Six years ago, Billy Talent released their debut self-titled album, an effort that was the definition of “punk rock”. With singles ranging from the rocking “Try Honesty” and “River Below” to the balladlike “Nothing to Lose”, it was full of radio-friendly hits that were memorable and quite simply, kicked ass. The album pushed them to the forefront of Canadian music, which was good because we were – and still are – represented, in most part, by the shitfest that is known as Nickelback (they don’t even deserve to be bolded. Fuck ‘em).
2006 showed the band maturing – for better or for worse – with their sophomore effort II. While strong in parts, it lacked the angst and ferocity of their debut. Still, the band got bigger and more popular, so much so that the wait for their third album – titled, you guessed it, III – was getting a little anxious (seriously, who releases albums every three years these days?). Well, it’s here, and it’s…a mixed bag.
The biggest issue Billy Talent has on their third offering is originality – not in the case of ripping off other bands, but “borrowing” from themselves. From song titles – “Devil on my Shoulder” (“Devil in a Midnight Mass”), “Rusted From the Rain” (“Standing in the Rain”) – to lyrics – there is a recurring theme of rain throughout the disc – and to riffs – a problem that Ian D’sa was bound to run into – it just doesn’t feel as fresh and impactful as it should.
Still, there is a lot to love. Regardless of similarities to previous riffage, Ian D’sa’s guitar playing is as slick as always (seriously, it is hard to find a mainstream guitarist who manages to incorporate interesting chord changes and shapes the way he does), and vocalist Ben Kowalewicz, who is either loved or hated, once again solidifies his identity as a frontman. Like previous efforts, all eleven tracks on III have single potential. Whether this bothers you or not will determine your opinion on the record – but quite simply, it is expected from Billy Talent at this point.
Quite simply, if you were a fan of the direction the band was taking with II, you are going to enjoy III. For fans of their debut, you may want to spin that for a few more years – fuck knows it still has replayability two (mature) albums later.
(5.9/10)
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