Hits by Billy Talent

Billy Talent releasing a Greatest Hits album feels a bit weird. Of course, after 11 years together and
four albums, they have every right to, but Billy Talent just seem like one of those bands who will make music forever and you'll just keep going "oh yeah, I love them guys" without the reminder of a greatest hits album. This is a band who I listened to when I was a 14 year old emo kid trying to find my way into adulthood and I loved them. And then I forgot about them until Reading Festival 2012, where I saw their set from afar and went "oh yeah, I love them guys!"

Hits, is nearly the perfect collection of their best songs. It has it all: Fallen Leaves, Devil In A Midnight Mass, Try Honesty, Red Flag, Viking Death March, I could go on. Every song on this album deserves it's place on a greatest hits record, if Line & Sinker was on it, I'd be even happier, but hey, it's hard to create perfection for the masses! This isn't going to be a review of dissected analysis like I'd normally do because the songs are all classics. But what I will do is offer my thoughts on the two new tracks, Kingdom Of Zod and Chasing The Sun. Unfortunately, I'm not a massive fan of Kingdom Of Zod. It's following the trend which seems to be so rife these days of a 'political' stance and a call for change. Firstly, it's blatancy doesn't suit the band and it lacks the power needed to make you want to hear it again. Chasing The Sun, on the other hand, is a soft number which is sweet, it kind of just passes over you pretty harmlessly but gain, it lacks the power to make you want to hear it again. I think part of the problem is that the rest of the album is so good that you compare the new songs to the old and they just don't add up.

My ramblings aside, if you were Billy Talent fan or are a Billy Talent fan, then pick up this album and relive the good times. It's a lot of fun.

7/10

Hits, is available to buy now.