Jul 24, 2026 · By Justin Pickrell

Two Years of 'Only One Mode': Speed Made Hardcore an Australian Export

Deadweight The Pit cover graphic reading Speed Only One Mode

Speed's debut album 'Only One Mode' dropped July 12, 2024, topped the ARIA Australian albums chart, and dragged Sydney beatdown hardcore onto the world stage. Two years later it still hits like a truck.

Who are Speed?

Speed are a Sydney, Australia hardcore band built on brotherhood and blunt-force heaviness. Grammy.com credits them with carrying the flag for an entire continent's scene, and Kerrang! has called them one of the most important hardcore bands in Australia.

Why does 'Only One Mode' matter?

It's a hardcore record that went to No. 1 on the ARIA Australian albums chart — proof the genre can top a national chart without sanding off a single edge. No crossover gimmick, no radio bait. Just a wall of riffs and a band that means it.

What is Speed doing in 2026?

Still touring hard, with Australian and Aotearoa dates on the calendar, and still refusing to drift. As they put it to Crack Magazine: "We will only ever be a hardcore band."

Why Speed connect when a lot of heavy bands don't:

  • Brotherhood over image. The band is a unit — that loyalty reads on record and in the room.
  • No gimmick. They didn't chase a crossover to get big. They got big being exactly what they are.
  • Live intensity. The pit is the point. The records are a preview of the room.
  • They put Australia on the map. A continent's scene now has a flagship.
  • They give back. Their 'Only One Mode' tour donated tens of thousands to community causes — heavy doesn't mean hollow.

Dress like you mean it. The Tyrant tee earns its place — or dig through the full Deadweight lineup.

FAQ

Who are Speed?

A Sydney, Australia hardcore band known for their brotherhood-driven, heavy sound.

When did 'Only One Mode' come out?

July 12, 2024. It debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA Australian albums chart.

Is Speed still touring in 2026?

Yes — they have Australian and Aotearoa (New Zealand) dates announced for 2026.

Editorial coverage. Deadweight is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists featured. All music and media belongs to the respective artists and labels.

More from Deadweight: Strength News · The Pit · The Work · Shop all