Billy Talent — Billy Talent III

Billy Talent III

Warner

Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

07/14/2009 1:35pm

It's probably telling that Billy Talent's third album is simply titled Billy Talent III.

Singer Ben Kowalewicz, guitarist Ian D'Sa, bassist Jon Gallant and drummer Aaron Solowniuk have become successful not just at home, but abroad. They were recently on the cover of Britain's Kerrang! magazine, which claims to be the "world's biggest selling weekly rock magazine," and have landed a pretty high profile tour with Rancid and Rise Against.

Billy Talent's success is, to some extent, due to knowing exactly what angsty teenagers want these days. Their sound, which was originally more traditional punk, has evolved on Billy Talent III into a savvy combination of punk, emo and '90s radio rock. But this disc shows that mix doesn't always work.

First single "Rusted From The Rain" is a catchy tune that slyly throws some '90s rock influences a la Soundgarden into the mix. These influences are understated to the point that the tune sounds like Billy Talent have always sounded — Kowalewicz's stabbing voice over top D'Sa's somewhat angular punk riffs and the group's chanting.

"Tears Into Wine" recalls "Try Honesty" from the band's 2003 self-titled debut, while "White Sparrows" begins with a vaguely Weezer-ish guitar riff before it turns back towards the band's traditional sound. It comes across as a bit forced and stinted, though, as if the band couldn't quite seem to figure out what they wanted to do with the track.

I smell a single in "Pocketful Of Dreams" because it sounds like it could fit on the debut. "Diamond On A Landmine" rips mercilessly from The Police and comes across as confused. "Turn Your Back" sounds similarly muddled since it mixes the "Billy Talent sound" with Franz Ferdinand-ish indie rock.

While Billy Talent III shows Billy Talent attempting to veer off on a bit of a tangent, it ultimately comes across as confused. Some of the combinations on the album are interesting and the album would have been much more of a musical success if the band had settled on a direction instead of trying to go five different places at once.

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