This is our shirt design this year. Pretty cool huh?

Hey folks, the staff of HXCChristian.com will be descending on Cornerstone 2011.  We really look forward to fellowship with all our friends, new friends, and folks that we have not met yet.  This year we will be right next to our friends that run The Legacy Stage.  For those of you don’t know, Legacy Stage is THE stage if you want to catch all the hardcore and punk bands at Cornerstone.  HXCChristian.com will have our own tent this year and we will be having fun in the mornings.  We will have meet and greets during the week with various bands including Officer Negative, Strengthen What Remains, Clear Convictions, and several other bands.  We will be providing coffee for the meet and greets and probably some sort of breakfast, so be sure to stop in and check the schedule.  We will also have some freebies, so stop in and grab some DIY Gatorade and some HXCChristian.com stickers.

On Thursday evening we will have our annual “Christian Hardcore Spaghetti Dinner.” This is where the staff of HXCChristian.com serves you, the fans of the site and anyone else in appreciation for supporting our efforts. After all, we are here to support the bands, labels, and fans and help spread the gospel.  The dinner is free, but if you feel inclined, make a small donation and we can continue to feed as many hungry mouths as possible.

We will also have a special guest this year at Cornerstone.  This man has been around for a looong time.  You may know him from your neighborhood you grew up in, or perhaps your church.  “Grumpy Old Man” will be joining the staff of HXCChristian.com and will be making guest appearances.  You may even see him harassing some of the bands or in the mosh pit.  Just beware, he is a extremely grumpy and always irritable. (see video below)

Click here to view the embedded video.

We hope to see everyone at Cornerstone 2011, if you are there, please stop by our tent and introduce yourself to Doug, RJ, John, or Josh.  We would love to meet you!

God Bless and safe travels to the everyone heading to Cornerstone!

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!

Some news going on out there.  Looks like The Great Commission, a hardcore outfit out of Redlands/Grand Terrace, California has signed with Strike First Records (yes, you read right, Strike First), which in itself if news too.  The Great Commission had a self released demo they put out that was really good, a bit raw, but hey, it’s hardcore, isn’t that what it is all about?  DIY!  The band is heading into to the studio according to their myspace page, and plans to release a full length album in early 2009.  We wish the band the best and hope that God continues to bless them.

Strike First Records is relaunching as a subsidiary of Facedown Records and has three bands signed to the label, Through Solace, The Great Commission, and Hope for the Dying.  We wish the label the best and have lots of suggestions if they want to hook up with great Christian hardcore bands to sign.

A few releases:

Call to Preserve’s second album has been released on Facedown Records.  The title of the album is “From Isolation.”  We are big fans of Call to Preserve here at HXC Christian, and you can read a full interview with the band that was done a few months ago here .  We have not had the opportunity to pick up the album yet, so I cannot personally tell you that it is awesome, but I have heard people say that Call to Preserve has outdone themselves and the album is their best work yet.  You can purchase the album on the Facedown website. The band has also posted tour dates on their website, so if they are coming your way, go and support them.  Tell them you read about them here!

All In’s latest album “Team USA” was released on Blood & Ink Records as well, from what I have heard on their myspace page, the album is great, so you can go and pick it up from the Blook & Ink website.  They also posted a new song called “Micheal Jordan,” that they posted on their myspace page that you can go and take a listen to.  Again, a great bunch of Christian guys that are true patriots. You can read the interview they did for us here.  We wish them the best.

That’s all for now, have someone that is going to be working with me to do some interviews and posts, so look for some good upcoming stuff!