‘Only One Mode’ review: uncompromising and undeniable

Globally, hardcore punk is healthier than ever – and one of the key bands spearheading this revival goes by the name of Speed. Hailing from Sydney, Australia, the NME 100 graduates revel in making gnarly, brutal hardcore that’s shot through with their personalities and life experiences. They hit out against anti-Asian hate and empowered others to embrace their own identity on 2022’s debut EP ‘Gang Called Speed’, and similar themes from close to home characterise their debut album, ‘Only One Mode.’

Speed have exploded through what frontman Jem Siow told NME was a “guarded and insular” Australian hardcore scene, for the most part, by staying true to their name and mantra, where less is more: it’s snappy, balls-to-the-wall hardcore with monstrous riffs. As the title ‘Only One Mode’ signals, they’ve never considered an alternative path – since day one, it’s been all of their passion and fury at full throttle.

Completed by Aaron Siow (bass), Josh Clayton (guitar), Dennis Vichidvongsa (guitar) and Kane Vardon (drums), the brotherhood of this band (“I know my team, one word: S-P-E-E-D”) is on display throughout ‘Only One Mode’. All five members contribute vocals at points on the album. The core message is self-belief and defiance, as Jem sings on the ruthless ‘Shut It Down’: “Don’t try and level with me / I make my own moves.”

The album’s highlight comes in the form of ‘The First Test’. An anthem about finding yourself as a marginalised individual in society, it proved somewhat divisive upon its release for unrelated reasons: Jem’s flute-playing during the breakdown sent some internet commenters into a tizzy. The so-called ‘flutecore’ doesn’t feel gimmicky: rather, it demonstrates Speed’s ambitions to push their sound into places no one would expect, without it feeling forced (when he’s not fronting Speed, Jem is a flute teacher). Knocked Loose’s viral reggaeton beatdown was enthusiastically embraced when they unveiled ‘Suffocate’ with Poppy earlier this year. A flute is arguably more of a curveball at first glance, but one that could come to be similarly appreciated over time.

Sharp and sufficiently groovy, there’s enough variation throughout ‘Only One Mode’ to keep interest piqued. ‘Kill Cap’ is full of twists and turns, while ‘I Mean It’ is a timely reminder that Speed sugarcoat nothing: “I say what’s in my veins so there’s no way to confuse it”. Speed have put Australian hardcore on the map, to a global extent which hasn’t been seen before. It’s surely a matter of time before they reach the heights of Turnstile and Militarie Gun, but while taking their own, uncompromising path.