Hear SPEED's new flute-fueled hardcore rager "THE FIRST TEST"

Australian hardcore quintet Speed have offered up a second taste of their forthcoming ONLY ONE MODE album, and in a wildly anachronistic turn of events, it's a slamfest titled "THE FIRST TEST."

Just like "REAL LIFE LOVE," the track is a tough-as-nails modern take of New York hardcore heaviness, mangled up through a mid-tempo bounce and imposing power chord ferocity. Notably, the backend breakdown also features the butterfly-flutteriest of flute solos courtesy of vocalist Jem Siow.

Lyrically, the band explain in a press release that "THE FIRST TEST" is about marginalized peoples, in this case reflecting Siow's experience as an Asian Australian "striking out alone and growing in a beautiful and ugly world." It goes on to describe carving out your chosen path on your own terms ("First test: Say fuck the rest").

The video likewise finds Speed and the crew two-stepping near the beach, before the band go subterranean to flex those flute skills. You can see for yourself up above.

As previously reported, ONLY ONE MODE is due to drop July 12th via Flatspot Records in the U.S., and Last Ride Records in Australia. Revolver's exclusive colored vinyl variant of the LP, limited to 300, is up for pre-order in our shop.

Likewise, the band are still out on road with Knocked Loose, Show Me the Body and Loathe. You'll find the remaining dates of the ongoing trek over here.

...And if you're wondering, yes, they're absolutely dropping into that flute solo live.