Earth Crisis - To The Death
Rating
RIYL
HatebreedStrife
Vision Of Disorder
All Out War
Release Date
05/05/2009
Label
Century MediaTracklist
01. Against The Current02. To Ashes
03. So Others Live
04. Security Threat
05. When Slaves Revolt
06. Plague Bearers
07. Control Through Fear
08. Cities Fall
09. Eye Of Babylon
10. What Horrifies
11. To The Death
Users Rating |
Your RatingCreate an account or log in to rate this album |
Recent Ratings |
|
|
|
|
|
Metalcore is a term that has had its truest definition torn to shreds as of late. The popularity of this genre has risen so rapidly over the course of the past several years, yet it seems to have gone right down the gutter it terms of quality just as fast. Kids nowadays are forgetting their roots, forgetting that metalcore is the speed of metal meshed with the passion and fury of hardcore. They are looking for inspiration in bands that seem to be more concerned about image than passion and are overlooking the bands that paved the way for the new metalcore generation. Bands like Vision Of Disorder, Integrity, All Out War and Merauder are just some examples of icons in the scene that are slowly being forgotten about by all the young bucks. One of the most identifiable names in the genre for nearly two decades has been Earth Crisis. These vegan / straight–edge heavy-hitters have been at the plate and reigning supreme since 1991. After being on vacation for nearly nine years, they are back with their newest assault, To The Death, courtesy of their new domicile Century Media.
Ditching the nu-metal sound the band somehow managed to pick up in their later albums, To The Death is the sound everyone knows Earth Crisis for -- pissed off and heavy hardcore-metal. The album unbolts with “Against The Current”, which is filled to the brim with classic bone crunching breakdowns and relentless vocals, which makes a perfect set-up for the next track “To Ashes”. This particular track embodies a hint of a new sound that Earth Crisis hasn’t previously explored. Instead of straight aggression all the way through, it actually has a groove to it, somewhat reminiscent of Hatebreed. “Security Threat” and “When Slaves Revolt” exemplifies all that is NYHC (New York HardCore, for you Left-Coasters that aren’t hip to the lingo) and brings the brutality we all look for in this style music. Furthermore, this just wouldn't be an Earth Crisis album without vegan and straight-edge anthems. Several songs touch base on their drug free lifestyle, and on the final track “To The Death” vocalist Karl Buechner belts out the last four bars “Vegan for life…Vegan to the Death”.
To The Death is by far the cleanest production these guys have had on an album thus far in their career. It was self-produced and later mixed/mastered by the acclaimed Tue Madsen (Sick of It All, August Burns Red, The Haunted). Never has an Earth Crisis album sounded this crisp. Every aspect of the recording is on point and distributes the sound this metallic hardcore assignment deserves.
Even though the band has come under much scrutiny for “straying from their original sound”, they are back with a vengeance to prove all the naysayers wrong. Remaining one of the 90’s most distinguishable bands of their genre, Earth Crisis have returned to put the “core” back in metalcore, all while remaining dedicated to the heart the band was built upon. This is definitely an album for old school and new school fans alike.
--Bill Lohr
Comments
Haven't listened to this band in a real long time. Will have to give this a quick listen.
Ann Arbor, MI
i am so glad this doesnt sound like slither, it is great!!!!!!
DETH ROK!!!!
Lehigh Valley, PA
I agree, this definitely does not sound like Slither. I was very pleased with this album.
Cleveland, OH
"Bands like Vision Of Disorder, Integrity, All Out War and Merauder are just some examples of icons in the scene that are slowly being forgotten about by all the young bucks."
Maybe if your definition of hardcore is Norma Jean and Suicide Silence... Those bands are still praised but legitimate hardcore fans/labels/bands.
Scene Point Blank / Escapist Records
Lehigh Valley, PA
Well my definition of hardcore is anything but Norma Jean and Suicide Silence so...yea. I still praise the bands I listed, hence why I included them in my review as a reference as to what is being forgotten.
Minnesota
I really wasn't expecting much, but this turned out to be a pretty decently solid album.
Find me EVERYWHERE:
