To The Death is Earth Crisis' first album since reuniting in 2007 and their first since their alleged swansong, 2001's Last Of The Sane.  If you were a fan of the EC sound when they broke up then you'll be able to pick right up where you left off.  Politicized lyrics? Check. That classic East Coast low end chugga-chugga-chugga that's bound to incite pits? Yeppers.  Three-minute blasts of anger and fury?  Uh-huh. Sounds like every other East Coast hardcore record that's come out over the years, doesn't it?  And that's the biggest problem with this record.  Earth Crisis are doing nothing to advance the hardcore sound in 2009, to make it even remotely relevant, in an age where heavy music is at the peak of popularity.  The playing is proficient and there are some songs on this album that will ultimately prove to be among the best in their catalog ("Security Threat #1" and "When Slaves Revolt"). But in the end, there's not much here that really makes To The Death stand out from other hardcore albums.

Earth Crisis made their mark through their incessant touring and their activism for animal rights.  While their CDs were the launching pads for their battle cries, it was the road that solidified their message. If Earth Crisis is going to return to relevance, it's going to be as a result of the impact of their live shows, as opposed to this album.