Karma To Burn

Karma To Burn
Karma To Burn's line up in 2015.
Background information
Also known as	K2B, Karma 2 Burn
Origin	Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
Genres	Stoner Rock, Stoner Metal, Instrumental
Years active	1993 - 2002, 2009 - 2021
Labels	Roadrunner, Spitfire, Napalm Records, H42 Records, Heavy Psych Sounds
Associated acts	Sons of Alpha Centauri, Treasure Cat, Nebula, Kyuss, Mondo Generator, Speedealer, Year Long Disaster, Hovel, The Exploited
Website	Official Website
Band Logo

Karma to Burn, (often called K2B), were a three piece Instrumental Stoner Rock band from Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. The band was formed in 1993 and, despite a hiatus between 2002 and 2009 would continue to play until Will Mecum's passing in 2021.

History

Original Run (1997-2002)

Karma to Burn were formed in 1993 by Will Mecum (guitar) and Nathan Limbaugh (drums), who had previously played together in Red Oak Conspiracy, as well as Rich Mullins (bass), Jim Davison (guitar, vocals), Karim Chatila (vocals). Both Chatila and Davison quickly left the band, as they decided to take an instrumental approach without the need for a vocalist or second guitarist. Early after settling as a trio, the band recorded a tape of instrumental tracks, giving the tracks numbers as their titles. They began to send their tapes to record labels, and would also phone record companies pretending to be other bands who'd heard an interesting band called Karma To Burn. Karma To Burn was signed to Roadrunner Records in 1996 and originally planned to release an instrumental album, but Roadrunner pressured the band into finding a vocalist, stating that the contract was only valid if they did so. After a brief trial of John Garcia (whose band Kyuss had recently disbanded) they hired a friend of theirs, Jay Jarosz, as their vocalist. Some time after the hiring of Jarosz and prior to the release of their first album, Limbaugh left the group, and was replaced on drums by Chuck Nicholas. Their first album, Karma to Burn, was released on February, 27th 1997. Karma to Burn reverted to an instrumental trio soon afterwards, with Jarosz swiftly leaving the band.

Between April and May of 1997 Karma To Burn toured Europe as an instrumental trio, playing events such as Dynamo Open Air, where they were reunited with John Garcia, who was there playing with his new band Slo Burn. Karma to Burn played an unannounced set with Garcia, who joined them on vocals.Whilst still in Europe, the band made some appearances on television. European audiences were unaware that the band had parted ways with Jarosz, so on some of these television appearances, the band would bring in roadie, Johnny Mac, to perform on vocals.

KARMA TO BURN - 20 (Official)

In August and September of 1997, Karma To Burn toured the USA, opening nine shows for Corrosion of Confirmity and, later, ten shows for Clutch.During these dates, the band performed a cover of ZZ Top's 'La Grange', with Pepper Keenan and Neil Fallon taking on vocal duties for the track respectively, the latter of which can be seen on the Live 2009 - Reunion Tour DVD. In late 1997 Karma to Burn parted ways with Roadrunner Records, who were unhappy with the band's decision to remove their vocalist.

In June 1998, Nicholas left the band and was replaced by Rob Oswald, creating what would be the classic lineup of Karma to Burn. The band quickly went on to record two instrumental albums, 1999's Wild, Wonderful... Purgatory and 2001's Almost Heathen. In 2002, the band announced plans to record a fourth album for Spitfire Records, though despite alleged interest by both Pepper Keenan and Fear Factory's Burton C. Bell, Karma to Burn denied claims that they would be utilising guest vocalists.Regardless, the album was never released as the band unofficially disbanded sometime in mid-2002 after their bassist, Mullins, had joined Speedealer.

Hiatus (2002-2009)

During the years of Karma to Burn's hiatus, Mecum, Mullins and Oswald all found other bands to play in. Mullins would be kicked out of Speedealer due to addiction problems, and went on to meet Daniel Davies, with whom he would form the band Year Long Disaster with after the pair passed through a rehabilitation program. Oswald briefly became the drummer for Nebula, appearing on their EP Heavy Psych.. Mecum went on to play guitar in a then-new band called Treasure Cat, who, as well as releasing their own full length, teamed up with Sons of Alpha Centauri to release various split 7" singles.

Reformation (2009-2021)

Karma To Burn - Waiting on the Western World

On February 23, 2009, Karma to Burn reformed with the classic line-up of Mecum, Mullins and Oswald. They band quickly went on to tour USA and Europe. Their European tour included a second stage slot at the Download Festival, which has now become infamous for the wasp swarm above the crowd throughout.

In May 2010, Karma To Burn released a fourth full length album, Appalachian Incantation which was produced by former Kyuss bassist Scott Reeder. Appalachian Incantation was mainly instrumental, but also included their first vocal track since the band's self-titled album in the form of 'Waiting on the Western World', featuring Year Long Disaster vocalist and guitarist Daniel Davies. Some copies of the album also included a bonus disc titled 'Cat Got our Tongue' including the song 'Two Times,' featuring former Kyuss vocalist John Garcia.

