Friday night proved to be a full circle moment for Sydney hardcore collective Speed - a triumphant one shared with a capacity house inside of Los Angeles' Belasco Theatre.
Just two years prior, right around the same time, the band was making their live US debut as a part of the 2022 Sound and Fury festivities. On a bill that saw the final shows of powerhouse Gulch and what seemed the coronation of Drain as hardcore's next on deck, the less-than-established band from the other side of the world had already garnered real buzz.
Two years later, the band leading the charge of 'Real Sydney Shit' and functioning as de facto ambassadors of the culture celebrated the long-awaited release of their debut full length album, Only One Mode with the kind of explosive live set that has made them one of the genre's shining examples.
Anchoring the Friday night slate of what has now become Sound and Fury week in Los Angeles, Speed's headlining set including a healthy roster of support from the likes of God's Hate, Demonstration of Power, Initiate, No Way Out and Foreign Hands.
Among the bands and the fans, the environment in the room exuded a sense of pride, underscored by the kind of community that remains core to the culture. Speed were among their people and on their night, the love of their constituency was paired with an important reality. Over the last two years, Speed have reached people outside of hardcore's peripheral. While Speed remain unapologetically hardcore, their prowess, live performance and inability to be anything less than wholly dedicated to the culture is what allows them to increase their reach beyond hardcore.
The arrival of Only One Mode wasn't just a case of if you know, you know - it was for people that maybe didn't know and wanted to find out. That speaks to the strides that Speed has made in the last two years. It's that reach, their diplomacy that is helping to usher in the next generation of hardcore, by securing allegiance one new fan at a time.
As for the band's set, Speed on stage is the kind of communal experience that is less a performance than it is a proclamation. Bridging selections from Only One Mode like "Kill Cap" and "Don't Need" the band included early anthems like "Shut It Down" and "Big Bite" - offering something for both their recent converts and their day one ride or dies.
While Speed had earned the ability to bask in the spotlight, especially of their release night, the band remained true to their hardcore pedigree and ensured that their stage, was everyone's stage.
From Sydney to the world.
Check the images from Erica Lauren below.
SPEED 'ONLY ONE MODE' RELEASE SHOW
