Speed, Whispers, Trench, and Juice - Winnipeg, MB

There’s something undeniably electric about watching history unfold in real time, and that’s exactly what went down at The Park Theatre on May 16, 2025. For one night only, Winnipeg was the epicentre of global hardcore as Australia’s Speed and Thailand’s Whispers brought their relentless energy to Canada for the very first time, joined by Canadian bruisers Trench and Juice in a stacked lineup that felt more like a warzone than a show.

Juice. Photos by Samuel Stevens.

Vancouver’s own Juice came out swinging with a set that felt like being thrown into a blender of punk chaos and metallic rage. Their eight-song barrage opened with the unhinged "Victim Of The Psychic War" and never let up from there. Tracks like "Drug Game" and "Satanic Pimp" turned the floor into a boiling pit of limbs, with the crowd responding to every jagged riff and primal scream. By the time they closed with the anthemic, apocalyptic "World War 3," the stage had been properly scorched for what was to come.

Trench. Photos by Samuel Stevens.

While Calgary’s Trench didn’t have the international mystique of their tourmates, their set served as a reminder that Canadian hardcore can still throw down with the best of them. Their sound—a hulking mix of hardcore, death metal, and sludge—hit with the weight of a sledgehammer. Brutal and uncompromising, Trench delivered a crushing set before the international acts that felt like the Canadian gut-punch everyone needed.

Whispers. Photos by Samuel Stevens.

Few bands have walked onto a Winnipeg stage with as much to prove as Whispers, and fewer still have levelled expectations the way they did. Hailing from Bangkok and bringing their brand of “evilcore” to North America for the first time, Whispers launched into "Bangkok Evilcore" with a hunger that couldn’t be faked. The band's vocalist was a force of nature—commanding the crowd like a veteran general leading a blitz. "Morbid Vision" and "Retribution" were devastating, but it was the crushing finale of "Chaos Breed" that left the biggest mark, with breakdowns so heavy they felt tectonic. Some of the Winnipeg audience might not have known Whispers before this night, but you can bet they won’t forget them.

Speed. Photos by Samuel Stevens.

Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for: Speed, finally on Canadian soil. From the second they exploded into "KILL CAP," the room ignited. Vocalist Jem Siow stalked the stage like a man possessed, hyping the crowd between tracks with heartfelt speeches about unity, resilience, and community—themes that lie at the core of Speed’s ethos.

The setlist was stacked. From mosh-starters like "We See U" and "Big Bite" to the emotional centrepiece "REAL LIFE LOVE," Speed proved they’re not just a hype band—they’re the real deal. "DON'T NEED" and "NO LOVE BUT FOR OUR OWN" got some of the most visceral reactions of the night, with the pit erupting in a flurry of stagedives, spin-kicks, and crowd chants.

They closed the night with "THE FIRST TEST," a perfect closer that felt like a challenge to the crowd and a declaration of their mission. If this show was the first test, Winnipeg passed with flying fists and bruised ribs. The May 16th show at the Park Theatre wasn’t just a concert—it was a statement. It was about hardcore as a truly global movement, built on shared struggle, raw expression, and unrelenting passion. With Speed and Whispers crossing oceans to bring their music to new audiences, and with Trench and Juice flying the flag for Canada, this was more than just a gig—it was a milestone.