Killing Time playing 30th anniversary show, repressing 'Brightside' & demo
When you’re talking late ’80s New York hardcore, you’d have to be crazy not to position Killing Time way in the forefront of your potted history. There was something in the synthesis between the original lineup of new school ruffians Breakdown and original Token Entry vocalist Anthony Comunale that created an almost supernatural perfection. Maybe it was their matchless mid-tempo crunch. Maybe it was their pragmatic lyrical content and Comunale’s no-nonsense delivery. Whatever the fuck it was, there’s no doubt they hit upon creating the ultimate soundtrack for violent lament. When the band unleashed this formula via their 1988 demo under the name Raw Deal, it soon became the framework for many new bands on the scene, but none of them ever came close to hitting the mark.
Their 1989 debut full-length, Brightside, garnered both praise and harsh criticism from some of the more stringent elements of the hardcore scene — regarding the latter, myself included — for its metallic production and slick presentation. In the rearview, not only do I consider the record just as essential as their demo, but I view my prejudices to be very juvenile and petty. But hey, kids are stupid. I think we should all know that by now. [Tony Rettman for CLRVYNT]
NYHC greats Killing Time turn 30 this year, and they’re celebrating the anniversary with a one-off hometown show on November 24 at Brooklyn Bazaar with Outburst and Krimewatch. Tickets are on sale now.
It’s a relatively rare show for Killing Time, who also played Philly’s This Is Hardcore and the Dave Franklin tribute in Asbury Park earlier this year. No other upcoming dates at the moment.
Killing Time are also selling 30th anniversary patches. You can order one at PledgeMusic and see a pic of the patch below.
The band are also repressing their their classic 1989 debut Brightside and the demo they recorded when they were still called Raw Deal. You can pre-order that at PledgeMusic too, vinyl ships in September. Tony Rettman, author of NYHC: New York Hardcore 1980–1990, wrote the above quote about Brightside and the Raw Deal demo earlier this year.
Listen to Brightside below:
