Album review: EARTH CRISIS – Salvation Of Innocents

May 5th, 2014 by Yiannis

Candlelight Records – Out Now.

Earth Crisis is a band whose name always aroused my curiosity but whose music, for reasons I truly cannot comprehend, I have never felt too motivated to listen to. Is it the fact that people have always been keen on presenting the Syracuse/New York band to me as a Metalcore outfit?

Well, even though I may not be the biggest fan of said genre, a label alone would not have prevented me from checking them out, so I can only really attribute this to sheer bad luck. Well, it seems the time has come.. for me to write a few words of praise about the band’s latest studio album “Salvation Of Innocents”.

First of all, let me clarify one thing: Earth Crisis are indeed a Metalcore band, but not of the modern-sounding kind that has been both massively promoted by money-grabbing labels around the world these last few years.

You see, not only do the members of Earth Crisis have something really interesting to say but, most importantly, they have the skills, personality and experience to bring their message across in both a passionate and professional manner.

Last time I came across a band with the ability and energy similar to those of this quintet, I was in the presence of the latest Agnostic Front album, which is only fitting as, on top of geographical origins, these two bands also share their willingness to inject a powerful metallic sound into their old school Punk influences.

Songs like the Thrash infused opener “De-Densitized” and the follow up “Out Of The Cages” made an instant impression on me – it was, however, when I was introduced to the massive groovy riff of “Shiver” when I realised what this album truly had to offer – check the clever guitar harmonies and the layered vocals in the song’s refrain and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

Sandwiched between the more predictable duet “The Morbid Glare” / “Depraved Indifference”, “Razors Through Flesh” will impress with a massive head banging riff and vocal variation, while “No Reason” will present the listener with clean vocal harmonies normally expected of a Testament record.

Fans of the mighty riff will find many reasons to rejoice in songs like “The Pallid Surgeon”, “Into Nothingness” and “Tentacles Of The Altering Eye” but those who, like I, cannot resist a catchy band vocal tune should definitely check out “Devoted To Death”. By the time you hear the catchy/repetitive riffs and Slayer-influenced lead melodies of the closing composition “Final Breath”, your addiction to this album will be complete.

I am not in a position to assume what the band’s loyal fans would make of “Salvation Of Innocents” and how well it will fair when compared to their previous seven studio releases.

If what the average Earth Crisis fan is looking for in an album is massive head banging riffs, clever technical themes which do not distract one’s attention from the main melody and a vocalist who’s not afraid to strain his chords in bringing across his message, then “Salvation Of Innocents” has truly achieved its mission!

John Stefanis

Rating: **** (4.0/5.0)

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