Leisure came to an end in 2003 and, after taking a hiatus from performing, Lopez and Stockham came together again to form Strangler, which would soon after be renamed Middle Class Rut.

[4] Throughout 2008, Zack and Sean did numerous live interviews with KWOD DJs Rubin and Andy Hawk to promote local MC Rut shows.

During a local show after the flip, Middle Class Rut singer/guitarist Zack Lopez made mention of it by saying, "There's been a death in Sacramento.

In November 2008, the band was profiled in the Radar section of NME magazine, which described them as "...epic noise alchemists...,"[7] and played a five-stop tour in London, England for the first time.

magazine wrote in its December 12, 2008 issue, "[Their] sound is nothing short of colossal, and one that a mere two-piece shouldn't be able to create, combining the boisterous swagger and pomp of Jane's Addiction and the feral fury of Rage Against the Machine.

",[8] and Rocksound's December 2008 Christmas issue pegged them as "Ones to Watch", saying, "Their debut double A-side single 'Busy Bein' Born'/'All Walks of Life' is a breath of fresh air in the midst of the musical stench that emo is now emitting.

During a concert in Cesar Chavez Park in Sacramento, California on June 19, 2009, lead singer Zack Lopez announced that Middle Class Rut would be releasing their debut album for which they had recently been recording new material.

On October 4, 2010, Middle Class Rut released their full-length album, No Name No Color in the United States and November 22, 2010 in the UK.

On October 30, 2010, Middle Class Rut opened for Chevelle's second night of the 10 Year Anniversary show at the Metro in Chicago, IL.

In February 2011, Middle Class Rut opened for 30 Seconds to Mars at the Main Street Armory in Rochester, New York.