SPEED Concert Review and Photos

by RB Photography

Updated November 01, 2026

When SPEED hits the floor of the Union Transfer, there is zero ramp-up time. The Sydney hardcore heavyweights hit Philadelphia on a Thursday night and immediately flattened the room. No ego, no fluff—just immediate, suffocating energy that pulled every corner of the venue into the pit from the opening riff.

From the second the opening bassline rattled through the rafters, the room transformed into total chaos. Jem Siow’s stage presence remains unmatched in modern hardcore. He commands the room effortlessly, pacing the front edge like a caged animal and driving a relentless pace while the rest of the band lays down a wall of thick, groove-heavy metallic bounce. The set list tore through fan favorites and heavy cuts with zero breathing room, keeping the floor in constant motion with violent side-steps, massive stage dives, and total crowd participation that blurred the line between the stage and the floor.

What makes a SPEED show land so hard isn't just the sheer volume or the neck-snapping breakdowns—it’s the genuine, uncompromising community ethos they bring every single time they step on stage. There's an electric, shared accountability in the room where everyone is locked in together, giving every bit of energy back to the stage.

With this current run coming to a close, the band is stepping away from the road to take a well-earned breather from touring. After grinding relentless global circuits for the past couple of years, the hiatus is deserved. Philly was a raw, loud reminder of why SPEED sits at the absolute forefront of the global scene, and anticipation is already high for whatever heavy shit they bring when they reload in 2027.

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