Heavy desert rawk
Fu Manchu have been on the circuit for a long time now (since 1985!?) and have had a familiar career arc to many bands who have had a touch of success in heavy music. They came up through eighties punk and that scene’s individualist ethics then got saddled with a genre (‘stoner’ whatever that’s supposed to mean) along with a few other disparate bands, just happened to dash off some career defining albums then made a ‘sell-out’ album in 'California Crossing' that led to a period in the supposed doldrums before they regained their mojo by returning to their roots. As this new album title purposefully suggests Fu Manchu have maintained their game for so long now as to appear indestructible.
'Signs Of Infinite Power' is a undoubtedly a cracking record with concise, heavy, fuzzed up riffs and songs loaded with the usual Fu Manchu signifiers; sci-fi, cars and good times. Over its ten tracks it provides enough vigour and purpose to maintain the listener’s interest and suggests catching the band on tour might be a good idea as these songs won’t disappoint in a sweaty, grimy dive somewhere. What 'Signs of Infinite Power' lacks in catchiness compared to past Fu Manchu efforts it more than makes up for it in heaviness. The album has, in essence, two types of song: faster, punk influenced rockers and lumbering monolithic metal. “Worship what you fear” snarls singer Scott Hill on the album opener ‘Bionic Astronautics’ over a Sabbath inspired riff which is much like later tracks ‘Steel Beast Defeated’ and ‘Eyes x 10’. ‘Signs of Infinite Power’ and the ‘King of The Road’ sound-a-like ‘El Busta’ are definite highlights. The only real disappointments here are the monotonous rumblings of ‘Gargantuan March’ and the uninspired ‘Take It Away’ but there’s enough of the band’s strengths on this record to keep complaints to a minimum.
There you have it then, Fu Manchu might not be converting non-believers with the 30 minute slab of riffology that is 'Signs of Infinite Power' but they’ve definitely shown that there’s enough gas left in the tank to please their fan base.