Fu Manchu

All roads to stoner rock lead back to Fu Manchu. Formed in 1985, the Caliifornia group—whose longest-tenured member is guitarist/vocalist Scott Hill—quickly evolved away from their hardcore roots and embraced a sludgier and more psychedelic sound, soaking up the same hazy Palm Desert vibes that also spawned Kyuss and Queens of the Stone Age. The evolution paid dividends: Kyuss’ Brant Bjork produced Fu Manchu’s 1994 debut, No One Rides for Free, and 1995’s Daredevil led to career-boosting tour dates with Monster Magnet. Bjork also joined Fu Manchu in 1997 for a few years, ushering in a golden age of heavier live performances that translated to albums like 2002’s California Crossing, which boasted monster riffs and drew from smouldering ’70s hard rock. Since then, the band have continued to hone their reputation as a ferocious live act while retaining their relentless energy on record, exemplified by the furious stoner-metal title track of 2007’s We Must Obey and the gouging grooves of 2018’s sprawling “(I’ve Been) Hexed”.