666 Live Review

Release Date: Jan 22, 2008
Label: Warner Bros.
Genres: Punk Revival, Punk-Pop, Emo, Post-Hardcore
Number Of Tracks: 17
The band is performing with such an intense and passion which you can only hear from young musicians that are exited just from the fact there are more than 50,000 people watching them.

Sound:	8.5
Lyrics:	7.5
Impression:	8.5
Overall rating:	8.2
Users rating:	6.6
Comments:	41

overall: 7.3

Featured review by: UG Team, on january 23, 2008

Sound: Quite often you hear from different bands that the best audience they had on concerts was in the UK and Germany. No wonder those turned out to be their best shows. This is one of those cases -- choosing shows for their live DVD, Billy Talent chose three biggest European concerts in London, Nürburgring and Düsseldorf. The CD that comes along with 666 Live DVD consists of the entire Düsseldorf concert. The album is very predictable and includes most of the band’s hits like Try Honesty, The Ex, Devil in a Midnight Mass and of course Red Flag during which the crowd is just going mad. You’d wish for some covers or a teaser song from the next album on top of that, but not this time. Each song on the album carries a different story and a different melody. Though it all fades away a bit on a live record, it still varies the album. Especially in those tracks where frontman Ben Kowalewicz comments the track. His speech about George Bush in the beginning of Worker Bees fills a seemingly foolish song with a meaning. Feels like not a single punk-rock band can avoid this subject nowadays! Prisoners of Today has quite a long and annoying guitar intro. Not to mention the guitars sound too obviously off through all of it. Try Honesty is a beautiful ballad that only gains from the live sound. It could’ve been even better if not the Kowalewicz’s nasal singing. Though the sound of the recording doesn’t give you a feeling you’ve just been to the show, it is comparably good and you can feel the enthusiasm the guys are performing with. // 8

Lyrics and Singing: The album has both the tracks from the debut album and from the sophomore, so you can compare the progress in songwriting skills. While I don’t see a dramatic change in the melodies and song structures, I should admit the lyrics became a bit better. At lease now they should be ashamed to sing lines like “You can steal my body but you can't steal my soul / Cause this is how it is and this is how it goes.” Even though this is a live record and you would suppose the vocalist to sound horrible (esp. listening to a CD when you’re not distracted to his jumps on stage), vocalist Ben Kowalewicz is doing his job pretty well. His voice does break sometimes and he’s not always hitting the right note, but the energy he’s doing it with sure covers all the lacks. Still I have to mention this -- his singing in Line and Sinker reminds me of a little nasty dog barking... // 7

Impression: The guys did their best on a concert. Hard to say who enjoyed the show more -- the audience or the band. Kowalewicz keeps repeating “Danke schon!” almost in every track. The band is performing with such an intense and passion which you can only hear from young musicians that are exited just from the fact there are more than 50,000 people watching them. This is something for the fans to keep up the interest and to fill the gap before the third album the guys are now working on. If you’re not a member of a fan club, this would hardly get you interested. // 7

- Kosh (c) 2009

overall: 9

Reviewed by: jammyninja, on january 23, 2008

Sound: Billy Talent are a very unique and skilled band, and it is always great to see when that transfers from record to a live environment. And with BT, it does in bounds. I had already seen them live and so knew what to expect from the CD and DVD. The band play through a storming collection of hits and fan favourites alike (for example, Standing In The Rain, Perfect World) and throughout, Ian D'sa's guitar is muscular and energetic, Jonathan and Aaron provide a steady but tuneful rhythm section and Ben is on top form for the most part, screaming every last word like he's being electrocuted. So pretty much like the band on CD, but with crowd noise and some added jams (as an intro to Prisoners of Today, and during the bridge of Try Honesty. I think there's one bum note in the entire 2 hours of CD and DVD combined. BT's music translates perfectly to a live show: They play punk-edged rock that's fun to jump around to but it's not all power chords either (Ian D'sa is one of the most original guitarists around today in my opinion). // 9

Lyrics and Singing: If the music from these chaps doesn't satisfy you, then maybe the lyrics will. From the commentary on the demise of a corrupt priest in "Devil in a Midnight Mass" to the pseudo-revolutionary lyrics of "Red Flag", Ben Kowalewicz can write a decent line or two. As much as some may dislike "Fallen Leaves" for being "overplayed" or whatever, that song is probably one of my favourite lyrically as it tells of desperate drug addicts: "Can't get no job, can you spare a dime? Just one more hit, and I'll be fine." There are a few occasions during the shows in which both Ben and Ian seem to struggle vocally, however this all gets forgotten due to the sheer energy the band exert. Ben is often yelping as if to incite the crowd to riot. The band writes such good vocal harmonies that despite a few slip ups, the singing elevates their already great songs to a higher level. // 8

Impression: In my opinion, there aren't many bands that can write an engaging and interesting song and then pull it off live as well, but Billy Talent are one of those bands, and they have quite a few songs of that calibre to choose from. My personal favourites would be This Is How It Goes for the vocal bile that Ian and Jon add during the chorus "This is how it goes!" and This Suffering for the crazy riff at the beginning and the whole catchiness of the song. There isn't much about this DVD that I don't love. A different setlist would be nice on the second DVD but it isn't too much of a problem because the whole package is still great value. There's also an easter egg where you get to see exactly how long it takes Ian D'sa to style his hair. If I lost this CD/DVD, I would be peeved but would get it again just cos it's a perfect CD for in the car, all the best Billy Talent songs on one disc and then two live shows to watch when I get home. Overall it's the value for money and the quality of the songs and performance that means I give Billy Talent top marks impression-wise. // 10

Comments

[brian_s]

Billy Talent is one of the best bands today and Ian is one of the best guitarists in modern rock. I never heard anyone play like him.

