The unforgiving punk flair of Earth Crisis has returned

February 29, 2008

Friday, February 29, 2008

By Ely Delman Contributing writer

Karl Buechner says that the solutions to the world's problems are sobriety, veganism and respect for innocent life.

Not the typical mantra you'd expect from the lead singer of Earth Crisis, the hard-core punk band.

Formed in Syracuse in the early 1990s, Earth Crisis was at the forefront of the hard-core, vegan, straight-edge (no drugs, alcohol, smoking or promiscuity) movement from its inception until the five band mates broke up in 2001.

Now the internationally prominent group's dark metal growl and unforgiving punk flair are back.

Having toured Europe and played the Maryland Metal and Hardcore Festival in 2007, the group is ready to tour the United States. The tour begins today in New York City and concludes March 23 in Albany.

"Now is the right time," Buechner says in a phone interview. "In a way, it's a rebirth. We're going back to our musical roots (of) 'Destroy the Machines' and 'Breed the Killers,' " he says, referring to two of the band's most successful albums.

Not only are they touring the country, they're also finishing work on a new album. The band has recorded 14 tracks, Buechner says, and the vocals will be recorded on portable equipment while on tour. "Technology made this possible," says Buechner.

The reason "Earth Crisis stopped was because Scott (Crouse, guitar) and Dennis (Merrick, drums) moved to California," Buechner says in a phone interview.

Yet the distance isn't a problem. "We're at a point now where Erick (Edwards, on guitar) has a studio in Syracuse and Scott has a studio in California. We e-mail (the songs) to each other," Buechner says.

The musicians of Earth Crisis have improved at communicating ideas and writing lyrics, Buechner says. And though Crouse and Merrick live in California, Buechner says it feels really natural to play with them again.

"There's definitely something special," he says. "We read each other really well (and) complement each other."

It's incredible to see how much the vegan hard-core scene has grown, Buechner says. Bands are now being signed to major labels and not only indie ones, he adds. This particular brand of hard-core dominates the genre. Yet its popularity is at least partly based on its lack of mainstream appeal.

"Straight-edge could never be marketed as a trend," Buechner says. "Britney Spears and 50 Cent, that's what's cool, (and it) glorifies drug use and drugs," he adds. "Straight-edge is the antithesis of a trend," he says.

The scene and the music's anti-mainstream sentiment has drawn more fans. "People are more open," Buechner says. Hard-core, vegan, straight-edge punk is more visible, he says.

After Earth Crisis disbanded in 2001, some of the band members, including Buechner, and other musicians formed two new bands, Freya and Path of Resistance. Buechner doesn't consider those bands to be side projects, instead saying that he wants to "absolutely play with Freya" in the future. Path of Resistance played at this year's New Year's Day hard-core show in Syracuse.

"The goal of this tour," Buechner says, "is to headline New Year's Day fest in Syracuse next year."

Peter H

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