#INTERVIEW: BILLY TALENT

BILLY TALENT have been active for almost 30 years now and this Toronto-based rock outfit are showing no signs of stopping. They are priming the release of their sixth studio disc, CRISIS OF FAITH which has them trying some new things with a Progressive Rock sound more than Synth than ever before. If their single “End of Me” (ft. Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo) reaching #1 on the Billboard Canadian Rock Chart is any indication, fans are still very much in love, and their success is a testament to their lasting legacy.

Our Justin Waldman (@DubsReviews) had the pleasure of chatting with Billy Talent Bassist Jon Gallant, and he tells us about navigating touring and releasing an Album during the pandemic. “I think the timing really helped us really perfect the record. It was ready for a really long time and we just got to sit with it and even improve it. That’s actually how we got the Rivers Cuomo guest appearance”, says Gallant. “Ben (Kowalewicz, Lead Vocalist) said this reminds us of a Weezer song, why don’t we send it Rivers and see if he would sing on it? If it wasn’t for COVID, that wouldn’t have happened.”.

Gallant also tells us about a track called “Reactor” on the upcoming Disc which comments on the #BlackLivesMatter movement, and how it was eerily prophetic. He explains, “That song was actually written long before all the major riots happening in 2019 and all the stuff that was happening with the George Floyd tragedy. It was actually written before all that stuff. It has the bridge ‘I can’t breathe’ in it which wound-up being prophetic with what happened.”.

On being able to tour once again in support of this Album, Gallant doesn’t hold back. “It’s one of the reasons we kept pushing the release date back we didn’t want to put-out what we feel is such a fantastic album and then not be able to do any kind of touring around it. We’re really, really excited to get back on the road. It’s been too long. It’s really hard to comprehend or put my head around because the way things are going now in Ontario and it feels like we’ve taken some steps backwards. I just want to get out there and play some shows.”.

Check-out the full chat below:

Warner Music Canada release CRISIS OF FAITH January 21, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Music Canada/Mr. Will Wong)