EP REVIEW: Bruise Control – Bruise Control
For those that are familiar with Manchester punk outfit; BRUISE CONTROL you know what to expect. Bangers, frenetic riffs and a torn pair of short shorts from frontman Jim Taylor shows off wonderfully. 2026 sees them return with an incendiary EP armed with six blistering tracks to combat the ever growing sinister nature of this world.
From the get go, BRUISE CONTROL is an absolute triumph. Opening track Be Like You lures you in with some fun noodling of a guitar and a lovely sounding bass before going from 0-100mph within a matter of seconds. Launching you into the fray with an anguished scream from Jim Taylor, we are treated to some good old fashioned, rough around the edges punk that truly speaks to your soul. It sounds huge as well. The driving gargantuan guitar is more than enough to make you instantly wish you’re in a small sweat box of a room slamming into a whirlwind of bodies. It’s a phenomenal opener that packs a punch and is an enormous amount of fun.
There is no time to waste here, if you thought Be Like You took your breath away through its energy, then second track Left Behind ups the ante and builds upon the already wonderful foundations that this EP has built. Musically, there isn’t a beat missed whatsoever and is tighter than a local council’s willingness to spend money. Just as you think the song is about to finish with a teasing gap that gives you a one second breather, we are launched back into this triumphant track that has you two stepping in your kitchen as you try to wash up and scare the cat off.
These days, punk music can be seen as quite polished tying bands to a specific sound that loses their punk credibility slightly. With BRUISE CONTROL, what you see is what you get. What makes them so endearing is Jim Taylor’s Wigan accent shining through. In an area which is dominated by Britpop, it’s nice to hear a local flavour shining through on some heavier sounding tunes. This is displayed perfectly on track Spinners Mill. As the AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS inspiration that has shone through the EP so far continues to take shape. The snarling attitude keeps the blood pumping and the fun at a steady 100% making it hard to pick a stand out track on this short listen where all six tracks stand out as much as each other. A groovy bass line kicks off the following track, Gone To Ground which again continues the EP’s themes of apathy, anger and the pressure of living in an increasingly unforgiving world.
As we make our journey toward the EP’s end, penultimate track, If You’re Not Mine somehow makes the EP go harder and faster with a fun ear worm of a chorus that will be wonderful to sing along live to if you’re able to manage without being swept up into a maelstrom of circle pits that this song is surely going to conjure. As we reach our finale, Jumping Ship brings the proceedings to a close in a fine manner. While it may not feel like it, it’s the slowest song on the track as it’s bruising guitar sounds and thunderous drums have a delightful bounce to it that makes it impossible to keep still whilst listening to it. It truly brings the collective feelings of the band and listener together with its bittersweet ending of feeling helpless when nothing seems to be getting better. The music however does have a hopeful feel to it as it ends on a mountain of feedback as you decide to listen to the whole EP again.
BRUISE CONTROL have cemented themselves as one of the best up and coming bands in punk that are ready to combat the messed up world we live in. From the likes of SOAPBOX, THE MEFFS to BRUISE CONTROL, we are in good company as these are all bands that we need now more than ever as we continue to make sense of everything going on around us. At its core, it is punk in it’s purest form and if BRUISE CONTROL are here to lead us into a better world, then it’s safe to say that there is no better band to have leading you. Do not sleep on this, EP, listen to it and share it with as many people as you can. They’ve shown us that punk isn’t quite dead yet.
Rating: 10/10
Bruise Control is out now via Republic Of Music.
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