"King Karma" 2003 band self-release

by Marc Sarchet

King Karma is a hard blues-rock quartet based out of British Columbia, Canada. If you love the early 70's style blues rock of bands such as Free, with a modern twist, this record will grab you in a hurry.

American vocalist extrodinare Shaun Williamson (ex-Backbone Slide and Sunnyland Blues band), hooks up here with one of the best bands I have the pleasure to hear in quite some time. Markus Wolfe (guitar) who at times will bring to mind Paul Kosshoff is the "find' of the year on guitar. He can out-n-howl on the guitar and gives this band their signature blues drenched rock sound. Rounding out the sound is the power rhythm section of Todd Ronning (Bass) and Rick Fedyk (drums) who drive this band with a fury.

This record is easily in the Top-5 albums I have had the chance to hear this year. Unlike most independent releases this album has been given a big dollar production sound with the legendary Jimmy Johnson handeling the duties. Even better news is the band recently signed a distribution deal with Z-Records in Europe thus, a larger audience will now have the opportunity to hear this great album. The highlights are too numerous on this record. I can tell you there is no-filler or a bad song on the album. The highlights are "Blue Monday" which is the best song on the album. Wolfe's guitar work on this song is nothing short of incredible. If I closed my eyes I would swear it was Paul Kosshoff which is a tribute to what a great player Wolfe is. "Revolution Man" is a cover of the Riverdogs classic and Williamson does this job justice with some of his best work on the album. Covering the gifted voice of Rob Lamothe is no small feat in itself. "Mama's Pride" is another featured moment for Wolfe who takes over this song with a fury and combind with Williamson's vocals makes this one of the gems on this record. "Shake My Bones" is blues-rock at it's very best and the Williamson-Wolfe team over the top on this one. "Don't Take the World Out On Me" is soul based blues rock at it's based. Williamson's mellow soul drenched vocals are brilliant on this one. Finally, there is "Devil's Road' that closes this record out with a fury.

Records like this just are not made anymore. This record begs to be heard. We can only hope someone in North America will pick this one up as these guys would be huge with the right exposure. If you don't buy another album this year, you need to get this one.

"Backbone Slide" 1994 release on the Mausoleum label (Germany) by Marc Sarchet Backbone Slide, came into the Riverdogs world when they opened for boys on the 'Dogs 1994 European Tour. This long out of print CD is worth your time and effort to try and find. The best place to go and look for it as at http://www.gemm.com/ as you can find just about anything their. Last I looked they still had some copies for sale. Backbone Slide featured the voice of Shaun Williamnson (who is listed as Shaun Michaels in the CD). To try and describe the sheer beauty and power of his voice would be difficult except to say he is the best "unknown" singer you will ever hear. If you like Paul Rogers, Rob Lamothe, Glenn Hughes or Ray Gillen you will love him. One can only hope his present group King Karma will remove the "unknown" label because he deserves to be heard. As does this record that is one of the better hard-blues rock albums you will hear from the early-mid 90's. This record will jump out and grab you and leave you wanting more when it is done. Which thankfully King Karma, which is the same vain musically, provides. The opener on the CD "House of Thunder" sets the tone for this hard driving, blues drenched rock-n-roll treat. The guitar work of Oliver Guttinger on lead guitar, Kai Portolano rhythm guitar with guest artist Danny Chauncey (Billy Sattelite and 38 Special) on guitars is stellar and powers this album from the first note of "Thunder" to the last note of the closer "You 'N I". A stellar rhythm section of Frank Schrafft on bass and Achim Gschwend on drums holds this all down with gusto. "Rosi Lust" the second cut brings to mind Bon Scott era "AC-DC" and will have you up and dancing. "Cold Hearted" follows and is a piece of great blues drenched rock. "Come Home" gives us the opportunity to see the range of Shaun's voice in a great soulful ballad. Motown would love this one. "Shout It Out" powers it up again and brings to mind Rob Hallford and the 'Priest and will have you dancing in the asile again. "The Only One" combinds soul and blues to produce perhaps the best song on the record. "Live Love Rock" is a balls to the wall rocker once again ala "AC-DC". Up next is "That's What Dreams Are For" a power ballad that would be a great radio crusing song. "Ya Do Ya" is blues-rock at it's finest and also, is perhaps the best song on the record. The lead work of O.G. and vocals of Shaun are thier best on the record. "No Matter the Faith' slows things way down again and is a great ballad. "Colors Bleed" completes the trio of "perhaps the best song on the record"!! This one is a swampy-southern blues-rock classic that just out-n-out rocks. Shaun's voice takes over this song. "You N I" closes the record on a mellow acoustic note. Not a filler or a bd cut on this record. Go out and find this one....you won't be sorry!

Got some cool new pictures of the band and BBS... (THANKS SHAUN!). I have to say, this is one of the few bands that I REALLY love and on top of the great music, are also really really nice people!! Enjoy!!

Photo from the RIVERDOGS Tour..Shaun tells me Rob was there at the hair salon the day he chopped his hair off!!


Live shot from the recent Paul Rodgers show in Vancouver, November 26th 2004

And some links for more info and the bands website!