BILLY TALENT – III

Having come a mighty long way since their power-punk days of Pezz, the newer incarnation of Ben Kowalewicz’s Billy Talent have delivered the third installment of their self-affirming rock trilogy, and their major-label polish has never sounded bigger, louder or clearer. This time there is a large stain of Axl Rose’s distinctive snaky howl in Kowalewicz’s delivery, so much so that the leading single Rusted From The Rain sounds like it has been directly lifted from the Gunners’ Use Your Illusion. Turn Your Back is a socio-political power stomp, gutsy and enjoyable for its chug-along rock energy. Comparisons with Green Day are valid, as this music really does fly that same ‘stand up for yourself, fight for what you believe in’ flag. It could be seen as a blessed relief to hear a major pop/rock/punk outfit taking on a nostalgic stadium ethos to their soap-box anthems, rather than the all-too-common emo whinge that permeates so much of this mainstream kids’ rock. But the problem is that it just doesn’t sound very original or thrilling to the more discerning (or cranky) listener.