Killing Time represents the quintessential sound of late 80s and early 90s New York Hardcore, characterized by a transition from pure punk speed to a more metallic, rhythmic chug. Their music feels like a physical confrontation: it is dense, percussive, and relentlessly forward-moving. The guitars possess a distinctively 'crunchy' texture, utilizing palm-muted techniques that would go on to define the breakdown-heavy style of modern hardcore.
What sets them apart is their precision. While many of their contemporaries leaned into chaotic noise, Killing Time maintained a disciplined, almost clinical tightness in their rhythm section. Anthony Comunale's vocals aren't just screaming; they are rhythmic barks that lock in perfectly with the snare hits, creating a sound that is as much about the groove as it is about the aggression. It is music that feels deeply rooted in the concrete and steel of the city.
Start with 'Brightside'. It is widely considered a foundational document of the NYHC genre. From the opening notes, you'll understand why they are a bridge between the old-school speed of the early 80s and the heavier, more groove-oriented hardcore that dominated the subsequent decades.
Killing Time is a New York hardcore band. From their beginnings in 1988, under the name Raw Deal, they went on to record two full-length albums and several EPs, singles, and compilation tracks. The band went through three hiatuses before formally disbanding in 1998. However, the band re-formed in 2006 and has been touring/playing since. Work on their third full-length album was completed in March 2009.
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