Poor Impulse Control / Bent Out of Shape — Battle Royale (split 7″)

When a split 7″ works, it’s because both bands involved know exactly what they want to do — and do it without fluff. Battle Royale is just that kind of record: two no-nonsense skin-hardcore / street punk crews taking turns, each delivering short, sharp bursts built for pub shows and sweaty basements.

Poor Impulse Control kick things off with authority. Their side pulses with mid-tempo Oi!-tinged streetpunk. For anyone who’s heard their demo or recent releases, this side will feel like a strong continuation: tight arrangements, direct choruses, and that unmistakable readiness for a pit of fists and boots. “For Boston” comes off like the cathartic release that the opener wound up — a hometown anthem written in concrete and sweat, with gang-shout potential and that classic Oi! stomp.

Flipping the record brings you to Bent Out of Shape, a band whose roots (in Fryslân) are evident but so is their own sensibility. Their delivery has earnestness; these aren’t nostalgic cash-ins but  punks who mean what they sing. It’s “Blink of an Eye” that for me steals this record. It’s the standout track on the split: a tuneful, yearning ode to the fleeting nature of life and the urgency to live it while you have it. There’s sincerity baked into its chorus, and the hook lands with emotional heft rather than cheap sentimentality. It’s the song that lingers hardest after the needle lifts.

For listeners chasing that gritty working-class energy, this is a solid pick. A good 7″ for both longtime fans and first-time listeners. If you’re into rough-edged street-punk with a hardened edge but honest heart, grab this one when you see it.