Earth Crisis: Total War – new video

         

New video clip by veteran hardcore outfit EARTH CRISIS has just premiered over at AOL's Noisecreep. Filmed by Matt Spencer, ‘Total War’ comes from the band's sixth studio album entitled ‘Neutralize The Threat’, released via Century Media in July 2011 (and still being available for your listening pleasure in its entirety here on MetalSucks). Produced by Chris “Zeuss” Harris, ‘Neutralize The Threat’ is available as a CD, as a limited CD digipak and as a digital download, and you are welcome to buy form Century Media.

According to a press release, ‘Neutralize The Threat’ is a concept album of sorts; it doesn’t follow the traditional arc of opuses like PINK FLOYD's ‘The Wall’, or THE WHO's ‘Tommy’, whose central character drives the story along. Rather, the ten songs that comprise ‘Neutralize The Threat’ are all linked by a common theme of true-life vigilantism. Guitarist Scott Crouse explained:

“Every song is lyrically inspired by real-life vigilante actions that have taken place around the globe. The topics range from The Black Panther Party to Bernhard Goetz and we think it’s an original lyrical concept for the band, while also retaining some subject matter we are known for dealing with in the past.”

EARTH CRISIS was formed in 1991 in Syracuse, New York by Karl Buechner. AllMusic Guide's Ryan Downey explains the band's fundamentals thusly:

“EARTH CHRISIS chugging riffs and barked declarations served as the mouthpiece of America's militant vegan straight-edge movement throughout the '90s, detailing the ideas of animal and human liberation, drug-free living, and personal empowerment through hardcore song. The vegan straight-edge movement spawned activists who took the law into their own hands, burning down fur farms and freeing animals directly.” [More here]

Buechner, joined by guitarists Scott Crouse and Ben Read, bassist Ian “Bulldog” Edwards and drummer Michael Riccardi, delivered his first politically-charged message to “individuals searching for a straight path amidst a world of chaos” in form of 1992's EP ‘All Out War’. Riccardi was replaced by Dennis Merrick on ‘Firestorm’, the second EP released in 1993 (Victory Records), with Kris Wiechmann joining shortly after to replace Read on guitar:

“For the straight-edge kids who can sing along as well as “pick up change” amidst the frenzy, this release is seminal. For EARTH CRISIS themselves, this EP is a crucial touchstone; the territory explored on ‘Firestorm’ is the basis for everywhere else the group has ventured on subsequent outings, further into militant eco-politics and further soundwise into new realms of heaviness,” [commented Matt Kantor, AllMusic – more here]

This line-up released the band's debut LP, ‘Destroy The Machines’ in 1995 via Victory Records, with second album, ‘Gomorrah's Season Ends’, following a year later. As EARTH CRISIS popularity grew, Roadrunner Records took notice, and after replacing Wiechmann with Edwards' brother Erick, and engaging the services of producer Andy Sneap, the label released 1998's ‘Breed The Killers’, featuring guest vocal appearance by MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn. EARTH CRISES returned to Victory Records for the last album before their breakup in 2001; a collection of covers and demos from the band's earlier career, entitled ‘Last Of The Sane’. EARTH CRISES reunited in 2007, signed a worldwide deal with Century Media in 2008, and released their fifth album, ‘To The Death’, in 2009.

EARTH CRISES features: Karl Buechner – vocals, Scott Crouse – guitar, Ian “Bulldog” Edwards – bass, Dennis Merrick – drums and Erick Edwards – guitar

EARTH CRISIS – courtesy of Century Media Records