Southern California rockers Fu Manchu will drop their sixth full-length album, California Crossing, into stores October 23rd. The follow-up to last year's critically praised King of the Road was recorded in Los Angeles this summer with producer Matt Hyde (Porno for Pyros , Monster Magnet).

The first single, "Separate Kingdom," will hit radio September 25th. The album will feature a few surprises for fans, including a reworking of "Mongoose," which originally appeared on 1999's Eatin' Dust EP, and an appearance by Circle Jerks vocalist Keith Morris on the song "Bultaco."

"The Circle Jerks were the first band that I ever saw live back in 1981," said Fu Manchu vocalist/guitarist Scott Hill, "and they're still one of my all-time favorite bands ever."

In May, Hill told RollingStone.com that the new album "will be a little less fuzzy and a little more commercial sounding."

Fu Manchu plan to commence touring in September, leading up the release of the album.

California Crossing's track listing:

Separate Kingdom
Hang On
Mongoose
Ampin'
California Crossing
Thinkin Out Loud
Squash That Fly
Bultaco
Wiz Kid
Downtown in Dogtown
The Wasteoid

JOE HAULER
(August 16, 2001)