Billy Talent – Billy Talent III
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When Canadian quartet Billy Talent burst through the gates of the post pop-punk scene back in ’03 with their eponymous debut offering, a ripple of genuine excitement was injected into a somewhat stagnant genre that felt like it was running out of steam. Packed with urgent anthems that oozed passion ‘Billy Talent’ was a slick recording that boasted infectious cuts so sharp they sliced their competition in two. All of a sudden Good Charlotte and Sum 41 were seen for the shallow scene stealers they always were, the kids finally had a band to believe in again.
Shame then, that the canuks bloodlessly pissed it all away with it’s sequel. ‘Billy Talent II’ was a release that aped the formulae of it’s predecessor so shamelessly it wringed every ounce of originality from a once riveting bunch of musicians. One feared ‘the talent’ may have been a tad ambitious when selecting their band name. Blame Canada!
With their third record, the conclusive chapter to their so-called punk rock trilogy, something had to give. Billy Talent could not release the same record, again. With celebrated knob twiddler Brendan O’Brien (Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen) behind the desk and talk of a mid-nineties alternative rock influence this time around, you know this is a different Billy Talent before you have even inserted the disc into your drive.
The explosive ‘Devil On My Shoulder’ commences proceedings with a bang. Combining a dramatic swagger with sleazy intentions you could be forgiven for pondering just how far in the opposite direction BT have ventured. Even vocalist Ben Kowalewicz has traded in his hyperactive caterwaul for a deep, doom laden moody growl. First single ‘Rusted From The Rain’ continues the apocalyptic leanings before album highlight ‘Saint Veronika’ stops by to add a welcome Muse-esque interlude. It’s quite an intro that overflows with growling guitars, understated yet primal bass tones and a healthy dose of that emotion that defined nineties rock music: angst.
This u-turn midway down genre avenue could in part be attributed to Brendan O’Brien’s influence. As always his production values are impeccable adding a weight and substance to the previously wafer thin Billy Talent sound. However, just as noteworthy is how much BT have grown as musicians. Not content on just relying on punchy hook-laden choruses anymore this disc offers intelligent musical breakdowns and lyrical advancement. The cartoonish screams have been replaced with an emotive drive and it no longer feels as if you are listening to the same single only with a slightly different arrangement over and over again.
Shades of the old Billy Talent begin to shine through as the album reaches it’s latter stages, ‘Pocketful Of Dreams’ could have been left on the cutting room floor from either two previous studio recording sessions however these flourishes are balanced out with epic statements such as ‘The Dead Can’t Testify’.
Billy Talent have made a bold statement and in doing so have just cut their most varied and self assured set yet.
‘Billy Talent III’ is the perfect way to call time on this first trilogy whilst ushering in a new era in the band’s once again blinding future!
Four outta Five!
