Module Overload

(Godzilla's) Eatin' Dust is originally the fifth album by the Californian Stoner Rockers Fu Manchu. This album was first released back in 1999 with the fantastic line-up featuring Brant Bjork. Now there's this re-release from 2010. The difference compared to the first edition is not only cover image, but also the order of the songs. My favorites of this album are Eatin'Dust, Mongoose, Module Overload, Living Legend and of course the Blue Oyster Cult song Godzilla! Enjoy!

After releasing Fu Manchu's remake of Blue Oyster Cult's "Godzilla" as a 10-inch vinyl single in 1998 (yes, some labels were still providing vinyl in the late 1990s), Man's Ruin released the headbangers' Eatin' Dust CD in February 1999. Greatly influenced by the heavy metal of the early '70s, this CD offers a stripped down, garage-like approach to classic metal and steers clear of pop gloss. Some of the production techniques give away the fact that Eatin' Dust is a late-'90s recording, and it would be inaccurate to think of the band as impervious to the influence of '90s alternative rock. But the roots of Fu Manchu's slow, distorted riffs and grooves are early-'70s headbangers like Budgie, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and MC5. From "Godzilla" to forceful originals like "Eatin' Dust," "Mongoose" and "Module Overload," Eatin' Dust recalls '70s metal with pleasing, if less than essential, results.
(By Alex Henderson at Allmusic.com)

Fu Manchu - (Godzilla's) Eatin' Dust (2010)

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In Search Of

In Search Of is the third album of Fu Manchu and the last one with the members Eddie Glass and Ruben Romano. These guys started the great band Nebula after leaving Fu Manchu.
The album In Search Of is a Stoner Rock classic with the awesome songs Regal Begal, Asphalt Raisin', Cyclone Launch and The Falcon Has Landed. Enjoy!

Fu Manchu was one of the most enduring and influential bands of the '90s stoner metal movement (along with Kyuss, Monster Magnet, and Sleep), but it wasn't until their third full-length release, In Search Of..., that the Southern California stoners finally obtained "major" label support by signing with Mammoth Records -- not that this had any effect on singer Scott Hill's indistinctive vocals, or the band's fuzzy dirge of post-Sabbath riffery with psychedelic overtones. And like most Fu Manchu albums, In Search Of... is a very inconsistent affair, with only a few cuts such as "Asphalt Risin'," "Strato-Freak," and "Seahag" really standing out of the pack. Simply put, one gets the impression that Fu Manchu doesn't try that hard, but then, not every band wants to rule the world. Thankfully, the departure of guitarist Eddie Glass and drummer Ruben Romano to form Nebula soon after this recording would provide the band with the impetus and inspiration to really start moving forward on the following year's much improved The Action Is Go.
(By Eduardo Rivadavia at All Music Guide)

Fu Manchu - In Search Of (1996)

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Boogie Van

King Of The Road is an awesome album by the great Stoner Rock band Fu Manchu. This album contains a lot of excellent tracks like: Hell On Wheels, King Of The Road, Blue Tile Fever and Drive. But my absolute favorite is Boogie Van. This song has something spooky. I think Boogie Van is one of the best Fu Manchu songs ever. Enjoy

After a bit of a break from albums, not counting the Return to Earth singles compilation, Fu Manchu fully fired up and took off again with King of the Road, an album that doesn't so much follow on from The Action Is Go as flat out continue it. Hill has a touch more bite to his vocals this time around, but otherwise there's little to differentiate the two records -- and that's very much meant as a compliment. With plenty of touring and other things under their belts, the lineup has fully jelled and sounds it, Bjork's bad-ass drumming (and occasional cowbells, of course) and Balch's insane lead guitar crunch possibly even better than ever. Together it's all one megariff and nasty, slamming rhythm after another, and face it, anyone expecting anything else from Fu Manchu really needs to find another band. Joe Barresi co-produces with the band, and while there's no extra keyboard/organ weirdness this time around, it hardly matters. In as much as there's a theme to King of the Road beyond the basics of driving, drugs, and that demon rock & roll, it's driving -- there's a reason why the cover and internal art features a slew of great '70s-era photos from a massive van rally. The one shot of the fully leather-covered interior of one mobile love nest, complete with black curtains, about says it all. Then there's the megachugging title track ("King of the road says you move too slow!"), "Hell on Wheels," "Boogie Van," and so forth -- call it a concept album that doesn't waste time with elves and yogis. As with the last album, a punk/new wave nugget gets the cover treatment here -- none other than Devo's "Freedom of Choice." Needless to say, now it sounds just like a Fu Manchu original.
(By Ned Raggett at All Music Guide)

Fu Manchu - King Of The Road (2000)

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The Action Is Go!

