Rational Animals piqued my interested with their pretty solid debut 7", Perception Becomes Reality, but it didn't blow me away like I had hoped. Still, I figured I'd peep their new 7" after seeing their cool yet LONG live show and found myself blown away. For those of you who haven't heard them, the band is often described as playing a style of hardcore pretty indebted to late-era Black Flag sound. To me though, they sound like Gone's "Insidious Distraction" with vocals. And really, the band is more than just a derivative of that sound. The BF comparisons can end with the music, though, as the singer is way too soft compare, even pulling off an Ian MacKaye laugh in the title track.

Every song on this is a straight-up nerd rager. Distorted Temptation sounds like a slightly more furious version of the I Can See You EP, particularly extra-riffy/wanky songs like "Dark Eyes" and "Everybody's Cool Friend." "Games And Fun," which appeared on the Drugged Conscience comp The World Itself Is A Bad Dream, is their hardest hitting song and is one of their finest moments. The real winner is the title track, though, which makes me want to put my head through a wall with each listen. All in all, these songs kick with an extra grooviness not often found in hardcore these days. This is a solid improvement over their first release and I hope Will and co. can keep up the good work.

Here's to Resident Evil 5!

http://icoulddietomorrow.blogspot.com/2010/03/rational-animals-distorted-temptation-7.html

Scum Stats: 500 Units, Black Vinyl