Photo by: James Hartley

Between the thrash and the breakdown, the concept of a love song barreling through the pit isn’t always the obvious one you hear coming from the world of heavy hardcore music. Looking at how the community at its best still has the power to affirmatively build unbreakable bonds between the people who live and bleed it, however, you better understand how a song like SPEED’s “REAL LIFE LOVE” defines it on its own terms. Appropriately, the first single and opening tracking off the Sydney hardcore crew’s debut full-length, ONLY ONE MODE, uses their big moment to celebrate a scene that’s been supporting them ever since their 2021 breakthrough EP, GANG CALLED SPEED, turned them into a global movement. It’s big on energy and doubles down on a momentum that hasn’t taken a day off since. “Give my hand, you just take / This real life love, you can’t fake / Can’t fake what’s inside my soul,” vocalist Jem Siow growls through a glory of chug and metallic carnage. Sure, music like this sounds like it’s about to deliver a hard kick to your head, but it’s the part where it opts to pick you right up instead that shows where its heart is.

Directed by: Thomas Elliott, Jack Rudder & SPEED

SPEED’s ONLY ONE MODE will be released July 12th on Flatspot Records / Last Ride Records.