King Karma
King Karma
by: Tim Taylor
Southern rock from Canada? You bet! King Karma, a four-piece band based in Vancouver, brings a modern edge to the brand of classic rock they play. The group is comprised of a Floridian (lead singer Shaun Williamson) and three Canadians (guitarist Markus Wolfe, bassist Todd Ronin, and drummer Rick Fedyk). Their blistering self-titled debut album appeared in 2003, provoking praise from critics (and fans!) in North America and overseas. The album has an added level of Southern authenticity because it was recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, with renowned producers Jimmy Johnson and Steve Melton (Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rolling Stones, Cry Of Love, etc.) at the helm. The result? Twelve catchy, gritty, blues-drenched tracks of rock’n’roll revival.
The album kicks off with “Breathe”, a mid-tempo swamp-rocker with psychedelic riffs, a sharp hook, and raspy/smooth vocals a la Chris Cornell. The lyrics speak of finding inner peace (“I can be who I wanna be”) and the freedom of not being “scared to shine”. The second cut, “Blue Monday”, is a mid-paced, jammin bad-weather blues song with a solid chorus and a soulful solo in the middle. The third track, “Into The Everlast”, has an immediate Audioslave vibe, yet it has its own sound, with a melodic element best realized in the King’s X-esque layered harmonies of the lyric “into the everlasting dream”. This song, about a “snake in the grass...selling poison dreams”, has earned the band quite a bit of exposure, particularly on Internet sites like Garageband.com. “Revolution Man”, the ultra-catchy fourth track, was penned by fellow Canadian rocker Rob LaMothe (Riverdogs). It has a soft-loud dynamic throughout that works quite well. Track #5 is “Mama’s Pride”, a bluesy roadhouse rocker with multiple hooks and lyrics lamenting a wayward son who is causing a “heartbreak symphony”. Up next is “Twilight Child”, another well-executed use of the soft-loud pattern, with a gentle acoustic intro erupting into a massive chorus and a wailing wall of sound.
The second half of this disc starts with the best song on the album, “Heaven’s Burning”. It has an incredibly addictive, psychedelic guitar riff, powerhouse vocals, a thunderous refrain, and cool, cryptic lyrics about “fire in the sky” and “judgment day”. Track #8, “I’m Listening” is an inspirational power ballad about encouraging a friend to “start to live again”. The ninth song, a sex-charged blues romp called “Shake My Bones”, is probably the weak spot on the album, mainly due to the lyrical cliches. Next is “Don’t Take The World Out On Me”, another power ballad with sweet riffs, soul-stirring vocals, and emotive lyrics about a possessive lover, all of which swells into a grand chorus. Track #11 is “Midnight Sunshine”, a lyrical paradox with high voltage riffs and an undeniable hook. The album closes out with the melodic bang of “Devil’s Road”, which has amazing vocal harmonies on the lyric “round and round it goes” and speaks of the despair of “selling blood for alcohol”.
From crunching riff-rockers to peaceful power ballads, King Karma has it all. This band is certainly not the flavor of the week, but if you’re looking for a fresh twist on good old-fashioned rock music, King Karma has what you need. Check out this amazing group at their website kingkarma.com.
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