Billy Talent – III

Billy Talent are a band that I’ve grown up with over the past six years. I first discovered them on May 27th, 2003 when they opened for Sum41 and since then have seen them live around ten times in venues ranging from 900-capacity clubs to 15,000 capacity arenas and each time they’ve never disappointed. Their first two CDs became staples in my CD player and found their way into my year end list both times. Over the years I’ve met them numerous occasions and have always got along with them. I’m a huge fan and therefore can’t help but feel saddened as I listen to their third album – simply titled III – and am faced with only a reaction of disappointment.

I think the reviewer at SputnikMusic said it best when he said “It’s not a bad album; it’s just unremarkable. And considering what Billy Talent represents at this point to many, that’s about the greatest insult I could give.”

Unremarkable, that’s the most accurate description of III I could give. The songs aren’t bad. Ian D’sa guitar work still flourishes as his hands fly up and down the neck, Jon Gallant and Aaron Solowoniuk carry the rhythm section with a sense of confidence and purpose and Ben Kowalewicz’s vocals are still strong but the entire record fells far too safe and muffled, it lacks a punch and the spark that made them able to sell out arenas all across Canada last year.

The songs on III will still be entertaining live but as an album it feels bland. They are missing a fierceness that spewed out of the band’s earlier work. Kowalewicz holds back his range and rarely, if ever, teeters on the edge of blood-curling screams and instead sits back for a more radio-rock friendly delivery. When he does let go, as they do on Turn Your Back, they’re able to carry that momentum and re-inject the song with a sense of energy and purpose but when they slow it down and hold it back, it feels bland and forgettable.

Lyrically, they fail to pack the same punch once again as they aren’t nearly as relatable, personal or pointed as before. They don’t have the personal touch that songs like How It Goes, Try Honesty andNothing To Lose had nor the pointed political message like Red Flag, River Below, or Worker Bees. It pains me to admit it, but the lyrics, like the album, feel unremarkable which if something I never thought I’d say about Billy Talent.

The record is far from horrible but also fails to really stand out which will ensure that III is the first Billy Talent album not in my top ten list. Trying to reach a broader audience, Billy Talent have muffled their sound and will leave some of their old fans scratching their heads wondering what happened. Let’s just hope their live show is able to liven up the tracks on here.