Release Date: June 14th 2024. Record Label: At The Dojo Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
The Return Of Tomorrow: Tracklisting
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 Baaptized
10. What I Need
11. The Return of Tomorrow
12. Liquify
13. High Tide
Band Members
Scott Hill
Brad Davis
Bob Balch
Scott Reeder
Review
Stoner Rock legends Fu Manchu return after a six year absence with their 14th album The Return Of Tomorrow. This is a double album spread across thirteen tracks that runs around fifty minutes or so. There’s no epic Progressive based track such as “IL Mostro Atomico" that appeared within their 2018 record Clone Of The Universe.
It seems that Fu Manchu have gone for a back to basics approach with their legendary Fuzz Rock and Punk Rock inspired style of Stoner Rock/Metal. The album is wonderfully outrageous and quite far-fetched with some of the opening tracks such as Dehumanize, Loch Ness Breaking Machine and Hands Of The Zodiac with the lyrics hitting upon certain fantastical elements whilst giving a more human connection to the music with some of the lyrics the band have written hear. The music is once again full of the good old fashioned Stoner Rock delivery with traces of gritty Desert Rock, Psych Rock and Fuzzy Heaviness with a sludgy undergroove appearing.
Fu Manchu capture sounds from the various albums they’ve released within their legendary career but allowing themselves the perfect opportunity to try new things throughout this album with the band even changing into a more Post-Stoner delivery for the second half of the album. There are moments where Brad Davis phenomenal bass playing brings the most heaviest and doomed parts of the record which is superbly backed up by the epic guitar work from both Scott Hill and Bob Balch. With the precise drumming of Scott Reeder, allowing this album to be perhaps their most “METAL” oriented in quite some time.
Though, the band still find time to play their familiar strands of Blues Rock, Desert Rock and Punk Rock all delivered within the Stoner Rock confinements that the band themselves possibly created and redefined throughout their lengthy career. The Return Of Tomorrow is perhaps the band’s most riff-fuelled adventure yet with a mixture of melodic instrumental jams and sludgy psychedelic beats appearing on other great tracks such as: Roads Of The Lonely, (Time Is) Pulling You Under, Lifetime Waiting, The Return Of Tomorrow and Liquify.
The heaviest grooves appear mostly throughout the first half with Fu Manchu wandering into a more laid back and hypnotic slumber on the second half but still with catchy moments of aggressive outbursts that appears at just the right time to keep the mood super fresh, downright groovy and superbly original.
The record may not end with the most heaviest or spectacular sounds on the final track of High Tide but it’s “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED” for Fu Manchu in delivering another brilliantly produced release and one that is absolutely a bona-fide classic release to add to their legendary discography.
The Return Of Tomorrow proves once again FU MANCHU are highly lauded and considered ICONS of the Stoner Rock/Metal scene. They’re masterful storytellers and we don’t have many of these types of bands left within the scene apart from Monster Magnet, Orange Goblin and NEBULA and every time one of those legendary bands release a new album then it’s a cause for celebration.
This is perhaps the STONER ROCK ALBUM to own this year. So what are you waiting for….
Words by Steve Howe
The Return Of Tomorrow will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via At The Dojo Records from Friday 14th June 2024.
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