The ARIA Awards hit the Hordern Pavilion tonight, and in a nod to the raw power of the underground, Sydney hardcore juggernauts SPEED snagged the coveted Best Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Album award for their blistering debut, Only One Mode.
Dropped in July, the record is a pure adrenaline rush, showcasing the band’s unrelenting energy and uncompromising ethos.
The Nominees: A Fierce Competition
SPEED edged out a killer lineup in one of the ARIAs’ most dynamic categories:
- SPEED – Only One Mode (Winner)
- C.O.F.F.I.N – Australia Stops
- Dune Rats – If It Sucks, Turn It Up
- Teenage Jones – The Rot That Grows Inside My Chest
- Polaris – Fatalis
Introduced in 2010, the award for Best Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Album has become a spotlight for Australia’s diverse heavy scene, and this year’s nominees proved the genre is more alive than ever.
Hardcore Hits the Mainstream
For SPEED, the ARIA is a well-earned milestone in a career built on DIY grit and a relentless passion for hardcore. Reflecting on their growing fame, the band said:
“We’ve been going to hardcore shows and playing in bands for most of our lives now. When you do this long enough, I guess you get a pretty good understanding of who you are, what you stand for, and why you’re involved.”
They added, “Now, somewhat suddenly, we have a lot more outsiders finding out about our culture, for good or for worse. We don’t need you or anyone to tell us how to navigate that. ‘Cus to us, the meaning is the same as it’s always been. We are hardcore kids in a hardcore band from Sydney, Australia.”
Their words hit as hard as their music, grounding their success in authenticity and a deep connection to their roots.
Elsewhere at the ARIAs
While SPEED claimed their slice of ARIA glory, other artists dominated the night:
- Troye Sivan swept the board, taking home Best Album of the Year, Best Solo Artist, and Best Pop Release.
- Rising indie duo Royel Otis were crowned Best Group, further cementing their status as a major force in the scene.
The Bigger Picture
SPEED’s win shows that Australia’s heavy music community is thriving on its own terms. With Only One Mode, the band isn’t just making noise—they’re making an impact, proving that hardcore is here to stay, with or without industry recognition.
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