3 out of 5

Label: Rodeostar Records

Produced by: Jessi Brustolin, Jonas Cslovjecsek

Karma to Burn were, from the start, fit to burst with the need to play some good ol’ instrumental Southern metal. And they’ve done so, occasionally with vocals, occasionally with song titles, for years now, proving remarkably resilient and consistent in creating toe-tapping, head-banging jams with the kind of precision and steadfastness suggested by the way they generally name their songs like ‘Fifty One’ and ‘Thirty Two’ and the like.

On this 2016 EP, we’re up to ‘Sixty’ through ‘Sixty Three’ (though not presented in that order), with a break for a Spanish-sung cover of a Tom Petty track, ‘Uccidendo Un Sogno.’ While this track is sort of a break in the spell for me – a laidback, four and half minute chill – Mountain Czar is, as always, impeccably performed, with the occasional guest appearance of wild displays of time / tone changes (‘Sixty One,’ ‘Sixty Three’) that remind you why these guys have gotten away with delivering similar music over the years and releases: they do what they do really well.

Though not _so_ well as to make you forget other acts operating in the Southern rock vein; KtB’s crew are undeniably skilled, but they rarely break from a sort of traditional structure – most tracks fall in that same 4:30 range; most employ the same general pace – in elongated ways that make it a must-listen. A fun listen, absolutely.