Crucial Cause / Rat Damage- split 7″

Crucial Cause start out this record with "No Words," which originally appeared on their demo and is a strong representation of their sound. All of their songs are reminiscent of bands like No For An Answer, Unit Pride, Youth Of Today, and Side By Side/Alone In A Crowd, but unlike many contemporary bands who are influenced by late 80′s straight edge hardcore they do not come off as safe or overly clean. Vocalist Mikey P. is clearly very pissed off while the band is also able to avoid formulaic traps. Crucial Cause are not afraid to come off as too punk rock for hardcore kids or too hardcore for punk rock kids.They just do what they do and it never seems fake or contrived.

Although the vocals a little weak on the first Rat Damage song ("Self Medicated") they are able to kick things up for "Jerk Project," "Pills," and "Rat Damage." There is a strong Nihilistics vibe to this band and they seem like a gnarly bunch of guys. Their songs are about insomnia, drug use, and hating work. As one would assume from their name Rat Damage seem to be into some creepy stuff.

http://www.myspace.com/crucialcause

http://www.myspace.com/ratdamagesacto

-Ditch-