Brightside (album)
Encyclopedia
Brightside was the first of two full-length albums released by New York hardcore
band, Killing Time
. It was released in November 1989 on In Effect Records, a division of Relativity Records
, and subsequently re-released in 1995 by Lost & Found Records in Europe, and Victory Records
in the U.S. – both with bonus tracks. Both re-issue versions have three tracks from the Happy Hour EP released in 1992. The Victory Records
re-issue also has material from the first Raw Deal demo made in 1988, of which five tracks were re-recorded for this album.
The band had previously gone by the name of Raw Deal, until a threatened law suit by another band of the same name caused them to change their name as they were entering the studio to record this release. Their guitarist, Mike Sentkiewitz, also left the band prior to recording to pursue a different musical direction. Many of the songs he helped pen, however, are included on this album. Shortly after the album was released, the band went into their first hiatus and did not return to the studio until 1992 for the Happy Hour EP. Their next, and last, full-length album did not come until 1997, with The Method
.
but solidified their local reputation and radiated New York hardcore
to a further audience. The band was already well known in the locality, as Raw Deal played extensively in clubs like the Ritz Theater and CBGB
's in New York City
. They became notable for what was known at the time as "tough-guy" hardcore – that is to say a brand of hardcore punk
which was often harsher, more basic and heavier than its preceding type, and certainly more so than the west coast brand of California
punk. Comparisons with thrash metal
– also popular at the time – could have been drawn, but New York hardcore
lacked the guitar solos of the alternate genre. The vocal style was also different – complete with gang backing vocals.
The material on Brightside was typical of the genre at the time – short and brutal songs, never exceeding three minutes and, more often than not, around the 90 second mark. Along with Gorilla Biscuits
, Sick Of It All
and the less NYHC-sounding Murphy's Law
, Killing Time made their place in hardcore history and went on to influence a new generation of hardcore in the mid-1990s.
New York hardcore
New York hardcore refers to hardcore punk and metalcore music created in New York City and to the subculture associated with that music. New York hardcore grew out of the hardcore scene established in Washington, D.C., by bands such as Bad Brains and Minor Threat. Hardcore '81 is an album by the...
band, Killing Time
Killing Time (band)
Killing Time is an influential 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 hiatus before formally disbanding in 1998. However, the band...
. It was released in November 1989 on In Effect Records, a division of Relativity Records
Relativity Records
Relativity Records, often branded just Relativity, is an American record label founded by Barry Kobrin at the site of his company, Important Record Distribution in metro New York. Early on, as an indie label, Relativity released music in a variety of styles, including dance, jazz, punk, and...
, and subsequently re-released in 1995 by Lost & Found Records in Europe, and Victory Records
Victory Records
Victory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It is a privately held corporation. It also operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several smaller independent record labels....
in the U.S. – both with bonus tracks. Both re-issue versions have three tracks from the Happy Hour EP released in 1992. The Victory Records
Victory Records
Victory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It is a privately held corporation. It also operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several smaller independent record labels....
re-issue also has material from the first Raw Deal demo made in 1988, of which five tracks were re-recorded for this album.
The band had previously gone by the name of Raw Deal, until a threatened law suit by another band of the same name caused them to change their name as they were entering the studio to record this release. Their guitarist, Mike Sentkiewitz, also left the band prior to recording to pursue a different musical direction. Many of the songs he helped pen, however, are included on this album. Shortly after the album was released, the band went into their first hiatus and did not return to the studio until 1992 for the Happy Hour EP. Their next, and last, full-length album did not come until 1997, with The Method
The Method (album)
The Method is the second full-length album by New York hardcore band, Killing Time. It was recorded between June and August, 1996 and released on Blackout Records in April, 1997. It was the band's first full length release since 1989's Brightside, but the band split up soon after its release,...
.
Overview
Brightside not so much launched the careers of Killing TimeKilling Time (band)
Killing Time is an influential 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 hiatus before formally disbanding in 1998. However, the band...
but solidified their local reputation and radiated New York hardcore
New York hardcore
New York hardcore refers to hardcore punk and metalcore music created in New York City and to the subculture associated with that music. New York hardcore grew out of the hardcore scene established in Washington, D.C., by bands such as Bad Brains and Minor Threat. Hardcore '81 is an album by the...
to a further audience. The band was already well known in the locality, as Raw Deal played extensively in clubs like the Ritz Theater and CBGB
CBGB
CBGB was a music club at 315 Bowery at Bleecker Street in the borough of Manhattan in New York City.Founded by Hilly Kristal in 1973, it was originally intended to feature its namesake musical styles, but became a forum for American punk and New Wave bands like Ramones, Misfits, Television, the...
