“Imagine a person, tall, lean and feline, high-shouldered, with a brow like Shakespeare and a face like Satan … one giant intellect, with all the resources of science past and present … Imagine that awful being, and you have a mental picture of Dr. Fu-Manchu, the yellow peril incarnate in one man.” The Insidious Dr. Fu Manchu
Author Sam Rohmer’s evil criminal genius is the namesake for hard rock band Fu Manchu, which has been infiltrating the minds of skaters and stoners with its heavy fuzz riffs for almost two decades. Fu Manchu is gearing for the launch of its eleventh studio album, Signs of Infinite Power, to be released on October 19. The album resonates a raw sound that is derived from its live recording – the four band members flogging it out together in one room has captured the insubordination of the 80s punk/70s rock vibe that Fu Manchu love to flaunt. Built into the subversive nature of the Californian band’s punk rock sound is the spirit of Dogtown. Twenty years down the line, the band is still singing about old muscle cars, choppers, vans, skateboarding, science fiction, pinball, drugs and women – and what’s the problem with that? Forty year old dudes living in their moms’ basements, sitting on torn spongy couches playing Tony Hawk and chillin’ with the homies will totally relate. The album busts no surprises and there is no experimental content. Why change a formula when it has been successful for twenty years? In other words: if you are an established fan, you won’t be disappointed; if you are a cynic, you won’t be converted; and if you are looking for something new to listen to, give the album a try but don’t expect any ‘sign of infinite power’.
Fu Manchu, which boasts the longevity of its cultish namesake, is to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2010, so keep eyeballs peeled for news on upcoming live events and some extra special vinyl releases.
