Karl Buechner

Buechner was born on December 23, 1970{{cite magazine|magazine=Isolated Zine|location=Canton, Ohio|first1=Danny|last1=Trudell|first2=Brian|last2=Barr|date=December 21, 2012 |pages=18–21|url=https://issuu.com/brianbarr/docs/isolatedzine_3_issuu|issue=3|title=The lost interview with Karl from: Earth Crisis|access-date=October 10, 2017}} in Syracuse, New York.{{sfn|Harkins|2015|loc=6:57-7:12}} He has German and Irish roots.{{cite web|first=Jo|last=Schüftan|access-date=September 27, 2017|url=http://hornsuprocks.blogspot.com/2010/04/earth-day-with-earth-crisis.html|website=Hornsuprocks.com|format=video|title=Earth Day with Earth Crisis|publication-date=April 26, 2010|date=April 22, 2010|location=Manhattan, New York City|time=2:44-3:03 in part 1 (heritage) and 4:11-4:18 in part 2 (quote)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170927122412/http://hornsuprocks.blogspot.nl/2010/04/earth-day-with-earth-crisis.html|archive-date=September 27, 2017}} In his early teens, Buechner got into punk rock through his cousin and skateboarding, becoming a fan of bands such as the Dead Kennedys and Subhumans, as well as having traveled to other cities to participate in skate competitions.{{sfn|Harkins|2015|loc=12:44-13:56 and 16:54-17:17}} Around the age of fifteen, he saw the Cro-Mags' video "We Gotta Know" that "was the spark that set off" his love for hardcore punk music and, years later, he would describe The Age of Quarrel as "still the greatest hardcore album of all time".{{cite magazine|access-date=September 26, 2017|url=https://www.hardcore-punk.net/interview/16/earth-crisis|title=EARTH CRISIS - par Aaron Burgess - juillet 1996|first=Aaron|last=Burgess|publisher=Alternative Press|issue=101|website=www.hardcore-punk.net|date=July 1996|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170923105529/https://www.hardcore-punk.net/interview/16/earth-crisis|archive-date=September 23, 2017}}{{cite magazine|access-date=October 6, 2017|url=https://www.hardcore-punk.net/interview/17/earth-crisis|publisher=www.hardcore-punk.net|title=EARTH CRISIS - par Brad Oates de Heckler #5 - janvier 1998|first=Brad|last=Oates|issue=5|magazine=Heckler|date=January 1998|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20171006163606/https://www.hardcore-punk.net/interview/17/earth-crisis|archive-date=October 6, 2017}} During that time, Syracuse was going through a lingering recession where crime and illegal drug trade began to proliferate. Many of Buechner' skater friends started using drugs and alcohol, one of whom died while others were progressively affected, which motivated him to become straight edge.{{cite web|first=Hart |last=Seely|date=October 22, 2009|access-date=September 30, 2017|title=Palace Theatre in Syracuse to present "EDGE" documentary featuring Karl Buechner|url=http://blog.syracuse.com/entertainment/2009/10/palace_theatre_in_syracuse_to.html|website=The Post-Standard|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029070704/http://blog.syracuse.com/entertainment/2009/10/palace_theatre_in_syracuse_to.html|archive-date=October 29, 2009}} His and other Earth Crisis members' families also suffered from tragedies and random acts of violence at the time, including robberies.{{sfn|Conway|2016|loc=41:10-41:56}} According to Buechner: "to an extent we were kind of the products of [those] experience[s], but we didn't join with it, we rebelled against it."

