I had no problem using 'criten' over the weekend...
Using
www.ircsearch.com shows the following info on the Criten servers -- try connecting with one of these address instead of the one you are using;
Latest server list:
ether.criten.net
Other servers previously seen:
zig.criten.net
zag.criten.net
timeout.criten.net
privateproperty.criten.net
perseus.criten.net
hazzard.criten.net
hades.criten.net
gravity.criten.net
desperado.criten.net