If the band The Deadly Syndrome sounds familiar, you might be recalling their debut album The Ortolan, which gained the group some attention when it was released in 2007. Since concluding support of that record, the four-piece Los Angeles group parted ways with their label, Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak, and recorded a follow-up that saw them pursuing their musical ambitions on their own terms. They self-released the sophomore effort, Nolens Volens, in the spring and have played sporadic dates in support, including the LA Street Food Fest that CoS experienced in July. This type of band existence is what people used to be talking about when they would say “indie rock.”

Their music video for “Trouble Again” supports this DIY mentality and stems from an attempt to recreate an ant infestation that singer Chris Richard found creative ways to quell without killing them, including drops of water and garlic on his fingers. Collaborating with director Grant James (and surely bonding over being graced with last names that could be first names), the two used nearly 8,000 ants, all of whom they named Reggie, but were never able to recapture the scenario that Richard experienced. What they did have is over five hours of footage, countless bites and zero regrets. Well, maybe a couple regrets, but James, who had previously worked with Del the Funky Homosapien and Gogol Bordello, was able to record incredible footage using macro photography, not to mention a healthy dose of creativity.

Nolens Volens, is available now through the band’s website and will see a vinyl release at the end of the month.