's in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. They became notable for what was known at the time as "tough-guy" hardcore – that is to say a brand of hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
which was often harsher, more basic and heavier than its preceding type, and certainly more so than the west coast brand of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
punk. Comparisons with thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
– also popular at the time – could have been drawn, but New York hardcore
New York hardcore
New York hardcore refers to hardcore punk and metalcore music created in New York City and to the subculture associated with that music. New York hardcore grew out of the hardcore scene established in Washington, D.C., by bands such as Bad Brains and Minor Threat. Hardcore '81 is an album by the...
lacked the guitar solos of the alternate genre. The vocal style was also different – complete with gang backing vocals.
The material on Brightside was typical of the genre at the time – short and brutal songs, never exceeding three minutes and, more often than not, around the 90 second mark. Along with Gorilla Biscuits
Gorilla Biscuits
Gorilla Biscuits are a New York City-based vegan straight edge hardcore band consisting of Anthony "Civ" Civarelli, Walter Schreifels, Arthur Smilios, Alex Brown and Luke Abbey. The band is currently signed to Revelation Records.-Early career:...
, Sick Of It All
Sick of It All
Sick of It All is an American hardcore punk band from Queens, New York. Formed in 1986, the band consisted of brothers Lou Koller on vocals and Pete Koller on lead guitar, Rich Cipriano on bass, and Armand Majidi on drums. There have been only two member changes since their inception, with Max...
and the less NYHC-sounding Murphy's Law
Murphy's Law (band)
Murphy's Law is an American hardcore band from New York City, New York, formed in 1982. While vocalist Jimmy Gestapo remains the only founding member of the band, the line-up has consisted of former members of bands such as Skinnerbox, Danzig, The Bouncing Souls, Mucky Pup, Dog Eat Dog, Hanoi...
, Killing Time made their place in hardcore history and went on to influence a new generation of hardcore in the mid-1990s.
Track listing
- "Cheap Thrills" (Anthony Comunale, Mike Sentkiewitz) – 1:06
- "Brightside" (Anthony Drago, Carl Porcaro, Sentkiewitz, Rich McLoughlin) – 2:29
- "Fools Die" (Drago, Porcaro) – 2:19
- "Tell Tale" (Drago, Porcaro, McLoughlin) – 1:29
- "What I Want" (Drago, Porcaro) – 2:11
- "No More Mr. Nice Guy" (Drago, Porcaro, McLoughlin) – 2:44
- "My Reason" (Sentkiewitz) – 2:13
- "New Release" (Comunale, Porcaro, McLoughlin) – 1:42
- "Backtrack" (Drago, Porcaro, Sentkiewitz) – 2:36
- "Wall Of Hate" (Drago, Porcaro) – 1:28
- "Wisdom" (Drago, Porcaro, McLoughlin) – 2:54
- The Lost & Found, and Victory RecordsVictory RecordsVictory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It is a privately held corporation. It also operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several smaller independent record labels....
1995 re-issues had the following bonus tracks, originally on the Happy Hour EP- "Happy Hour" – 3:12
- "Going Somewhere" – 2:17
- "Whole Lotta Nuthin'" – 3:58
- The Victory RecordsVictory RecordsVictory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It is a privately held corporation. It also operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several smaller independent record labels....
version also has the following tracks, from the original Raw Deal demo of 1988- "Wall Of Hate"
- "Tell Tale"
- "New Release"
- "Only The Strong Survive"
- "My Reason"
- "No More Mr. Nice Guy"
- "The Lines Are Drawn"
Credits
- Anthony Comunale – vocals
- Carl Porcaro – guitar
- Rich McLoughlin – bass
- Anthony Drago – drums
- Recorded and mixed at Normandy Sound, Warren, Rhode IslandWarren, Rhode IslandWarren is a town in Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 10,611 at the 2010 census.-History:Warren was the site of the Indian village of Sowams on the peninsula called Pokanoket , and was first explored by Europeans in 1621, by Edward Winslow and Stephen Hopkins...
, USA - Produced by Killing TimeKilling Time (band)Killing Time is an influential 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 hiatus before formally disbanding in 1998. However, the band...
and Tom Soares - Engineered and mixed by Tom Soares
- Assistant engineered by Joe Pires and Jamie Locke
- Cover art and logo by John Drago, Anthony's brother