Karma to Burn: riffs, numbers and stoner rumble

The Profile

Karma to Burn are an American stoner rock band from West Virginia, famed for heavy instrumental tracks titled with numbers. Signed by Roadrunner for their 1997 debut with vocals, they soon returned to their natural instrumental format on Wild Wonderful Purgatory and Almost Heathen. Reuniting in 2009, they released Appalachian Incantation, V, Arch Stanton and Mountain Czar before disbanding following guitarist William Mecum’s death in 2021.

Formed in West Virginia; core members included William Mecum (guitar) and Rich Mullins (bass); debuted on Roadrunner Records in 1997 with a label-pressed vocalist; hallmark is numbered, instrumental songs; reunited in 2009 and remained active until 2021.

DeBaser’s reviews paint Karma to Burn as a riff-first, instrumental stoner machine steeped in West Virginia grit. Writers praise the numbered, vocal-free assault of Wild Wonderful Purgatory and Almost Heathen, while viewing the Roadrunner-forced debut vocals as a curious but effective detour. A 2013 Torino live report adds a sardonic counterpoint. Overall verdict: heavy, circular, and stubbornly loud.

Notable Quotes

❝ Stoner, avalanches of riffs, valve amplifiers (mesa-boogie), hatred and sarcasm towards their homeland (West Virginia), drugs (many believe they broke up precisely because of problems with it), alcohol.

❝ Questionable the choice of Roadrunner to force the "instrumentalists" Karma To Burn to include a vocalist for their first album, like saying "are you starving? Okay, I'll get you some food, but you eat what I tell you!" (what a crappy comparison!!!)

❝ What we have before us is a groove machine of the highest order that works on its own without the need for a voice, considered simply superfluous and also for a specific intent on how music should be understood.