### Indian: Guiltless

#### 16/11/11 || gk

The Indian brand of hate filled sludge doom has always been a bit inconsistent for me. Previous albums have had moments of jaw dropping heaviness but also large chunks of music that have left me quite indifferent. 2011 saw the band release its 4th full length in the form of “Guiltless” and it also sees the addition of second guitarist Will Lindsay who’s spent time in Middian and Wolves in the Throne Room.

There are a few high points in “Guiltless” and one more so than the awesome opening riff of “No Grace” as the band pummel its way through a thick sludgy stomp with the harsh and processed vocals coming in front and centre before the band close the song out with what is a comparatively mild stoner metal groove. It’s a good start to what is a pretty great album. “The Fate before Fate” is almost anthemic in nature with hints of a melody and a vague black metal riffing style which is buried beneath the sludge before the band stomp their way through an uncomfortably oppressive second half of the song. Title song “Guiltless” is an awesome exercise in sludge as the band literally stomp through 8 minutes of a deliberate mid paced riff with the vocals acting as the 4th instrument in the music and a layer of ambient noise in the background that builds and swirls around the main riff often acting as an extreme counterpoint to the vocals. “Guilty” starts harsh and discordant but then the band play what is almost a relaxed stoner metal groove if not for the harsh vocals and general bleak and oppressive atmosphere. “Banality” is the album epic and Indian is in top form here as the song lurches it’s way through to a harsh noisy and abrupt ending which left me feeling completely spent.

This is a big step up for Indian. The songs are of uniformly high quality and the inclusion of a second guitarist has bolstered the sound of the band and also may have added an extra dimension to the songwriting. The general atmosphere is one of bleak claustrophobic oppressiveness and it really works. Imagine the machine like stomp and crunch of old Godflesh without the industrial bite but with a layer of noise in the background obscuring everything from plain sight. Indian are without a doubt, very extreme but they are also complex songwriters who have created some very fine music with “Guiltless.”

At the same time, a lot of listeners could just view this as extremity for it’s own sake. The vocals are run through distortion and 40 minutes of these supremely harsh vocals might be difficult to sit through. At the same time, I don’t really see non-genre fans liking this album or even giving it a try. It’s another matter that anyone into extreme metal should check out “Guiltless.” This is a band that’s come up with something a bit special. May not be for everyone and while “Guiltless” might be a tough and harrowing listen at times, it is very worth it.

- Information
- Released: 2011
- Label: Relapse Records
- Website: Indian MySpace
- Band
- Dylan O’Toole: vocals, guitars
- Will Lindsay: vocals, guitars
- Sean Patton: noise
- Ron DeFries: bass
- Bill Bumgardner: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Guiltless
- 02. The Fate Before Fate
- 03. Guilty
- 04. The End of Truth
- 05. Supplicants
- 06. Banality
- 07. No Grace