Search - Earth Crisis :: Slither

Earth Crisis - 'Slither' (Victory)

Mike Reed | USA | 09/02/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Problem with 'Slither' is that it doesn't cover any new ground.I mean,it's on okay release by the metal band,just nothing special.Noticed that mainman Karl Buechner has toned down his rather menacing growl to include cleaner vocal arrangements.That COULD actually work here.Tunes like "Loss Of Humanity",title cut "Slither","Biomachines" and "Hair Trigger" appear to be decently penned out.See what you think.Might appeal to some fans of Fear Factory,Korn,Machine Head and Biohazard."

What's the message again?

G. MCDONALD | Texas | 09/27/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have listened to Earth Crisis since the mid 90s, when Destroy the Machines came out. I'll admit, at 35 I'm still straight edge. I have 4 kids, and happy marriage, and a great job. I have a successful military career (6 years) to look back on, and both undergraduate and graduate degrees. I don't think I am an unusual case. I have an issue with the umbrella statements that all sXe people are teenagers and prone to a life of alcoholism upon attainment of 21 years of life.



I have always liked EC's music; as a musician myself (guitar) I am always impressed at how raw a guitar sound they get. However, I have never subscribed to the vegan movement, I think it's stupid and ridiculous to presume that eating meat (a dietary necessity) is morally bad. Sure, we could treat the animals better in farms and testing labs, but don't think for a second that this message of environmental veganism doesn't get clouded by the plastic jewel case, inks and dyes, and absolutely certain meat consumption by the graphic artists, producers, mixers, and other personnel involved in producing this product. And how do you think the cotton was (backbreakingly) harvested for those shirts and hoodies? And how do you think that merch was manufactured? By magical, high paid labor union workers? No it was harvested by underpaid imigrant labor, and the shirts and hats were manufactured in sweat shops. This is were the hypocrasy takes root. This message has always eluded me, how a group of people could be so sure about how everyone else should live, but pay so little attention to the details of the example they set. But I have enjoyed the music. Like much of what Hollywood creates, I must detach myself from who is in it, or what their political beliefs are, in order to enjoy the end product ... and have gotten to the point where I rarely even attempt to see or hear the end product anymore.



Fortunately, I've never been able to understand (much less "sing" along with) Karl. His vocals, until Slither, were always a mush of uninspired growls and yelling. I'm glad to witness the change (it only took ten years!). I really enjoyed Slither. I think it was a breakthrough for EC, and showed a level of growth, songwriting, and maturation for the band that sets this album apart from their catalogue. I'm sorry to see them disband, but honestly, I don't know how they stayed together so long. None of their records have ever broken the gold sales mark, and while a staple in the sXe movement, they have rarely broken into the national spotlight for their music.



If you can overlook the anger and ridiculousness of the veganist message, this is a great album. It is definitely a milestone for EC and the only record in their entire catalogue that really stands out as any different from the rest."