London’s Hearing Tests return with “Bully”, a blistering new single set to drop September 3 via Grapes of Wrath Records. Fierce, politically sharp, and rooted in lived defiance, the track marks their second release of 2025 and firmly reasserts their place in the UK punk landscape.
From the first note, “Bully” erupts with intent—razor-wire guitars, a relentless rhythm section, and vocals that cut through the noise with zero hesitation. It’s a short, scathing blast that channels the energy of classic hardcore (think NoMeansNo, Minor Threat, Black Flag) but points it squarely at today’s social rot: institutional failures, political gaslighting, and the machinery of modern-day oppression.
The track will be released on a limited-edition translucent red 7″, paired with the equally furious “Mob Rule”. Only 40 copies are being pressed, making it not just a collector’s piece but a statement. And like everything Hearing Tests touch, it’s got teeth.
For frontman Kuba Starzyński, whose personal battle with leukemia nearly derailed the band, this record isn’t just music—it’s defiance. That sense of survival and clarity pulses through “Bully”, making every lyric hit harder, every note feel earned.
Recorded in the heart of a repurposed ear, nose, and throat hospital in central London (yes, really), the band’s sound is built on dissonance, resistance, and raw honesty. “Bully” doesn’t ask for your attention—it demands it.
Hearing Tests aren’t playing to scene politics or nostalgic throwbacks. They’re building something urgent, current, and louder with every release. With “Bully”, they’ve taken the gloves off—and they’re swinging with purpose.
