Karma To Burn

Originating in Hicksville, West Virginia, the heavy rock group Karma to Burn assembled around guitarist William, bassist Dickie, and drummer Nicholas, committing from the outset to an exclusively instrumental format. Rather than assigning conventional titles, the musicians simply numbered each piece at the time of its creation, a choice that hindered efforts to secure a recording agreement. A contract with Roadrunner Records finally materialized in late 1996, yet only after the band agreed to recruit a vocalist. J. Jarosz was brought in to fill that role, and the self-titled debut appeared in early 1997, drawing extensive critical praise for its brooding, hypnotic metal riffs. Commercial results remained modest, however, prompting the group to dismiss Jarosz and resume its instrumental configuration, after which Roadrunner ended the relationship. Rob subsequently replaced Nicholas on drums, and the revised lineup recorded the follow-up album Wild Wonderful Purgatory for the independent MIA Records in 1999.