EP Review: SPEED - 'ALL MY ANGELS'
Sydney hardcore powerhouse SPEED return with an all-new EP to help stir chaos in time for the winter months.
Speed returns this week with a whirlwind EP, “ALL MY ANGELS”. This project, like many other creations by the global hardcore powerhouse, comes to collect your soul and force you into a pit of flailing limbs and unbreakable bonds. Clocking in at a short yet infinitely sweet 3 minutes, this barnstormer of a tracklist will put you through the ringer and leave you coming out the other side with nothing but a smile and maybe a couple of bruises on your face.
The EP kicks off with the brutal and immediately threatening “AIN’T MY GAME”; this track condenses everything that makes SPEED work into a nice 3-minute journey, mixing savage and cutting bass notes in with the omnipotent vocals of Jem Siow. This emphasis on bass line really undercuts the song helping elevate the punchy and rhythmic chords played at light speeds by the infinitely talented Joshua Clayton, and Dennis Vichidvongsa. SPEED also have a focus on mastery, be it with tone, timing or general stage antics they are true masters of their craft and this shines through beautifully in this track, mixing their very groovy undercurrent with their serrated and multifaceted sound that prevails from an initial listen. “AIN’T MY GAME” is an excellent opener that truly lays the table for the next 2 tracks.
“PEACE” continues with much of the same brooding angst, yet still keeps the formula fresh and may just be one of my all-time favourite hardcore songs. Just after the first verse, right when you’d expect a frenzy of fanatical hardcore fans to collide, it cuts. What follows is one of the greatest pace changes I can name in recent memory, breaking away from their relentless pace and power, SPEED descend into a cluster of groove. Emphatic and rhythm-laden drums build an epicentre of fantastic musicianship. This drum section allows the stop-start chord progressions to ebb and flow without interruption, creating a song that is worthy of not only a gentle headbang but also pure, unbridled chaos. This is a common theme for this EP and has been extremely well received while currently out on the road with hardcore legends in the making, Turnstile. Seeing the positive reception for this EP leads me to believe that SPEED will continue to shock the world again and again in brutal fashion.
The EP closes out with the title track “ALL MY ANGELS”. This curtain call elevates every element of the project and blasts the doors open to an exciting new sound for the band. coupling some of the slower elements of “PEACE” and the breakneck speed of “AIN’T MY GAME”, SPEED combines a consistent pursuit to bring good and truthful hardcore to the wider world while also staying very true to the savagery that holds the sound together. It’s beautiful to see how SPEED have been able to achieve such tremendous success while also not sacrificing any of their core sound or values. This song emulates that; it’s raw, it’s profound, and it’s extremely well made. Every chug and every snare drop effortlessly kick you in the teeth with blinding joy, allowing the chugs of the bass and guitar section to pick you up and get you 2-stepping again in no time.
Hardcore has a consistent and warm place in my heart, as there truly is no group or genre with more passion for what they do than hardcore bands, and SPEED have become nothing if not an embodiment of the hardcore lineage through their hedonistic pursuit of greatness. Hailing from Sydney, Australia, this 5-man unit has transformed from a local band to a global phenomenon, creating a following that feels like family along the way. This is emblematic in every single one of their shows, showing nothing but the utmost gratitude for every single person in the room at the time. This passion and energy pour into every single piece of art this band creates: be it songs, vinyl inserts, or no-gi jiu jitsu kits, the last of which lit a fire of joy in me, SPEED truly know how to connect with their audience and create an interpersonal and powerful relationship with each of their fans. Seeing this band grow from stage to stage will forever be a pleasure, and I am eternally grateful to be able to sit down and enjoy the ride.
Words by Josh Pook
