By: Richard Maw
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 14/06/2024
Label: At The Dojo Records
“The Return of Tomorrow” track listing
1. Dehumanize
2. Loch Ness Wrecking Machine
3. Hands Of The Zodiac
4. Haze The Hides
5. Roads Of The Lowly
6. (Time Is) Pulling You Under
7. Destroyin’ Light
8. Lifetime Waiting
9. Solar Baptized
10. What I Need
11. The Return Of Tomorrow
12. Liquify
13. High Tide
The Review:
Fu Manchu
have been putting out records, steadily, for thirty years now. These doyens of
Californian fuzz have seen it and done it all. So, why continue? Most agree,
apparently, that they peaked somewhere around “In Search Of…” or “King
of the Road” or perhaps “California Crossing”. I don’t
really share this view; those records are all excellent, but the band haven’t
made a bad one yet.
Not only that, each Fu album has its own
character. Whether it be “Signs of Infinite Power” or “Clone
of The Universe”, the latter day work has a lot going for it. The
themes remain muscle cars, sci fi, skate/surf and so on… and that’s both what I
want AND expect.
If “Clone of the
Universe” was better than “Gigantoid”, then “The
Return of Tomorrow” is better again. This is ostensibly a double album-
one half is revved up, the other half cruises along nicely. However, at only 49
minutes, is this really a double album or do the thirteen tracks just represent
two halves?
“Dehumanize”
kicks things off at a fast clip, burning rubber and fuzzing out. Up next is a
real Fu classic: “Loch Ness
Wrecking Machine”. It’s got the sci fi theme, the slow builds and dynamics
that the band use and a simple and catchy hook. Scott Hill still has that laid
back Cali delivery and Scott Reeder’s drums are as crushing as ever. This is a
groovesome beast.
“Hands of The Zodiac” is
just as good- wonderful grooves and riffs. “Haze The Hides” slows things
down, uses a killer bass tone and shows why the band are often aligned with the
stoner/doom genre- without being a part of it at all. It’s clear at this point
that the band are displaying their different sides- or the different facets- of
their heavier sounds. “Roads of the Lowly” has heavy riffs and panned
guitars, with a somewhat repetitive hook that is characteristic of the band;
heavy on the riffs and rhythms, light on the melody and with Hill’s voice mixed
inside the music, not on top of it.
With things speeding up
for “(Time Is) Pulling You Under”, you’d be forgiven for thinking that
the record was a kind of cousin to “Start The Machine” or “We Must
Obey”; non-stop action. However, once you are at the half way mark, things
shift gear and then coast towards the line. “Destroyin’ Light” is
relaxed but heavy with a quiet/loud arrangement. The drum sound is excellent,
as is the guitar sound and the production is perfect with just the right level
of grit and polish to showcase what the band can do.
I miss records which
sound like bands playing live; I’m disillusioned with sound replacements and
the ultra-processed sound of a lot of modern metal. Pro tools, click tracks
sound replacements etc. all have their place (certainly within the extreme
metal genres, where precision is demanded these days) and it’s fantastic to
hear that Fu Manchu sound here like they do in
a live setting. Simply put, it sounds like a band playing. In these strange
days, I can’t ask for more than that.
The mellower approach
continues with “Lifetime Waiting”, and more successfully with “Solar
Baptized”- which is excellent. It has a kind of bluesy swagger and an
almost sinister, threatening feel. Wonderful stuff. From here, it’s a similar
approach with varying results. “What I Need” is a more contemplative
track, mellow vibes abound, while the title track is a real standout with the
groove hitting solidly but the pedal someway off the metal. “Liquify” is
a big riff-with-space and works very nicely- the refrain is not dissimilar to
the Leafhound track “Freelance Fiend”
(for an obscure reference) and this works really well with the percussion
ensuring that things freewheel along pleasurably.
“High Tide”
closes things with an almost jazzy approach. These beach dwellers know how to
chill you down, as well as get you running out for the next wave. All told,
this is a very strong record and one that sits comfortably with anything else
the band has done. Even if not every track is a bullseye, there are enough
direct hits here to make this album extremely impressive. The band’s
willingness to do something a little different is to be commended as,
crucially, this hangs together as a cohesive collection of songs.
“The Return of Tomorrow” is
available HERE
