Heavy. Fast. These are the only two adjectives that matter to Fu Manchu. Finding the natural connection between Black Flag and Black Sabbath, the Southern California band was turning out its own personal soundtrack for '70s skateboard flick a Dogtown and Z-Boys several times over long before the actual movie was made. It's not about to let up on its seventh studio album, Start The Machine. No, it's not quite as heavy as the classic In Search Of. Yes, it does include the closest the band has ever come to a power-ballad in "Out To Sea." But, overall, it's an album that reaffirms everything--or, rather the two main things--that make Fu Manchu great. --Aidin Vaziri