Most of Buechner's family is vegetarian. He became a pescetarian at the age of sixteen after his sister handed him a PETA magazine with photographs of caged animals in a slaughterhouse. At eighteen, he transitioned into vegetarianism and shortly afterwards veganism, getting into animal liberation issues through conversations with his grandmother.{{cite web|access-date=October 5, 2017|url=http://livehighfive.com/2013/07/13/interview-with-karl-buechner-from-earthcrisis-playing-syracuse-tonight-713-victoryrecords/|title=Interview with Karl Buechner from @EarthCrisis; Playing #Syracuse TONIGHT 7/13 @victoryrecords|date=July 13, 2013|first=Gregory |last=Allis |website=Livehighfive.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505093238/http://livehighfive.com/2013/07/13/interview-with-karl-buechner-from-earthcrisis-playing-syracuse-tonight-713-victoryrecords/|archive-date=May 5, 2016}}{{cite magazine|access-date=October 2, 2017|url=http://www.ox-fanzine.de/web/itv/4057/interviews.212.html|title=EARTH CRISIS {{!}} Vegan Warriors|website=Ox-Fanzine|issue=97 |date=August–September 2011|language=de|first=Joachim |last=Hiller|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608012010/http://www.ox-fanzine.de/web/itv/4057/interviews.212.html|archive-date=June 8, 2012}} The first vocalist of Earth Crisis, DJ Rose, states that he and Buechner traveled to Albany where they met Dave Stein and Steve Reddy, who also taught them about animal rights before they established the group in 1989.{{cite web|access-date=July 22, 2019|url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2017/11/23/earth-crisis-firestorm-purify-straight-edge-book-excerpt/|title=Earth Crisis: A Firestorm to Purify (Straight Edge Book Excerpt)|website=Decibel|date=November 23, 2017|first1=Vince|last1=Bellino|first2=Tony|last2=Rettman|author-link2=Tony Rettman|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20171205062651/https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2017/11/23/earth-crisis-firestorm-purify-straight-edge-book-excerpt/|archive-date=December 5, 2017}} Subsequently, Buechner became a volunteer at the Syracuse Wildlife Rehabilitation Center where he witnessed animals that were doused with gasoline and tortured in different ways, leaving "quite an impression on" him and which he attributes to the anger expressed in their early records.{{sfn|Harkins|2015|loc=5:42-6:20}}

Buechner graduated from Henninger High School in 1989. He attended college to become a history teacher with the intention of supporting a career in music or sports, but left it after two years when Earth Crisis was signed by Victory Records.{{sfn|Harkins|2015|loc=11:39-11:51 and 13:57-14:19}}{{cite web|access-date=September 26, 2017|url=http://lambgoat.com/features/interviews/107/Freya-interview|title=Freya interview|date=January 26, 2007|website=Lambgoat.com|url-status=live|archive-date=September 26, 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170926160907/http://lambgoat.com/features/interviews/107/Freya-interview}}

Karl Buechner started playing bass and formed his first band, Mainforce Patrol, at the age of sixteen. In 1989, he became a member of Earth Crisis but their initial lineup was short-lived. He kept the idea of the group alive and continued writing songs, restarting them in 1991 as the new vocalist and releasing five further albums.{{cite web|access-date=October 1, 2017|url=https://happinessisalltherage.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/karl-buechner-earth-crisis-freya-path-of-resistance/|title=Karl Buechner / Earth Crisis, Freya, Path of Resistance|date=January 4, 2010|website=happinessisalltherage.wordpress.com|location=Copenhagen, Denmark|first=Johan|last=Lundgren|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20171002003004/https://happinessisalltherage.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/karl-buechner-earth-crisis-freya-path-of-resistance/|archive-date=October 2, 2017}}{{cite web|access-date=October 1, 2017|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/earth-crisis-new-video-interview-with-karl-buechner-available/|website=Blabbermouth.net|format=video|title= EARTH CRISIS: New Video Interview With KARL BUECHNER Available|publication-date=December 28, 2008|date=December 21, 2008|location=Syracuse, New York}} In 1995, their drummer Dennis Merrick was seriously injured and, as he recuperated, the rest of the group formed the hardcore-oriented band Path of Resistance, releasing their album Who Dares Wins in 1996.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/path-of-resistance-mn0000004214/biography|title=Path of Resistance|first=Ryan|last=Downey|access-date=October 1, 2017|website=AllMusic|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20171002011710/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/path-of-resistance-mn0000004214/biography|archive-date=October 2, 2017}} Earth Crisis disbanded in 2001 and reformed in 2007, releasing three more albums so far.

