Capitalizing on their breakout year in 2024 with the success of their single "CRITICAL HIT", the Aussies in Indigo Blaze have just released their first ever EP in UTB, which stands for "Up The Blaze". They saw a 3000% surge in streams for the past year, and have been featured on recommendation playlists on Spotify such as "New Nu" and "All New Metal". Coming from the blue-collar suburbs of Perth in Western Australia, the members of Indigo Blaze hope to take over the world with their fresh take on the nostalgic genre that is nu metal.
UTB kicks off with "Starwound", immediately showing off why they are a great band for fans of Limp Bizkit. The Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water vibes are prominent from get go, particularly giving "Boiler" vibes, especially with the lyric "Why'd you have to do me like that?" invoking the "Why do you have to go and hurt somebody like me?" in the chorus. Additionally, the bass on "Starwound" summons the spirit of the almighty Sam Rivers (R.I.P). Vocalist Rhys Gahan gets to show off his singing talent here, alongside his rapping skills. There's even a sick growl during the peak of the bridge. This track dips its toes into the pool of heaviness that Indigo Blaze has in their metaphorical backyard by keeping it fairly chill until the bridge, where the song gets a shot of adrenaline before repeating the chorus one last time.
The Chocolate Starfish vibes bleed into the next track as well, "Pump It". Here is where the Wes Borland-esque riffs have their time to shine. The syncopation of the drum beats and rapping in this song is strong, really adding to the headbanging energy that is dripping off of the entire track. "Pump It" would be great to add on a workout playlist with the vigor and vitality that it brings (or at least I would assume so; I haven't actually been to a gym but when I start going, it's going on my hype playlist). I am definitely picking up the words they say, and I'm picking up what they're putting down. I saw a couple of comments on the music video saying they're glad that Indigo Blaze is bringing back the old school vibes, and while I definitely agree, it is insane to me that we're calling something from the late 90's and early 2000's "old school". Where has the time gone?
Next up is "D1", and this is where the lyricism takes the spotlight. There's a mixture of funny one-liners including rhyming cheesy with fettucine, creamy and genie, but also clever rhymes such as cannabis, paralysis, silliness, and venomous. I wonder if they keep a thesaurus on hand. The personality of the band really shines through on this track, and it's nice to see that they don't take themselves too seriously. It's endearing to know they can let loose and share a good time with us. Gahan's rapping prowess is on full display, as "D1" is very wordy and definitely a mouthful, but he makes it look easy. The confidence with which he spits out the lyrics showcases his sweet flow. With a super catchy chorus, this song has definitely embedded in my brain. They really don't miss.
Switching up styles on the next offering, the title track "UTB" shows us a slightly different side to the band. The energy is more relaxed and not as in your face as some other songs are, but that's not a bad thing. It shows that Indigo Blaze isn't just a one trick pony or only relying on one gimmick to get by. This has a more hip hop vibe than nu metal, and doesn't follow the typical song structure of verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, and final chorus. Gahan alternates rapping with guitarist Levi Gallagher, who also offers vocals on other tracks such as "DEFCON". "UTB" sounds like the kind of song that could be playing in the car while driving around San Andreas in Grand Theft Auto. Indigo Blaze are showing why they're a staple act in the new wave of nu metal with versatility like this.
Now this, this is easily my favorite Indigo Blaze track and is most likely going to make it into my top 10 most streamed songs of the year. Going from the most chill song to the most exuberant one, "Got Pace" instantly caught my attention the first time that I listened to it and it's been on repeat ever since. The drums are the backbone of this track, and everyone else builds off of that. If you take the time to listen to this multiple times and focus on each instrument, vocals included, you will find that it's the perfect blend of everyone's talents. I'm still discovering new elements to this song even after spinning it for two months straight, it just scratches the right part of my brain. "Got Pace" is simultaneously the heaviest but also the grooviest contribution to the EP. It's a quintessential hype song and one that sounds best in the car with the windows rolled down and the speakers blaring. They even shout out Matt Templeman, who has previously worked with Make Them Suffer, Voyager, and Sly Withers, and with whom they worked on UTB. "Got Pace" reminds listeners that Indigo Blaze are at their best when they're on their worst behavior.
Finally, the EP ends with "DEFCON". I've given my thoughts on this song when it was released, but this is a great closing track that will stick with you in your head with how catchy it is long after you've finished listening to it.
If you're a fan of bands like Limp Bizkit, Beastie Boys, or Silly Goose, do yourself a favor and check out this band's entire catalog once you've finished up with UTB, you'll be glad you did. The guys from Perth are riding on the wave of momentum they've gained over the past two years, and hopefully it takes them into the stratosphere. They're a great reminder that nu metal never died and is still going as strong as ever if you know where to look. I'm excited to see where their career goes from here; you'll want to be sure to keep Indigo Blaze on your radar.
UTB is out now via Virgin Music Group.
