Speed are an Australian hardcore punk band from Sydney.[3] Formed in 2019, the band consists of lead vocalist Jem Siow, guitarists Aaron Joshua Clayton and Dennis Vichidvongsa, bassist Aaron Siow, and drummer Kane Vardon.
Speed | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Sydney, Australia |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2019–present |
| Labels |
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| Members |
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History
In the late 2000s, Jem Siow formed Your Ghost Is a Gift with vocalist Joel Martorana.[4] The band changed its name to Endless Heights in 2009,[4] releasing two studio albums and five extended plays (EPs) before breaking up in 2019.[5] That same year, Siow recruited his brother Aaron Siow, Josh Clayton, Dennis Vichidvongsa, and Kane Vardon to form Speed.[6] In October 2019, Speed released a demo EP on Last Ride Records.[3] The following April, the group was signed by Flatspot Records.[7] In June 2020, the band released the single "A Dumb Dog Gets Flogged", which Jem Siow said "was born in reaction to the failed leadership of our government during the 2019–2020 Australian bushfires. Empathy and compassion should always be the premise for meaningful action."[8] the two-track single 2020 Flex,[2] Later that month, they released the two-song EP 2020 Flex, consisting of "A Dumb Dog Gets Flogged" and "Devil U Know".[9]
In June 2021, the band released "We See U" as part of the hardcore punk compilation, This Is Australia Vol 2.[10] In May 2022, the band announced the release of Gang Called Speed as their official debut EP, alongside its lead single "Not That Nice" which addresses Asian hate crimes.[11] They said, "Even though this is our first EP, [we're] sort of approaching it almost like a debut album. That's why it's called Gang Called Speed – this is the identity of the band. This is what we're all about. This is Australian hardcore."[2] Gang Called Speed was released on 24 June 2022 and debuted at number 5 on the ARIA Charts.[12] "Not That Nice" appears in the wrestling video game WWE 2K24.[13]
In April 2024, Speed announced their debut studio album, Only One Mode, which was released on 12 July.[14]
Band members
- Aaron Siow – bass guitar
- Jem Siow – lead vocals, flute
- Joshua Clayton – guitar
- Dennis Vichidvongsa – guitar
- Kane Vardon – drums
Discography
Albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Only One Mode |
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EPs
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS [12] | ||
| 2020 Flex |
| — |
| Gang Called Speed |
| 5 |
Demo albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Demo 19 |
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Singles
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "A Dumb Dog Gets Flogged"[8] | 2020 | 2020 Flex |
| "We See U"[10] | 2021 | This Is Australia Vol 2 (compilation) |
| "Not That Nice"[11] | 2022 | Gang Called Speed |
| "Move"[15] | ||
| "One Blood We Bleed"[16] | The Extermination Vol. 4 (compilation) | |
| "Real Life Love"[17] | 2024 | Only One Mode |
| "The First Test"[18] | ||
| "Don't Need"[19] |