Silence, Patience And Grace

Without much fanfare or media hyperbole, Ontario mainstays Billy Talent dropped their fourth record (fifth if you count the 1999 album Watoosh! under their former guise of Pezz) in September of last year, and just like they've done with every release they got back to work. Not that they'd ever really clocked off. Even when they were still recording Dead Silence the band were hard-nosed on the road. From Europe to North America, Australia back to Europe, the foursome of friends played packed house after packed house. They've got Soundwave in a few weeks, and although a big event it's really just a blip on their schedule. It's a hard-working attitude that guides them, roots that have struck a chord with a global punk community whose ideals are much the same, and even though they can now legitimately pack out Air Canada Centre (home of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Raptors) they still manage to stand as a band for the people.

Dead Silence was put together in the band's recently acquired studio in suburban Toronto, a modest address according to Kowalewicz but a place where they didn't have to punch the clock and could work at their own pace. The release also marks the first time Billy Talent have strayed from the eponymous album name, both facts excitedly pointing to a band starting a new chapter; refreshing considering how long the players involved have been in the game.

“I'm so proud of the record for numerous selfish reasons, but the reactions that we're getting from people have just been really overwhelming and really positive; I think it's probably been the most well-received record we've ever released and people seem to be digging it,” says Kowalewicz, his voice holding the same distinctly nasal tone that you hear through the microphone. “I think that's a testament to Ian D'Sa, our guitarist and the producer of the record. He worked so hard and was so diligent and worked like 20 hour days for months and months just trying to make it the best piece of work that we could possibly do. And I think we managed to do that; I think it's the best record we've ever released.

“And as a band that's been around for 20 years – a long time – to still be excited and to still enjoy each other's company, playing together, enjoying the whole process...” he trails off. “Y'know, as you get a bit older you tend to get a bit more of a perspective and you get to really appreciate and fully realise what it is we do, and there's not a day that goes by that we don't think we're the most fortunate people in the world. Albeit we work our arses off, but it's still a lovely, beautiful art form and one that we're super stoked to be able to do.”

Kowalewicz cites D'Sa, the Indian Goan axeman with the gravity defining head of hair, as the natural choice to have manned the desk for their latest record after working with acclaimed producer Brendan O'Brien (Rage Against The Machine, Pearl Jam) on Billy Talent III. The vocalist recalls O'Brien being generous with his knowledge and time, positioning himself in a mentoring role for D'Sa to learn from and giving the 37-year-old the final vote of confidence he needed to take charge on Dead Silence. “It was one of the smartest decisions that we've ever made as a band because he really knocked it out of the park,” Kowalewicz gushes.

As the two chief songwriters, the pair have always tried to avoid repeating themselves. No story needs to be told twice; switch it up, approach things from a different angle, they say. On this record the topics and messages were broad and encompassing, but ironically some of the inspirations behind them were to be found in their own backyard.

“Songs like Viking [Death March] and Surprise Surprise were kind of... We had the Occupy movement here in Toronto, we had the G20 summit here, and we saw our beautiful city that we love so much kind of turn into this military state and get flipped on its arse, y'know, and riots and burning cop cars and people getting billy clubbed, so that definitely came into the writing.” Kowalewicz is interrupted by his dog playing with a squirrel toy, which lightens the mood. “But a lot of the themes that we came at subconsciously were [tied into] really trying to seize the day. Know that you only get one kick at the can and that this life is all you have so if there's something you want to do and things you want to see, a course you want to take, a book you want to read – go and do it. There is no guarantee of tomorrow. And I think that was something, and especially being a 37-year-old man and having a lot of friends in different situations in their lives, some happy and some sad. It's all about life passing you by really quick so you better hold onto it and start steering the ship because it can go down in a real hurry.”

Not that the HMCS Talent looks like sinking anytime soon. It's been a 20-year voyage for the four friends on deck, an accomplishment made even more exceptional for the fact that during that time there has never been a single line-up change – not one. Because for Billy Talent, this band is their can, and they are going to kick that little aluminium fucker for as long as they can stand.

“It is an achievement but it's one that we don't really think about because it's just not an option to be in the band,” Kowalewicz levels with open candour. “It's the only thing we know. 'What would you do if you weren't in the band?' I'd be stuck in debt! This is what I do, this is who I am and this is all I know from being a 15-year-old kid to being an old man now,” he chuckles. “It's always been music, the one common theme that ties us all together. So when you have that love affair and there's this symmetry that happens between the four of us when we play; it's a really special thing and it's something that we take a lot of solace in. You go through different things in life, from wives and kids, love and loss, mortgages to squatting on your friends couches, and if you grow up with people and see them evolve into men... It's been a pretty humbling experience and there are no other guys that I would rather do it with than these fellas.”

Billy Talent will be playing the following dates:

Saturday 23 February - Soundwave, RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane QLD
Sunday 24 February - Soundwave, Olympic Park, Sydney NSW
Tuesday 26 February - UNSW Roundhouse, Sydney NSW
Thursday 28 February - Palace Theatre, Melbourne VIC
Friday 1 March - Soundwave, Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne VIC
Saturday 2 March - Soundwave, Bonython Park, Adelaide SA
Monday 4 March - Soundwave, Claremont Showgrounds, Perth WA