Stoner/psychedelic Metal
UK

Released 30th January, 2026

The third album from the Oxford quartet offers something a bit more highbrow from their previous ventures. Coming from such an established university city, one may be mistaken that metal would be a bit thin on the ground there but, au contaire, the scene is healthy and happy. Hosting many a band of varied sub genres, and for the sake of this review, the Oxford stoner/doom scene has Desert Storm and Undersmile being notable in those fields.

Coming in through the haze see’s INDICA BLUES dealing their fourth album, in the shape of UNIVERSAL HEAT DEATH.
Previous offerings where solid, stoner affairs as is de rigueur, yet, this time, we find a band in a phase of artistic expansion, with a soulful meditation rising to the top.
It would appear they are taking the blues part of their name and running with it all the way to the try line.

The first (and title) track is laden with slick guitar licks among the swinging drums. A modern mix of 1970s doom and 1990s more laid back stoner/grunge (anyone remember the album Dropped by Mindfunk?), while THE RAVEN rubs some British blues invasion akin to Cream and pre Nicks & Buckingham Fleetwood Mac deep in its DNA.

As if to drive the last point further, the two parts of BLOODLANDS found here are reminiscent of the late, great Peter Green, albeit given some modern stoner punch, especially on Pt. 2.

The core sound of INDICA BLUES isn’t lost on UNIVERSAL HEAT DEATH though, as THE SLOW DESCENT INTO HELL delivers a relatively sharp burst stoner groove before setling down to a desert outlaw jam, DEBT RIDDEN BLUES. It is quite a highlight, complete with psyched vocal effects and delicately fuzzed guitars.

It’s a shame when UNIVERSAL HEAT DEATH finishes with SO LOW, because the song is all bell bottom jeans and paisley shirts. The psychedelic grunge stylings could’ve gone on for hours, but we’ll have to make do with the 6 minutes offered, I suppose.

It’s nice to have albums like this, from bands like INDICA BLUES. The pull to chill and let loose with what’s really turning you on needs adressing and exercising. Something that INDICA BLUES have done nicely.
You can’t grow if you stay in the same pot.
If you dig bands like Earthless, The Kryss Talmeth Experience and Black Elephant, grab your shovel for sone INDICA BLUES.

Universal Heat Death by Indica Blues is available now, via Majstic Mountain Records, to stream on Spotify and Amazon Music.

Also, get digital and physical formats  from Indica Blue’s Bancamp.