Fu Manchu - Signs Of Infinite Power (Century Media)
Nebula – Heavy Psych (Tee Pee)
Fu Manchu and Nebula play mid-temp heavy rock that owes a huge debt to the 1970’s but their roots come from the aggressive hardcore punk scene that exploded in California at the end of that decade and bled deep into the 1980’s. Virulence
is a hardcore band that existed from 1985 to 1989 that included future Fu Manchu and Nebula members Scott Hill and Ruben Romano. The hardcore scene went through big changes during this period in time. Most of the pioneers like Minor Threat, Black Flag, The Misfits and Dead Kennedys were either gone or about to expire and hardcore began mixing freely with metal to create crossover styles that became huge.Virulence played in a style that owed a huge debt to the intensity and aggression of Black Flag, Circle Jerks and Suicidal Tendencies but combined it with the heavy, slower punk style of the Melvins and Flipper. BL’AST! is another obvious influence and probably the closest musically to their style. This is the kind of punk that could only come from California. It’s pissed off suburban rage played as loud as possible. The lyrics are full of confusion and alienation and vocalist Ken Pucci delivers them with a lot of force. Scott Hill’s guitar playing is full of Greg Ginn style twists and turns. He even played the same clear acrylic Dan Armstrong guitar that Ginn used during most of Black Flag’s existence, and Hill still uses one today in Fu Manchu (look for the SSD sticker next to the pickup). This CD collects the complete studio recordings that were issued on their 1987 album, EP’s plus live recordings, including a killer version of Void’s “My Rules.” The earlier material is mainly short blasts of punk fury and the later recordings are slower dirges that make Black Flag’s “Nothing Left Inside” sound like Huey Lewis.
When Virulence called it quits in 1989, singer Pucci went to college and the rest of the band formed Fu Manchu and changed their musical direction. Signs Of Infinite Power is their 10th studio album. Very little has changed since their debut album No One Rides For Free in 1994. Fu Manchu continue to crank out loud, distorted kick ass rock that combines the heavy 70’s groove of The James Gang, Black Sabbath and Grand Funk Railroad with the California punk of Bad Religion, The Germs and The Adolescents. If you liked the other Fu Manchu albums then you will like this one, too. The overall sound recalls some of their earlier albums. The guitars are very fuzzy and the drums pack a powerful thud. Fu Manchu’s music is perfect for highway star driving and fast ones like “Bionic Astronauts” and “One Step Too Far” will get you a speeding ticket for sure. Slow pounders like “Gargantuan March,” “Webfoot Witch Hat” and the title track are great for banging on your steering wheel when the jerk in front of you won’t get out of the way.
Nebula came into existence when guitarist Eddie Glass and drummer Ruben Romano left Fu Manchu in 1997. Heavy Psych originally came out as an EP in Europe but has been issued in the US by Tee Pee with some extra tracks. Nebula’s current line up consists of Glass on guitar and vocals, bassist Tom Davies and drummer Jimmy Sweet. While having a lot in common musically with Fu Manchu, Nebula has always had a more pronounced Hawkwind influence and this album continues in that direction while also adding in elements of Roky Erickson, Jimi Hedrix, The Groundhogs, Electric Sun and UFO (Mick Bolton era). Here in NYC, it’s absolutely freezing and the ground is covered in ice but listening to these 3 records really puts me in a California state of mind. I’m just not sure if I should go spray paint the walls, joyride the highway or take some shrooms in the desert.
--Woody
Buy here:If This Isn't a Dream... 1985-1989
Buy here: Signs of Infinite Power
Buy here: Heavy Psych
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