In early 2001, he began singing for Freya (formatively titled Nemesis and End Begins after EC songs) with two members of Earth Crisis plus two other members. They were named for the Norse goddess of fertility and their lyrics took inspiration from history, mythology and more personal issues, without addressing veganism or straight edge directly because not all members follow the lifestyles.{{cite web|access-date=October 2, 2017|url=http://www.thegauntlet.com/bio/3699/Freya|title=Freya Bio|website=Thegauntlet.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110502112808/http://www.thegauntlet.com/bio/3699/Freya|archive-date=May 2, 2011}} They have released five studio albums so far. Their 2010 album, 'All Hail the End', featured cover art by Brendon Flynn, and guest vocals on "Condemned" by J.Costa of Thy Will Be Done.

In late 2005, Buechner joined Canadian band A Perfect Murder for a tour, replacing vocalist Kevin Randel.{{cite book|access-date=November 3, 2017|first=Garry |last=Sharpe-Young|author-link=Garry Sharpe-Young|title=New Wave of American Heavy Metal|date=2005|publisher=Zonda Books Limited|page=11|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uIIf03bGyAAC&pg=PA11|isbn=9780958268400 }}

Since 2008, he is the frontman of the supergroup Vehement Serenade along with Mike Couls (Cro-Mags, Skarhead, Cold as Life), Jamin Hunt (Sworn Enemy), Eddie Ortiz (Subzero) and Pauly Antignani (Sworn Enemy).{{cite web|access-date=September 27, 2017|url=http://livehighfive.com/2012/09/10/interview-with-mike-couls-and-karl-buechner-from-vehement-serenade-playing-east-coast-tsunami-fest/|title=Interview with Mike Couls and Karl Buechner from Vehement Serenade; Playing East Coast Tsunami Fest|date=September 10, 2012 |website=Livehighfive.com|first=Gregory |last=Allis|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505065110/http://livehighfive.com/2012/09/10/interview-with-mike-couls-and-karl-buechner-from-vehement-serenade-playing-east-coast-tsunami-fest/|archive-date=May 5, 2016}} In 2013, they released their debut album The Things That Tear You Apart.{{cite web|access-date=September 26, 2017|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/48879/media-vehement-serenade-earth-crisis-cro-mags-sworn-enemy-debut-new-material|website=Punknews.org|title=Vehement Serenade (Earth Crisis, Cro-Mags, Sworn Enemy) debut new material|first=Aubin |last=Paul|date=September 11, 2012 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916010313/https://www.punknews.org/article/48879/media-vehement-serenade-earth-crisis-cro-mags-sworn-enemy-debut-new-material|archive-date=September 16, 2012}}

In 2016, he formed the metalcore band 1000 Drops of Venom.{{cite web|access-date=October 2, 2017|url=http://www.earsplitcompound.com/site/2016/09/16/1000-drops-of-venom-members-of-earth-crisis-the-path-of-resistance-unholy-and-more-form-vicious-new-act-track-leaked-first-show-looms/|title=1000 DROPS OF VENOM: Members Of Earth Crisis, The Path Of Resistance, Unholy, And More Form Vicious New Act; Track Leaked + First Show Looms|date=September 16, 2016|website=www.earsplitcompound.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920014810/http://www.earsplitcompound.com/site/2016/09/16/1000-drops-of-venom-members-of-earth-crisis-the-path-of-resistance-unholy-and-more-form-vicious-new-act-track-leaked-first-show-looms/|archive-date=September 20, 2016}} Since 2017, he is also the frontman of Apocalypse Tribe and they released a split album with Rob Aston's Death March on August 25.{{cite web|access-date=September 30, 2017|url=http://www.indecisionrecords.com/|website=www.indecisionrecords.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912055317/http://www.indecisionrecords.com/|archive-date=September 12, 2017|title=News}}

