EP Review: Bruise Control – Bruise Control EP

Manchester five-piece Bruise Control come ‘fuelled off cider and shouting at each other” on this, their debut EP, dropping this Friday (19^th June) via the newly-fashioned Rad Noise Records. Featuring members of Gurnal Gadafi, Tinnefruit and Sonic AM, the band were “formed purely out of wanting a place where we can all play something fast and fun, with no restrictions as to what we want to put into a song,” explains vocalist Jimbob Taylor.

‘Useless’, already available as a single, opens the EP with its revved-up jangle. There’s something immediate and almost..nostalgic, like a lost gem from decades past, about its verve – Jimbob, in his first role within a band, gobs gruffly about being “useless for something..useless forever..” over the jerky chorus rhythm. The next track, ‘Brusier’, is frenetic, fucked-up rock n’ roll. It bounds along; hinting at, but not succumbing to, a sense of ‘Oi’.  A suspenseful intro announces ‘Come On Down’, which sparks into full-on fuzz  – “The future’s looking pretty fucking bleak!” – and then shifts itself again midway through into an irresistible, warped bop: “Come on down!”  it beckons. Closer ‘Disco Fury’ is a hip staccato punch that will cause waists to shake, and a chorus that will prompt necks to bend. .Then there’s that *filthy* bass run..

The band had planned to appear live for the first time back in April, for Record Store Day, on a bill that also featured fellow Mancunians Incisions and Spillage, and a bagpiper (!) Obviously postponed, tickets are still available HERE for the rescheduled show, whenever that may be.

Like shabby garage punk that urges you to fist-pump, pogo and boogie? Having already sold out of the limited run of cassettes, ‘Bruise Control EP’ is available to download digitally through the Rad Noise Records Bandcamp page. The band also has Facebook and Instagram pages to check out.