Billy Talent are set to release ‘Devil On My Shoulder’ via Atlantic records on September 14. The track is taken from their third studio album Billy Talent III and follows recent single ‘Rusted From The Rain’. The band have also just announced a UK tour which kicks off in Leeds on October 19 and includes a date at London’s Brixton Academy on November 1.
Since the release of their self-titled album in 2003 Billy Talent have become one of Canada’s biggest rock bands, and constant touring and incendiary live shows have taken the Toronto-based four piece to the upper echelon of the Rock World. 2006 saw the release of the band’s second album, Billy Talent II, which spawned hits such as the infectious ‘Devil In A Midnight Mass’ and ‘Fallen Leaves’. It debuted at number one in Canada and Germany whilst here in the UK the album went Silver – selling over 60,000 copies.
Billy Talent III, produced by Brendan O'Brien (Rage Against The Machine, AC/DC, Mastodon), has received high praise; in a 4K review Kerrang! magazine said it was “an album of real power and considerable poise", whilst The Fly magazine said "The Canadian's quartet's sharp, distinctive sound stands out a mile from any of their peers...a compelling listen" and Rock Sound magazine awarded it ‘album of the month’, "Billy Talent III is a mind blowing example of a band at the top of their game".
Renowned for the electrifying energy of their live shows, Billy Talent have been taking the festival circuit by storm over the past few weeks. At Rock Am Ring festival in Germany they performed a headline set to 100,000 fans whilst here in the UK they played the main stage at Download Festival, elsewhere other festival appearances have included Coachella, Bamboozle and Edgefest. August sees the return of the band to the UK where they’re confirmed to headline the prestigious Lock Up stage at Reading/ Leeds festivals.
Upcoming UK dates as follows:
AUGUST
Fri 28 READING FESTIVAL Headlining Lock Up Stage
Sun 30 LEEDS FESTIVAL Headlining Lock Up Stage
OCTOBER
Mon 19 LEEDS Academy
Tues 20 NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Wed 21 SHEFFIELD Academy
Fri 23 GLASGOW Barrowland
Sun 25 DUBLIN Olympia
Mon 26 MANCHESTER Academy
Tues 27 BIRMINGHAM Academy
Thurs 29 SOUTHAMPTON Guildhall
Fri 30 NORWICH UEA
NOVEMBER
Sun 1 LONDON Brixton Academy
Billy Talent are:
Ben Kowalewicz – Vocals
Ian D’Sa – Guitars
Jon Gallant – Bass
Aaron Solowoniuk - Drums