Fu Manchu are releasing a half heavy, half mellow double-album, The Return Of Tomorrow

Fu Manchu have revealed that their forthcoming album, The Return Of Tomorrow, will be a double-disc affair. Due for release on June 14, one half will indulge the California stoner rock kings' fuzzy side, while the other will delve into their more mellow tendencies.

“When I listen to music, it’s either all heavy stuff with no mellow stuff mixed in or just softer stuff with no heavy stuff," explains singer/guitarist Scott Hill. "I know a lot of bands like to mix it up, and we have done that before, but I always tend to listen to all of one type of thing or the other. So, I figured we should do a double record with seven heavy, fuzzy songs on one record, and the other record six mellow(er) songs, fully realising that maybe I’m the only person that likes to listen to music that way.

"We kept both the records to around 25-30 minutes each to make it a full-length release, but not have each record be too long. We don’t write a lot of mellow(er) stuff in Fu Manchu, but a lot of the riffs worked minus the fuzz."

As an opening throw, the band have released the first track, Hands Of The Zodiac. Firmly from the 'fuzz' side of the record, it was inspired by a fortune-telling acquaintance whose words turned into Scott's lyrics.

“Hands Of The Zodiac is about an astrologer friend of mine who would always ask if we wanted to know anything about our future whenever we would hang out," he explains. "He would look to the stars at night and ramble off all these weird predictions, none of which ever came true. He would say 'Zodiac Hands' and face the palm of his hand at you. I would always try to remember the things he said and almost every line in the song is something he said. For example, 'Wheels / Motion / So Impressed' is based on how he talked about my writing songs/practising /touring with the band ("you got those wheels in motion”) and Fu Manchu’s accomplishments (“so impressed”). I guess I should have given him a writing credit.”

Fu Manchu have also announced a European tour later in the year.

Catch them at the following:

October

12 Munich Keep It Low Festival @ Backstage
13 Berlin Heavy Psych Sounds Fest @ Huxleys
15 Vienna Arena
16 Aarau KIFF
18 Luxembourg City Atelier
19 Antwerp Desertfest Belgium
21 Manchester O2 Ritz
22 Bristol Marble Factory
23 London Electric Ballroom
25 Masstricht Musiekgeiterj
26 Hamburg Lazy Bones Festival @ Markthalle
27 Dresden Heavy Psych Sounds Fest @ Chemiefabrik