This is the fourth album by the California Stoners Fu Manchu. The Action Is Go is an awesome album with a lot of great songs like Evil Eye, Urethane, Burning Road, etc. But my absolute favorite is the song Anodizer. It is one of the best Stoner Rock songs ever written! Enjoy!

Not that it's unique, yet even with half the band changed from the last time around, the twin-riff action that kicks off "Evil Eye," and The Action Is Go! as a whole, sounds like nobody else but Fu Manchu, somehow. Punk energy, classic rock drive, psychedelic crunch, and heavy-ass grind all at once -- really, is anything more needed? From there the new lineup proceeds to kick ass and take names in its own way -- music to shake one's very long hair to while cranking it up and driving around. Hill's strength as a vocalist has long been that he doesn't sound like a deep, bellowing yahoo, but that nutty kid down the block who knows how to party anyway. The Action Is Go! lets him demonstrate that in spades, not to mention his guitar abilities as well as Balch's lead soloing. He and Bjork make perfect recruits for Fu Manchu -- the one pours out the heavy, never dull riffing, the other knows how to lay down some grooves and slam it out when needed in equal measure. Check out the extended zone-outs on "Burning Road" and "Trackside Hoax" to see how both can play it calm when needed for totally cranking up. Another smart touch was getting J. Yuenger, ex-White Zombie guitarist, as producer -- he balances a touch more clarity in the mix with full-bodied charge, not to mention playing a variety of additional keyboards and goodies. Unsubtle hints and homages to the '70s puree of influences crop up throughout -- Bjork's funky breaks on "Urethane" will have many humming War's "Lowrider" to themselves, and for good reason. All this, a cover of SSD's hardcore classic "Nothing Done," and a great Glen E. Friedman skateboard photo from 1977 on the front -- sounds like Southern California from here.
(By Ned Raggett at All Music Guide)

Fu Manchu - The Action Is Go (1997)

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Signs Of Infinite Power

For everything is a first time, like a Fu Manchu post at this blog.

Fu Manchu from California, U.S.A. is one of the greatest Stoner Rock bands. They've made a lot of great albums and Signs Of Infinite Power is their most recent one. And it's another great album. What can I say more. Fu Manchu is Fu Manchu, period! Enjoy!

At this point, Fu Manchu is pretty much critic-proof. They've already taken a shot at mainstream accessibility (California Crossing), they've put their generic, uninspired album (Start the Machine) behind them, and they've knocked out a comeback album (We Must Obey). Now they're in their comfort zone, doing what they do best.

Mind, you, it would be a mistake to confuse that with complacency. The old dog may not be performing any new tricks on Signs of Infinite Power, their eleventh album in a 20-year career and first for Century Media Records, but he's still got all of his teeth and plenty of bite. Signs ten tracks are, with a couple of exceptions, classic Fu Manchu in riffs, attitude, and execution. Opener “Bionic Astronaut,” “Webfoot Witch Hat,” the title track, “Eyes x 10” and “One Step Too Far” in particular stand out as examples of the band digging deep, finding new ways of proving that nobody does SoCal fuzz rock as good as Fu Manchu. When they falter – and that's to be expected at this stage in their career - it's more of a minor stumble than an outright failure. In other words, I wouldn't point out “Against the Ground” as a highlight, but nor will I skip it when revisiting the album down the road (especially since it ends much stronger than it begins). Overall, I'd say that like 2007's We Must Obey, Signs of Infinite Power holds it own against the band's iconic early albums, ranking slightly below King of the Road, if only for a lack of a truly massive hook.

The band feels otherwise – frontman Scott Hill has said that he feels Signs of Infinite Power is their best work to date, and while that's certainly well within his right, I doubt most of the listening faithful will agree. What they will agree on is that Signs of Infinite Power is another keeper from a band that shows no signs of slowing down or, thankfully, growing up. Recommended.
(Review by John Pegoraro at StonerRock.com)

Fu Manchu - Signs Of Infinite Power (2009)

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