Karma to Burn - "Mountain Czar" EP (Review)

By: Heather Blewett

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 26/02/2016
Label: Steamhammer/SPV

“Mountain Czar” is an infectious record that certainly incites uncontrollable foot tapping and head nodding. Perhaps not quite as edgy as some of their earlier albums like “Almost Heathen” and “Wild Wonderful Purgatory”, nevertheless it is a solid representation of Karma to Burn and their incomparable style, with concluding track “Sixty-Three” channelling a cowboy western sound with potentially the strongest riff of the record.

“Mountain Czar” CD//DD track listing:

1). Sixty Two

2). Sixty One

3). Sixty

4). Uccidendo Un Sogno

5). Sixty Thee

The Review:

Since their highly acclaimed debut in 1997, Karma to Burn have consistently wowed fans with their uncompromising (mostly) instrumental sound. Often labelled stoner rock, although they themselves have said they don’t smoke marijuana and is therefore perhaps not representative of their sound.  Karma to Burn hail from ‘The Mountain State’ West Virginia, so for those compelled to compartmentalise we’ll go with mountain rock. 

Aptly naming their EP “Mountain Czar” Karma to Burn return armed with riffs, riffs and oh yeah more riffs.

Maintaining the listener’s interest with no vocals isn’t the easiest of tasks, the music has to be that much more engaging to compensate. Luckily for Karma to Burn they are no strangers to laying down a killer riff, alongside a varied structure full of twists turns and general unpredictability. Tracks “Sixty-Two” and “Sixty-One” (yes they come in that order) deliver with groove galore and irresistible foot stomping rhythm. The songs flow with deft musicality, yet imbue an erratic unpredictable thrill. “Uccidendo Un Sogno” is the only track with vocals, a cover of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers “Runnin Down a Dream” and sung by Stephanie Savy in her native tongue of Italian. It really works. The vocals sit perfectly with the groove laden riffs, and a spectacular guitar solo tops it off. Concluding track “Sixty-Three” embodies the aforementioned genre of Mountain Rock, channelling a cowboy western sound with potentially the strongest riff of the record.

“Mountain Czar” is an infectious record that certainly incites uncontrollable foot tapping and head nodding. Perhaps not quite as edgy as some of their earlier albums like “Almost Heathen” and “Wild Wonderful Purgatory”, nevertheless it is a solid representation of Karma to Burn and their incomparable style.

Mountain Czar” is available now

Band info: official