Speed (Australian band)
Australian hardcore punk band formed in Sydney in 2020.
Speed (stylised as "SPEED") are a hardcore punk band from Sydney, Australia, formed in 2020. The lineup includes lead vocalist Jem Siow, guitarists Joshua Clayton and Dennis Vichidvongsa, bassist Aaron Siow, and drummer Kane Vardon.
Jem Siow previously played lead guitar in the band Your Ghost Is a Gift, which formed in the late 2000s with vocalist Joel Martorana. That group changed its name to Endless Heights in 2009, released two studio albums and five EPs, and disbanded in 2019. That same year, Siow recruited his brother Aaron Siow, Clayton, Vichidvongsa, and Vardon to start Speed. In 2020, the band released a demo EP on Last Ride Records. They signed with Flatspot Records in April 2020. In June 2020, they released the single "A Dumb Dog Gets Flogged", which Jem Siow described as a reaction to the government's handling of the 2019–2020 Australian bushfires, stating that "empathy and compassion should always be the premise for meaningful action." Later that month, they released the two-song EP *2020 Flex*, which included that single and "Devil U Know".
In June 2021, the band contributed the track "We See U" to the compilation *This Is Australia Vol 2*. In May 2022, they announced their debut EP *Gang Called Speed* and its lead single "Not That Nice", which addresses Asian hate crimes. The band said they approached the EP like a debut album, calling it their identity and what Australian hardcore is about. *Gang Called Speed* was released on 24 June 2022 and debuted at number 5 on the ARIA Charts. "Not That Nice" was later included on the soundtrack for the video game *WWE 2K24*, curated by the band's friend Post Malone.
In April 2024, Speed announced their debut studio album, *Only One Mode*, released on 12 July. It won the ARIA Award for Best Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Album at the 2024 ARIA Music Awards. In April 2025, the band became the first Australian hardcore act to perform at Coachella. In October 2025, they released the EP *All My Angels* and played Tied Down Fest in Detroit. In February 2026, their song "The First Test" was used as the theme for AEW's Grand Slam Australia at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.
Quick Facts
- Landscape
- Yes
- Origin
- Sydney, Australia
- Genre
- Hardcore punk / metalcore / tough guy hardcore / beatdown hardcore
- Years Active
- 2019–present
- Label
- Last Ride · Flatspot
- Spinoffs
- Secret World
- Spinoff Of
- Endless Heights, Relentless, Wreath
- Current Members
- Jem Siow / Aaron Siow / Josh Clayton / Dennis Vichidvongsa / Kane Vardon
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Speed formed in 2020 after the breakup of Jem Siow's previous band, Endless Heights, which had released two studio albums and five EPs before disbanding in 2019. Siow recruited his brother Aaron Siow, Joshua Clayton, Dennis Vichidvongsa, and Kane Vardon to form Speed. In 2020, they released a demo EP on Last Ride Records, and by April 2020 they were signed to Flatspot Records. Their early single "A Dumb Dog Gets Flogged" was written in reaction to the Australian government's handling of the 2019–2020 bushfires, with Siow stating that "empathy and compassion should always be the premise for meaningful action."
Reader's Guide
Speed's significance lies in their rapid ascent within the hardcore punk scene, both in Australia and internationally. Their debut EP Gang Called Speed was treated as a statement of identity, and its chart success on the ARIA Charts demonstrated the growing mainstream reach of Australian hardcore. The band's political engagement, particularly addressing the 2019–2020 bushfires and Asian hate crimes, reflects a tradition of punk activism. Their achievement as the first Australian hardcore act to perform at Coachella marks a milestone for the genre's global visibility. The ARIA Award for Best Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Album for Only One Mode further cemented their crossover appeal. Their inclusion in the WWE 2K24 soundtrack, curated by Post Malone, indicates their influence beyond the punk subculture. The band's continued output, including the 2025 EP All My Angels and the use of their music in professional wrestling events, suggests a lasting impact on both music and popular culture.
Did You Know?
- Speed's debut EP Gang Called Speed debuted at number 5 on the ARIA Charts.
- The band's single 'Not That Nice' appears on the soundtrack of WWE 2K24, curated by Post Malone.
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