Killing Years – Better Than Skyline Chili…

I have had many discussions with people that are Christians, or many Christians that are in a band, but do not consider their band a Christian band.  My discussions have left we me with one conclusion, that bands that have Christian members can be just as Christian or even more Christian than a band that labels themselves such.  Killing Years is an example of a fantastic hardcore band that does not label itself as Christian, however, getting to know the band members and how devoted they are to Christ and living a Christian lifestyle (to the best of their abilities), their faith comes through in their music, however, I must warn you, that their lyrics look at the darker side of trials and tribulations, and their is the occasional curse, which could be a stumbling block for some.

Killing Years is an awesome example of 90′s influenced hardcore, taking the lead from bands like Strongarm, Shai Hulud, and Six Feet Deep.  Killing Years does a fantastic job taking the influence from this time period of hardcore music and putting their own blood, sweat, and tears into it.  So….read on, the band has some great things to say about not labeling themselves a Christian band, what they think of the Christian scene, and where you can hear them.

Band: Killing Years
Music Style: Hardcore
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/killingyears

Q: How did Killing Years get its start?  Where did you guys get the name from?

A: Wow…umm we are basically a band that’s been going since 1998.  My brother (Josh), Steve, and myself have been the core with a constant rotation and development of sound.  We have  had a lot of the same influences in our musical taste, but styles have changed quite a bit from a metal/grind sound to tough guy to metal-core to where we are today.  Our name comes from a song by the band FOCUSED.  We have always loved that band, and how much they believed in their  message.

Q: What does everyone in the band do when they are not playing?

A: Lets see…what do we do?  Well we all work full-time jobs first off.  I am married with 2 kids.  I train MMA, and I really enjoy it.  It’s a passion of mine.  I had to find something to kill some real aggression problems I have.  Jail isn’t on my list of things to do.  Everyone works and hangout with their lady friends, fiances, and wives. Brian is soon to be a dad, and Steve should be embracing his lady’s finger with an engagement ring anytime….congrats to both of those dudes.

Q: What bands have you guys been in previously?

A: Previous bands…OK go! Let’s see….Day of Atonement, A Cry For Mercy, Before.Mourning.Comes, Nations, One Nation Under, Suffocate Faster, Corpus Christi, Mint 6 Ten.  We would actually still be NATIONS, but some dude from Alabama (I’m not gonna drop any names…Jeff from IN IRONS) decided he would message us and tell us how much he enjoyed our music, and then named his other band NATIONS.  Were beyond mad about it, and then some others popped up so we called it…people have no respect for bands…do some research.

Q: You guys have a fantastic sound, like Shai Hulud meets Strongarm, how do you describe the sound of Killing Years?  What bands have influenced your musical style?

A: The best description of our sound is “melodic hardcore”.   We are definitely heavily 90′s influenced.  The top of the list of influences is STRONGARM.  “Advent of a Miracle” is one of the top best hardcore records of all time, and their other stuff is no joke either.  DISEMBODIED, UNBROKEN, SLEEPING BY THE RIVERSIDE, THE CRANBERRIES, SHAI HULUD, AND SIX FEET DEEP are also on the list of influences.

Q: Killing Years does not claim to be a Christian band, but I know that all of you are Christians, how do you position the band, for example if someone where to ask ‘Is Killing Years a Christian band?”

A: You know what Josh? I was hoping you’d bring this up.  We are definitely not a Christian band.  However, we are Christians and do believe.  We do not want a label…it’s not desired, and besides calling yourself a “Christian band” doesn’t make you one.  There are multiple Christian bands I’ve come across over the years that really made me think.  I see how they interact with girls, approach the bar, and even how they interact with the guy (or girl) doing the show.  I don’t care what label you are on, I don’t care what your message is, and I don’t care what bands you have been in…respect the kids.  Those kids are the ones paying to get in, and the ones doing shows so you can make your dreams come true as a musician.  Treat them well, and understand without them you are just a cocky musician who is burning bridges behind them as they travel down the road to success.  Eventually the road comes back to that bridge.

Q: Building on that, you guys do use some language that some people would consider offensive in your lyrics, what do you have to say to people that take exception to “offensive language” in their opinion?

A: Well about language…the first thing I address is that we are not a Christian band so why not? I am far from perfect, and the lyrics I write show true and honest emotion.  A lot of the lyrics I use are also very old, from a diary I had filled out in a very dark time of my life.  That is such a minute detail to me, but i definitely understand that not everyone feels that way, and I edit the lyrics accordingly if we play in a non-secular venue.

Q: What is the bands take on the Christian hardcore/punk scene today?

A: Our take on the Christian hardcore/punk scene got touched on in a previous question.  I’m not gonna lie I think it blows.  Don’t get me wrong, there are some amazing passionate Christian bands out there right now! Those REDLANDS kids in xDEATH STARx/SLEEPING GIANT are some of the nicest dudes I’ve met in a long time..(shout out to Jason Keller…miss you bud), and the dudes in DEBTOR are so on point and loving…you can tell who the passionate kids are.  There is such a huge difference between Christian hardcore bands in the 90′s and christian bands now.  Think about it..FOCUSED, UNASHAMED, STRONGARM, xDISCIPLEx, and OVERCOME just to name a few…those bands were so passionate!  Even non-Christians can appreciate how much they believe in their message.  I would like to see more Christian bands now stand up like those dudes did.

Q: In whom do you put your trust (HA)?  Where do you draw influence from in the bible?

