Pure mayhem.
That’s probably the most accurate term to describe the biggest hardcore metal gig Melbourne has seen in recent times – led by the country’s new kings of the genre, Sydney crew SPEED.
This crowning moment in Speed’s ascension has been coming for a while after they built up a cult following here and overseas. They released their debut album ONLY ONE MODE last month, and fresh from a sold-out all-ages gig at Stay Gold the night before, this second stop at Northcote Theatre also has a full-house sign. It’s loaded with five bands including international supports and is set to be one hell of a party.
Credit: @thesaddestday
As I walk in to see US crew Pain of Truth thrashing away, they’ve got a bunch of mates on either side of the stage of the stage (and behind the drum line) just chilling and having the time of their lives. There’s moments where some of them jump on the mic (and each other) or throw out some windmills. I’m later told this is normal for a hardcore gig, but it’s not something you see at a typical rock show around town, and it feels just right in a venue with a Town Hall-like, gymnasium-without-the-basketball-backboards feel.
Anyway, all this fun is going on while Pain of Truth churn out their Dropped-C-tuned riffs and breakdowns on repeat, with a healthy circle pit rolling throughout the set. Lead singer Michael Smith speaks to the pit peeps by asking for “only the hardest moshers right now” to ‘fuck this shit up Australia”, and says lines like “nah nah, I know you got more than that” when he doesn’t think they’re going hard enough. Pain of Truth close with a song that carries the same title as their band name. If you wanted a taste of all the hardcore clichés, you got it. Warm up job done.
London outfit High Vis’ distortion pedals aren’t dialled up as much, as they’ve got more of a post-punk vibe. What they lack in sludge is offset by vocalist Graham Sayle’s boundless energy. One moment he’s waving his hands around like a choir conductor, then a split second later he’s jumping in sync with the beats, or howling into the mic with Liam Gallagher-like swagger.
Credit: @thesaddestday
“This is so fucking good aye,” he says in his thick accent in one of several moments of gratitude and real talk between songs. Second-last track “Trauma Bonds” sees many punch the air and sing along, and Sayle throws the mic into the crowd for them to belt out the chorus in closer “Choose to Lose.”
There’s a couple of left-of-centre tracks on the between-set playlist, including 1998 pop banger “It Feels So Good” by Sonique, before SPEED commence their headlining assault.
It begins with a flute (for the intro of “Real Life Love”), it nearly ends with a flute (for a breakdown in “Not That Nice”), and there’s about 30 minutes of mayhem in between.
As the band tear through most of the tracks on ONLY ONE MODE, their posse echo Pain of Truth’s antics on both sides of the stage, except it’s turbocharged. Some do forward rolls from one side of the stage to the other mid-song, others get gang-tackled while doing backing vocals.
Credit: @thesaddestday
Lead singer Jem Siow is the ring master of the circus: he jumps up to the barrier several times to get amongst the fans, and in between he’s bouncing around the stage with endless energy. Siow is sure to remind everyone where the band comes from – there’s no more fitting remark than his declaration of “This is 100 per cent Sydney shit” before they tear through the aptly-tiled “Send Them 2 Sydney.”
But perhaps the most touching bit is an almost-two minute chat halfway through the set where Siow recalls SPEED’s tiny first show in Melbourne four years ago, realising where they are now and what “a fucking crazy moment” it is.
“This band only started with one mission from the very beginning – to nurture and push forward our love for Australian hardcore,” he says. “It all comes down to the people here, so thank you everybody.”
SPEED’s upcoming tour dates can be found here.
