque, dirty, and even, downright filthy- all of which are charged by real feelings of grief and retrospection.
In the essence of community and hardcore patriotism, ‘SEND THEM 2 SYDNEY’ finds itself as a flag bearer of home within ONLY ONE MODE. The track is a presentation of SPEED’s instrumental prowess, becoming a minute long expression of their storytelling vessels in the most beautifully curated of ways. The only utterances of this track are the namesake, allowing it to become an anthemic homage to the area in which their grass roots journey started, and continues to be planted in. As we see SPEED taking over the world, it is endearing to see that this tether never detaches, and is instead, a glorified part of their journey that is represented to the world. This was another interesting thing I spoke about with the band, and you can read it here!
‘SHUT IT DOWN’ takes the words stripped from the past song, and reignites the dialogue in a harsh and brutal way. Sharp and swirling guitars emulate the sound of an emergency siren, and signal the carnage that is about to transpire within the rest of the track. Through expressions of the distaste of privilege and the exaggeration of status, ‘SHUT IT DOWN’ sees SPEED at their most charged yet, and for good reason. In one of their biggest displays of their ideologies, the track sees the band remove the egotistical pegs on the ladder of wealth and privilege to land them scurrying. With an instrumental performance that does just as much, if not more than the vocals, the track is a unification that sees all the elements tie together to defeat one common enemy- and it leaves them slaughtered.
‘I MEAN IT’ leaves no room for rest and channels this same aggression, doubling down on the ideas spewed only moments before. Within this track, and really, all the others on this album, SPEED are perhaps one of the strongest bands when dictating their instrumental breaks, vocal changes, and entire stylistic outlook. Each break, moment of silence, or slight change in tone only aids to their story, and of course, electrifying soundscape. Going past the elements of hardcore and sounds being there to exist, there is something more within the choices made, from the most subtle to the more grandiose. The chant of “sing it, mean it” rings poignant within this track. If there is one thing to take away from ONLY ONE MODE, it is that everything sung is meant- it represents a greater collective of ideals, past experiences and lessons, which are now displayed outwardly through the strongest vessel SPEED has.
ONLY ONE MODE meets its closure with ‘CAUGHT IN A CRAZE’. Cutting through the guitars with an almighty scream, the end of the album proves no power has been lost as the band charges up for one final proclamation of their identity; humility, homage, and hardcore. Upon listening, the song is downright crazy. With maniacal laughs soaring, guitar riffs battling through deep drums, and mosh calls flying through self assured screams that belittle desperation and counterfeit attempts at presenting oneself ethically and honestly, it seems the listener is the one caught up in a craze of sound and feeling. Ending with a subtle fade out, ‘CAUGHT IN A CRAZE’ does not brand itself as the end, but leaves the door open… for the album to repeat, for new music to come, for more stories to be shared. ‘CAUGHT IN A CRAZE’ is not the end, but merely the beginning.
ONLY ONE MODE is an expression of the band at their most raw, self assured and in turn, hardcore yet. Despite facing the turbulence of international exposure, and facing commentary that has questioned their place in the hardcore scene, what flows out of ONLY ONE MODE is an essence of home. Home as a place, as a person, and as a set of ideals. Musically, SPEED has created their home sheltered away from the opinions of others, creating music by them and for them. Chanting their ethos at any point given, and doubling down at the next, SPEED demonstrates there is ONLY ONE MODE to follow, and that is their own.
SPEED - ONLY ONE MODE Tracklisting
- REAL LIFE LOVE
- DON’T NEED
- NO LOVE BUT FOR OUR OWN
- ONLY FOES…
- THE FIRST TEST
- KILL CAP
- SEND THEM 2 SYDNEY
- SHUT IT DOWN
- I MEAN IT
- CAUGHT IN A CRAZE
Rating: 10/10
ONLY ONE MODE is out now via Flatspot Records and Last Ride Records. Get it here
Review by Georgia Haskins @ghaskins2002
