“Feel the violence, smell the fumes, see the fear in their eyes.“
SPEED can’t stay away from the UK, performing at last year’s Outbreak London debut, as well as supporting Malevolence on their headliner. Two trips around the globe in such a short space of time would be enough for most, yet SPEED have soon returned on a headliner of their own. They even have a headline spot at Burn It Down pencilled in for later this year. It’s no surprise really, giving the absolute clamour and adoration they receive whenever they visit these isles, as demonstrated at later dates on this tour. People will crowdsurf over a barrier and stage dive back, representing the sheer energy that SPEED invoke in a crowd.
Dambuster
Brighton hardcore arrived to opening proceedings and for a roll of the dice on an opener, with no scene better to dabble into than BN1 at the moment. With a crowd still making their way in, Dambuster perhaps didn’t get the audience they deserved, yet those present and new to the unit will no doubt have been won over. A raw and pure energy to them, bouncing around the stage and commanding the crowd, Dambuster‘s short but sweet set will mark them as one we will no doubt be seeing much more of going forward.
Bodyweb
The ever-present Bodyweb continued proceedings, taking their blend of 00’s styled nu-core with a hardcore twist. It’s one that has often divided opinion, yet as a live act they’ve sharpened up over the years, proving themselves as a mainstay in the UK live scene. Switching between material from EPs train_wreck_simulation and deadwired, the rawness of their sound filled the Electric Bristol, especially as standout track “deadwired” blasted itself through the venue. Another that no doubt we will be hearing much more of in the future and one we look forward to seeing at 2000trees later this year.
Whispers
This is an act we’ve been looking forward to seeing again after their standout performance at Outbreak Autumn a few years back now. Picked up by The Coming Strife initially, they later burst out when picked up by SPEED and brought on various tours; Whispers have never looked back. Much nodded to by Siow coming out for a vocal support during their set, with their sound having a pure evilness to it that clearly infected a crowd that began to move in serious mosh moves for them. Their set had the potential to outshine SPEED themselves, setting themselves now as one who could see themselves at hardcore’s stalwarts in years to come.
Speed
Hearing a crowd shout “speeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed” gives a fair warning that it’s going to be a mad one. As “AIN’T MY GAME” opened the set, the crowd moved into a flurry of stage diving, crowd-surfing and chanting along. SPEED had their choir in full force, with many shouting along word for word to SPEED‘s words, with the likes of “REAL LIFE LOVE” cranking everything possible up a notch. Mixing Eryak Badu into their tracks had gave an extremely cool air to their set. What’s evident once again though is that SPEED‘s appeal, and purpose to an extent, is to be a live band. They’re one that has to be seen live to truly “get it“. The infectious joy of Siow as a vocalist, who one moment will be smiling ear to ear looking at the crowd in front of him, then demanding a bigger pit and crowd surfers over the barrier. It epitomes the appeal of hardcore in this day and age. Without wanting to sound cheesey, it offers up something real and something honest, and we can’t wait to see SPEED again.
