EARTH CRISIS: 'To The Death' First-Week Sales Revealed

"To The Death", the new album from the reunited hardcore legends EARTH CRISIS, sold around 1,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD debuted at No. 59 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"To The Death" was released on May 5 via Century Media Records (April 20 in Europe). The self-produced CD was recorded at Castle Recording Studios in Utica, New York and was mixed by Tue Madsen (HEAVEN SHALL BURN, DARK TRANQUILLITY, MOONSPELL, THE HAUNTED). Artwork for the effort was handled by Paul Romano (MASTODON, GODFLESH). The band has also partnered with PETA and plan to stay active within the animal liberation scene.

"To The Death" track listing:

01. Against The Current
02. To Ashes
03. So Others Live
04. Security Threat #1
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

"To Ashes", the new video from EARTH CRISIS, can be viewed below.

Guitarist Scott Crouse told Revolver magazine about the new CD, "We aren't purposely trying to recapture the past, but I think we have harnessed some of the fire that set us apart from the pack early on. It's great being able to look back on our previous work and see what aspects have stood the tests of time; not many bands have that luxury."

EARTH CRISIS' chugging riffs and barked declarations served as the mouthpiece of the 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. This movement spawned activists who took the law into their own hands, burning down fur farms and freeing animals directly. Their vicious debut EP, "Firestorm", was a landmark release for the hardcore scene that combined staccato, solo-free metal with barking, political, and militant vocals. The lyrics centered around the dangers of drug abuse and bringing "violence against violence" to drug dealers and those who would abuse animals: "a firestorm to purify." Major media outlets such as CNN, CBS and MTV soon started covering EARTH CRISIS and vegan, straight-edge in general. In 1996, the band released its second full-length album, "Gomorrah's Season Ends", a polished and decidedly more metallic affair that produced even more anthems that became singalong worthy staples of their live performances. This exposed the band to a whole new mainstream audience.