Billy Talent III
The slower pace on Billy Talent III changes more than the amount of time between beats. The band give their riffs greater weight and their choruses more room, which makes the music sound broader but sometimes less alert. It is a worthwhile direction to explore, even when the songs do not all find a convincing shape inside it.
Devil on My Shoulder sets out that approach clearly. The guitar has a bluesier movement, and Ben Kowalewicz gives the melody a more controlled delivery. The song gains a solid groove, though it loses some of the nervous friction that makes the band's faster work so distinctive.
Rusted from the Rain is a stronger use of the heavier sound. Its restrained opening and large chorus create a clear emotional change, and the guitar part has enough character to support the broad arrangement. Kowalewicz does not need to sound constantly on the edge of a scream to make the song forceful.
Saint Veronika is the most satisfying balance of familiar and expanded ideas. The rhythm stays active, the guitar keeps finding useful details, and the melody has a clear route through the changes. Tears into Wine also gives the album a welcome burst of movement, showing that a larger rock sound can still have a sharp edge.
Other experiments are less secure. The reggae-influenced rhythm of Diamond on a Landmine feels more like an adopted style than a natural development of the song. The Dead Can't Testify has an unusual character, but its different parts do not always seem to strengthen one another. The record is trying several approaches without finding an equally clear reason for each.
That makes Billy Talent III more interesting than a simple failed attempt to repeat a formula. Its best songs show real possibilities in a slower, heavier band. The weaker passages show how much the earlier tension depended on rhythm and detail, rather than volume alone. There is enough strong material to make the change worthwhile, but the album remains a collection of promising directions rather than a fully convincing destination.
