Indian Handcrafts

Toronto, ON pair Indian Handcrafts continue to pummel listeners with latest effort Civil Disobedience for Losers. The duo, made up of Fox Jaws' Daniel Allen and Brandyn Aikins, mix the propulsive rhythms of Death From Above 1979, Tom Morello's single-note guitar breakdowns and Buzz Osborne's bellowed vocals. The band got a major leg up after L.A. label Sargent House (home to like-minded acts such as Boris) picked them up for this release. But for all their sonic bluster, and there is a lot of it, Indian Handcrafts come across as the most reductive version of their influences. Riffs mimic Morello's style, but lack his sonic innovation. Similarly, the group's repetitive stomp lacks the Melvins' knack for messing with audiences expectations. Civil Disobedience functions well as a single purpose stoner rock record, but fails to offer anything new or exciting.