Karl Buechner has been cited as an influence by artists such as Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed,{{cite podcast|first=Jamey|last=Jasta|access-date=December 8, 2017|url=https://www.ivoox.com/episode-311-rex-brown-pantera-audios-mp3_rf_22432629_1.html|title=Episode 311 - Rex Brown (Pantera)|publication-date=December 4, 2017 |work= The Jasta Show |time=14:52|number=311|date=November 24, 2017|quote=Q: What are your thoughts on Earth Crisis? Did Karl Buechner influenced you? I've always noted some similarities between his vocal delivery on Destroy the Machines and yours, and also in your lyrical style.
Jamey Jasta: Yes, absolutely. Love Earth Crisis, I even like Slither, that's how much of a fan I am, I didn't jump ship on Slither. Karl's my man [...] definitely, Earth Crisis is an influence on Hatebreed, musically and in my vocal style.}} Greg Bennick of Trial{{cite web|access-date=December 8, 2017|url=http://vistafanzine.blogspot.com/2012/03/trial-between-earth-sky-interview-with.html|publication-date=March 14, 2012|date=2010|publisher=Vista Fanzine|title=Trial {Between Earth & Sky} interview with Vocalist: Greg Bennick. 2010. |website=vistafanzine.blogspot.com|quote=I was always influenced by artists who did things that were new, different, or intense in ways I'd not heard before: Karl Buechner from Earth Crisis had such a powerful voice, and the way he changed his tone from record to record was always fascinating to me. |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909110848/http://vistafanzine.blogspot.com/2012/03/trial-between-earth-sky-interview-with.html|archive-date=September 9, 2016}} and Sean Ingram of Coalesce.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.verbicidemagazine.com/2001/06/15/interview-sean-ingram-of-coalesce/|access-date=December 8, 2017|title=Interview: Sean Ingram of Coalesce|first1=Jackson|last1=Ellis|first2=Liesl|last2=Herget|date=2000|publication-date=June 15, 2001|issue=3|magazine=Verbicide|publisher=www.verbicidemagazine.com|quote=Q: Musically and lyrically, who have been your major influences?
Sean Ingram: [...] Musically, Phil Anselmo and Karl Buechner.|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20171208174732/https://www.verbicidemagazine.com/2001/06/15/interview-sean-ingram-of-coalesce/|archive-date=December 8, 2017}}

;Earth Crisis

• Destroy the Machines (1995)
• Gomorrah's Season Ends (1996)
• Breed the Killers (1998)
• Slither (2000)
• Last of the Sane (2001)
• To the Death (2009)
• Neutralize the Threat (2011)
• Salvation of Innocents (2014)

;Path of Resistance

• Who Dares Wins (1996)
• Can't Stop the Truth (2006)

;Freya

• As the Last Light Drains (2003)
• Lift the Curse (2007)
• All Hail the End (2010)
• Paragon of the End (2013)
• Grim (2016)

;Vehement Serenade

• The Things That Tear You Apart (2013)

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite podcast|title=Karl Buechner from Earth Crisis |publication-date=June 24, 2015|access-date=October 3, 2017|url=https://www.jabberjawmedia.com/podcasts/100words|work=100 Words or Less|publisher=Jabberjaw Media|first=Ray|last=Harkins}}
• {{cite podcast|first=Bill |last=Conway|access-date=July 22, 2019|title=Episode 123: Karl Buechner|work=Edgeland|publication-date=April 8, 2016|url=http://edgelandpodcast.libsyn.com/episode-123-karl-buechner|url-status=live|archive-date=July 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721090657/http://edgelandpodcast.libsyn.com/episode-123-karl-buechner}}

• [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3504737/ Karl Buechner] on IMDb

{{Earth Crisis}}

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Category:1970 births

Category:Musicians from Syracuse, New York

Category:Singers from New York (state)

Category:Activists from New York (state)

Category:American veganism activists

Category:American people of German descent

Category:American people of Irish descent

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American male singers

Category:21st-century American singers

Category:Metalcore singers