• Speed "Only One Mode" LP

Flatspot


Pressed on Coke Bottle Clear

Their new debut full-length, Only One Mode, exemplifies their growth and distillation. It’s a concept album in one sense: a manual that explains, directly, SPEED’s beliefs, the five guys’ personalities, what they bring to the table, and what’s special about their scene. Topics are sharp: “Real Life Love,” about the loyalty and realness they’ve learnt from hardcore, shows how SPEED connected through showing up; a depth of expression and emotion set against very punishing music. “The First Test” is full of dynamics—held notes, a tasteful flute break—and speaks 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. “Kill Cap” displays real vulnerability—heartache, regret, spiritual themes, an homage to the friends and family lost to suicide. Lyrics on Only One Mode embrace perspectives, pore over big ideas and small detailed moments. About the tunes on the record: Harder than the single—more breakdowns, and longer ones; it’s heavy ’90s metallic hardcore, in conversation with HATEBREED, MERAUDER, BIOHAZARD. There are more groove parts; vocals are tough and emotive, there are none of the longer melodic parts that hardcore band occasionally give in to when they rise to a popular level; all artistic decisions that are.