In May 2010, in an interview with The Obelisk, Rich Mullins confirmed that Karma to Burn and Year Long Disaster had partially merged, with both bands beginning to share the same lineup:

“	I heard a rumor about Karma to Burn merging with Year Long Disaster. Actually, Karma to Burn plays as Year Long Disaster now too. We do both things. And we are going to put Daniel in the band and do some vocal songs and do a new record before the end of the year, just because we’ve written so much stuff. We started writing with him and we’re really happy with the way it went. He’s a great guy, easy to work with, so why not?	”
	— JJ Koczan & Rich Mullins, The Obelsik

Karma to Burn performing at Sonisphere Knebworth 2010 after their merger with Year Long Disaster.

Year Long Disaster performing at Download Festival 2010 after their merger with Karma to Burn.

In June of 2010, Year Long Disaster toured Europe with all three classic members of Karma to Burn joining Davies in the band. Later in the year, Karma to Burn headlined the Jägermeister stage at the UK leg of Sonisphere Festival 2010. In September of 2010, the band recorded in Palm Springs, California, USA with John Garcia. It was speculated, due to prior comments by Mullins, that a recording would be used on Garcia's solo album (at the time, tentatively titled Garcia vs. Garcia), with another being used on a Karma to Burn album, but neither track has thus far been used.

Karma to Burn's fifth album, V, was recorded in February 2011, at Dave Grohl's Studio 606, and featured Davies' on vocals on three songs. Davies left the group and disbanded Year Long Disaster soon after recording returning the band to a trio. V was released in June 2011.

In April 2012, Karma to Burn headlined the opening night of the first edition of DesertFest London. On 24th July 2012, Oswald announced via Facebook that he had been forced to leave the band. Evan Devine of Morgantown metal band Ancient Shores replaced Oswald on drums. Mullins also left the band before the end of 2012, being replaced by The Exploited bassist, Rob Halkett, leaving Mecum as the only founding member in the band.

In August 2014, the new trio of Mecum, Devine and Halkett released the bands 6th album Arch Stanton. In late 2014/early2015, Halkett left the band and was replaced by Eric Clutter on bass. Karma to Burn would remain active touring for several years to support Arch Stanton. An EP entitled Mountain Czar would be released in 2016.

On 29 April 2021 it would be announced from several sources that guitarist and founder Will Mecum had died. On 9 December 2021 Italian label Heavy Psych Sounds would re-issue the first three albums. Subsequent reissues would follow, all dedicated to Mecum.

Discography

Karma To Burn - Fifty Three live at Saint Vitus bar, Brooklyn 1-16-2015

Karma To Burn - "30" 28 11 11

KARMA TO BURN @ Duna Jam 2011 - Thirty Six & Eight -

KARMA TO BURN "32" Live @ The Note, West Chester, PA 5 15 10 w Daniel Davies of Year Long Disaster

KARMA TO BURN kicks ass, literally - 30 NJ 1998 fight

Studio Albums

• Karma To Burn (1997, Roadrunner Records)
• Wild, Wonderful... Purgatory (1999, Spitfire Records)
• Almost Heathen (2001, Spitfire Records)
• Appalachian Incantation (2010, Napalm Records)
• V (2011, Napalm Records)
• Karma To Burn Slight Reprise (2012, Maybe Records; Fantasy Snake)
• Arch Stanton (2014, Deepdive)

Extended Plays and Compilations

• Karma To Burn (1995, Roadtrip)
• 32.33.30.20 (1998, Crack Angel)
• Mountain Mama's (2007, Metal Mind Productions)
• Incantations Ingredients (2010, Fantasy Snake)
• Karma To Burn (2013, Heavy Psych Sounds)
• Mountain Czar (2016, Rodeostar)
• Thee Rabbit Hole (2022, H42 Records)

Splits

• 20 In 2010/All Over Creation (2009, Volcom Entertainment)
  with ASG
• Karma To Burn/Sons of Alpha Centauri
  (2010 / 2014 / 2015, Kitchen Dweller; H42)with Sons of Alpha Centauri
• Karma To Burn/ÖfÖ Am (2010, Napalm Records)
  with ÖfÖ Am

Live Albums

• Live In London And Chasing The Dragon (2009, DRP)
• Live 2009 - Reunion Tour (2009, Napalm Records)
• Live in Brussel (2013, Faba Records)

Personnel

Final Lineup

• Will Mecum – Guitar (1993-2002, 2009-2021) (Died 2021)
• Evan Devine – Drums (2012-2021)
• Eric Clutter - Bass (2015-2021)

Past Members

• Karim Chatila - Vocals (1993)
• Jim Davison - Guitar, Vocals (1993-1994)
• Nathan Limbaugh – Drums (1993-1997)
• Rich Mullins - Bass (1993-2002, 2009-2012)
• Jay Jarosz – Vocals (1996-1997)
• Chuck Nicholas – Drums (1997-1998)
• John Garcia – Vocals (1997, 2009)
• Rob Oswald – Drums (1998-2002, 2009-2012)
• Daniel Davies – Guitar, Vocals (2010-2011)
• Rob Halkett – Bass (2012-2015)

External Links

• Official Website
• Facebook Page
• / Archived Official Page Circa 2001