Qulture Magazine

Words: Madi Briggs

The four-piece hardcore rockers Hearing tests are back once more with their two outstanding singles, ‘Mob Rule’ and ‘Bully’.

‘Mob Rule’ is a lot to take in for a song that’s not even two minutes long. It’s everything you would expect from a classic hardcore song, intensity, drama, raw frantic guitar riffs that speak to you from your very core. You know, the tick box stuff. However, rather than just becoming an easily forgettable, run of the mill type tune, ‘Mob Rule’ is able to break the mold ensuring that you’ll want to return to Hearing Tests again and again. Maybe it’s Kuba Starzyński’s screaming vocals, maybe it’s the cutting lyrics that act as a scrutiny of our current political world or maybe it’s how the band cleverly shifts the dynamics of the track so that you remain hooked on it. Whatever it may be, it’s brilliant and very catchy.

We can’t forget ‘Bully’ with Ed Harper’s searing drums that are the unwavering foundation of this track or Mark Cairns’ alluring bass which drags you in right from the get go. It’s slightly less wound up than ‘Mob Rule’ but that doesn’t make it any less better. There’s this pure, unadulterated anger behind every beat which propels the song forward, taking it to levels that the band hasn’t reached before. Just before you find yourself lost in the chaos of the song, the middle, with just guitars, adds a slower change of pace, giving yourself time to breathe and ensuring that it remains engaging. The tension of the post-middle build up is tantalising before the chaos ensues once more. With one last hurrah of all the instruments before the song quickly cuts out, ‘Bully’ is an unforgettable track which leaves you excited to see where the band will end up next. 

Both ‘Mob Rule’ and ‘Bully’ have their part to play in the creation of Hearing Tests and they open up a whole new world for the band and listeners alike.

You can listen to both songs now on their Spotify.