A: HAHAHAHA…My trust is in God…it’s a must before embarking on any journey! HA! Anyway…my biblical influence has to be one of the Johns.

Q: I know that Jason has an incredible testimony, care to share that, and anyone else whose testimonies could reach people in the hardcore scene?

A: We have some good testimonials in our band, and are always willing to share them.  Please don’t hesitate to come talk to us at a show in your town about our message, and what we are all about.  My testimonial is no doubt a jumbled pile of mistakes.  I touched on them on the forum in the INTRODUCTION section.  Our new stuff we have coming out soon is my testimonial.

Q: Killing Years has an EP that is available, can you tell us how to get it?  What songs are you most proud of?  Why?

A: YES! Our EP is out right now! We have it on our Myspace for download.  Also if you only have a phone, and you can pull up YOUTUBE put KILLING YEARS in the search and you can listen to the songs that way.  However be on the lookout for the actual hard copies to be out..we are working on pressing them.  Thanks to everyone for the kind words and great responses!   www.myspace.com/killingyears

Q: Will the band be releasing more material?  Can you tell us about it?

A: Yes, we do have new stuff on the way! We are actually going into MOONLIGHT STUDIOS next week to lay down 3 new songs.  Be stoked! This stuff is sure to please those who enjoy our sound.  Very intense, and very uplifting with hope in a new day.  We will post when we put it for download.

Q: Does the band have plans to tour?  If so, where you headed?

A: Well right now there are no real tour plans.  We are booking shows…so if you want us to come play hit me up
truexsoldier @ hotmail.com.  We have our first show the 19th actually in Cincinnati…we are super pumped about that…should be a good one!

Q: What bands are you guys currently listening too?  Who should we check out?

A: We listen to a wide rage of music as a band. Pop punk to hardcore to folk to hip hop…just depends.  I currently rock EAZY-E “187….”, STRONGARM “ADVENT…”, FOCUSED “BOW”, ELLIOTT SMITH “FIG. 8″, and MORNING AGAIN “HAND OF HOPE”.  Some great bands right now to watch have to be SUICIDE PACT, DEBTOR, KINGSBLOOD, HEAD FOR THE MOUNTAINS, AND DEAD ICONS…just to name a few.  Also, there are lots of great bands in Cincinnati, and surrounding areas like: SUICIDE PACT, LED ASTRAY, SLEEPTALKERS, DEAD ICONS, and FACEPLANT 2012.

Q: If you could give a message to the hardcore scene what would it be?

A: My personal message to the hardcore scene is to grow up, and quit taking yourselves too seriously.  We have gotten to a point where we truly have gotten away from what got us here.  Hardcore was meant to be a place for the outcasts to go, and release their emotions.  We have gotten away from emotion, just read a band’s lyrics.  I go to a show (when I can), and instead of some new 16 year old kid (who some how has full sleeves) introducing himself he’d much rather puff his chest out and mean mug me.  Look bud…take it somewhere else.  We have become so cliquey and unwelcoming in the “scene”, and have forgotten what it was like to be the “new guy”.  I have been around for quite a while, and have noticed those changes.  I admit in the past I’ve been guilty of it, but I grew up.  My message to the youth in the hardcore scene: listen to your peers, and learn from the mistakes they made so you don’t do the same.  Instead of sticking to your friends…my challenge is this: every show you go to, try to step out and meet someone new.  If everyone did that, we’d be so much better off as a hardcore scene.  If a house is built without a foundation what happens? It collapses.  This is no different.  Build your foundation in your city, and trust me, your “house” will not collapse.

Q: Tell us something crazy about the band members no one would know.  Feel free to give shout-outs, share links, post pictures of yourself, make up you own questions, go nuts!  Thanks for the interview!

A: We don’t do too many crazy things.  However, we do some interesting things on the road that I will not go into.  But we do have some shouts that I want to dish out! First I wanna thank hxcchristian.com for the interview! Also I want to thank Oakley Lodge #668 for the free practice space.  Some friends we want to say hey to: Chris and all the dudes in SUICIDE PACT, McFly and the guys in KINGSBLOOD, Vincent and the ACACIA STRAIN, Joe and Greg at INK AND DAGGER TATTOO, CINCINNATI HARDCORE, OUR FAMILIES: WIVES, GIRLFRIENDS, FIANCES, SONS, AND DAUGHTERS.  THE CINCINNATI HARDCORE BANDS THAT WORK HARD TO DO WHAT THEY LOVE.  STRONGARM (FOR BEING AMAZING), Alan and DEBTOR, Jarrod and CORPUS CHRISTI, AND ALL THE BANDS WE HAVE MET, AND HAVE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE. JOSH AND ALL YOU TURDS AT HXCCHRISTIAN.COM, ZACH BALCH AT RAIN DELAY BOOKING, CHRIS ALSIP AT SELF CORE PRODUCTIONS, MR. DIBBS, TEAM JALEX, 90′S HARDCORE,  VINCENT AND DIAMOND CUT, THE WIDOW’S SON, TANK SCOOTERS FOR EMBRACING MY REAR FOR THE NICEST RIDE AROUND TOWN, ERIC TUFFENSAM AT MOONLIGHT STUDIOS FOR DEALING WITH US IN THE STUDIO FOR YEARS, AND EVERY SINGLE HARDCORE KID THAT HAS EVER MESSAGED US OR DONE A SHOW FOR US…THANK YOU. THIS IS NOT ABOUT US..IT IS ABOUT YOU 100%.  Thank you again for the questions see you later!