 | Tracklist:
1. Devil on My Shoulder
2. Rusted From the Rain
3. Saint Veronika
4. Tears Into Wine
5. White Sparrows
6. Pocketful of Dreams
7. The Dead Can't Testify
8. Diamond on a Landmine
9. Turn Your Back
10. Sudden Movements
11. Definition of Destiny
Bonus Tracks:
12. Bloody Nails and Broken Hearts
13. Don't Need to Pretend
Release Date: 07/14/2009 | |
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On 5 Lists
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| Summary: Billy Talent III is a fusion of different elements. Their new sounds boast a fuller guitar line, but, sadly, less anger and strength than their previous work. |
3 of 5 thought this review was well written
Billy Talent I and Billy Talent II set the stage for a new sound that blended punk, alternative, and even metal. Billy Talent III seems to continue along a similar line, but sounds somewhat diluted, perhaps due to the fact that the sound is rather forced. Although it is definitely darker that the previous album, it lacks the variety or connectivity that Billy Talent has always been good at.
The first track, "Devil on My Shoulder", sets a high standard for the rest of the album. The masterful guitar work of Ian D'Sa is prevalent in the entire album, notably in this song. The solos throughout Billy Talent III are impressive, often reminiscent of solos in bands like, oh, say Dio - and the excessive stress on the guitar line leaves vocals that do not match up to Ben Kowalewicz's earlier efforts. Lyrically, this is Billy Talent's weakest point. Again, it seems forced, as if they were just thrown in as an afterthought.
Besides arguably "Rusted from the Rain", there are no real slow or mellow songs on the album. It seems as if they want to recycle an idea derived from a combination of their first two albums over and over. If indeed that were their intention, they succeeded. There are significantly more "throwaway" songs on this album - what's more, there are only eleven songs, so after finishing listening to the album, you feel as if something was removed. Many good albums have few songs (Michael Jackson's Thriller being a good example) - but there is variety, and it manages to touch every point of the artist's range. Billy Talent's third album doesn't do that. Instead, we have many ideas repeated over and over.
About now, you're probably wondering why I think this album is so bad - it's not. In fact, it has many moments that shine. There are neo-punk songs such as "Turn Your Back" and great crunchy parts in songs like "Tears Into Wine" and "Pocketful of Dreams", the latter of which has System of a Down influence, vocally. The backup vocals are not as present on this album, but that isn't saying much. D'Sa screams and sings, and combined with Jon Gallant's bassline and Aaron Solowoniuk's drums, Billy Talent III is a great package to have. And while it doesn't meet our (or at least my) expectations, it definitely is worth a listen.
Top tracks:
"Devil on My Shoulder"
"Tears Into Wine"
"Turn Your Back"
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off
I feel like a broken record: Please provide a link to the album stream or else this review will get deleted since it is not officially out as yet...
Digging: The Graduate - Only Every Time | | |
scared too listen to this...
Digging: letlive - Fake History
| | | Album Rating: 2
this seems boring
Digging: Helios - Eingya | | | Album Rating: 2.5
it has a few good songs
Digging: Adversarial - All Idols Fall Before the Hammer | | | Album Rating: 3
http://watch.muchmusic.com/first-spins/first-spin-billy-talent---iii/clip190050#clip190052/
That's the stream.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off
Good stuff. Thanks Vilen. Must give it a listen when I get a little more time.
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I probably will pick this up as I've been a fan of BT for a long time... although after hearing Rusted From The Rain... I hope the majority of it is better than that song
Digging: Savatage - Gutter Ballet
| | | Album Rating: 2
It is. Unfortunately, it's still not much better than average.
Digging: Frank Turner - Love, Ire & Song | | | Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off
I don't think it's as 'plain jane' as everyone's making out - it's definately less pop punk than the other two, and personally I'm really enjoying it. 4/5
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terrified...will listen regardless
Digging: Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People EP
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
it's less pop punk, but more like a wet fart
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Hate it, except for devil on my shoulder, because it reminds me of Billy Talent I, which is a superb album. II, was meh, and III is just boring.
Digging: Jimi Hendrix - Experience Hendrix: The Best of Hendrix | | |
Album Rating: 3.5
Hate it
I don't get it.
Digging: Children of Nova - The Complexity of Light
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
This album was not what I expected from Billy Talent, its far too samey the whole way through for me and far too slow at that.
| | | Album Rating: 4
Awesome album
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I need to get around to this, II is awesome.
Digging: The Killers - Sam's Town
| | |
yeah, I never bothered...don't like the through of it being slow and the single sucked though
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