[pavel]

billy talent is absolutely brilliant...i am not a fan of punk at all but billy talent really does it for me

[monstooge]

billy talent are amazing live!!!

[Doonan]

i disagree with ug on his voice being "nasally". its unique style of singing and near screaming
and they are definetly one of the best bands in a live show because of theyre intense energy.
although, i agree with the ug team on the topic of adding the george bush comment. i think bands should get off that topic and find something new

[jammyninja]

The grammar and structure in the UG review is awful! My review got held up so they could put their overly pessimitic and snidey review up first. Bollocks to that.

[brian_s]

I don't conisder them to be punk at all.

[Vanhanen]

billy Talent are great, That's it!

[bognorboy]

brian_s :
I don't conisder them to be punk at all.

yeah and speaking like that you know what punk is

[Seth Shadows]

meh, I don't like the band at all, but this dvd seems to be a decent watch for fans.

[Draconey]

This CD/DVD were very good I have had them since mid-December and all the listening I have done seems to be very good. Most live albums I have listened to sound like junk (mostly because of recording equipment is not that sound sensitive). Well this album is a good buy for whoever likes 'punk' rock or just Billy Talent.

[The-13roken]

Billy Talent is so lame.... "666"? Wtf really? I wish this band would hurry up and die... such a lack of talent and creativity...

[aliceinnirvana]

^Piss off.
Ben's voice is really nasally, but I still like it.
I'm gonna pick this up just because I haven't seen them live.
Can't wait for the new album.

[tands]

The-13roken wrote:

Billy Talent is so lame.... "666"? Wtf really? I wish this band would hurry up and die... such a lack of talent and creativity...

LOL so trueeeee

I saw them live they sounded awful, there singer can not sing without studio magic

bognorboy wrote:

brian_s :
I don't conisder them to be punk at all.

yeah and speaking like that you know what punk is

and you do?

[vanished267]

the guy saying worker bees is a silly song is stupid. if you know how to read into lyrics, youd understand what the song was about without a speach about bush

[vanished267]

excuse me, foolish, not silly

[punkrockr30]

there's no doubt that billy talents guitarist has one of the most unique stlyes out there. i mean i had to get used to stretching my pinky across five frets and three strings every two seconds when i first started learning to play their songs. and when i played pins and needles in a guitar center one time, everybody just kinda stopped and stared at me cuz theyd never heard anything like it.

[bcrguy41]

tands wrote:

The-13roken wrote:

Billy Talent is so lame.... "666"? Wtf really? I wish this band would hurry up and die... such a lack of talent and creativity...
LOL so trueeeee

I saw them live they sounded awful, there singer can not sing without studio magicbognorboy wrote:

brian_s :
I don't conisder them to be punk at all.

yeah and speaking like that you know what punk is

and you do?

if u dont like them, then why are u reading the review on the album??

[dantheman123]

punkrockr30 wrote:

there's no doubt that billy talents guitarist has one of the most unique stlyes out there. i mean i had to get used to stretching my pinky across five frets and three strings every two seconds when i first started learning to play their songs. and when i played pins and needles in a guitar center one time, everybody just kinda stopped and stared at me cuz theyd never heard anything like it.

if by unique you mean repetative and crappy then yes, but i guess if all you listen to is mainstream they might seem a bit unique?

[willy_99]

billy talent are so sweet live. im not a huge punk fan but they are awesome and the energy live is great

[jammyninja]

dantheman123 wrote:

punkrockr30 wrote:

there's no doubt that billy talents guitarist has one of the most unique stlyes out there. i mean i had to get used to stretching my pinky across five frets and three strings every two seconds when i first started learning to play their songs. and when i played pins and needles in a guitar center one time, everybody just kinda stopped and stared at me cuz theyd never heard anything like it.

if by unique you mean repetative and crappy then yes, but i guess if all you listen to is mainstream they might seem a bit unique?

Typical UG-er right there. Always bitching about the mainstream and thinking they're oh so special because they listen to "underground" stuff.

Billy Talent are hardly repetitive. They have few if any riffs that sound the same (I can only think of one comparison that could be made)but I guess you're allowed to over look that as you're so special and non-conformist. End sarcasm.

[Confetti]

A thousand lol's for people saying that the guitarist is such a rare talent and the greatest guitarist out there right now. I say it again - lol!

They seem ok otherwise.
One of the most original sounding emo rock bands i have heard. The singing doesen't irritate me that much..

Just a little.

[mystical_ace]

Everyone seems to be forgetting about the other 2 amazing aspects of the band. Johnathon Gallants bass playing is very distinctive. I play bass and love Billy talent songs because he isn't just playing some stupid ass bass line that sucks the guitars riffs dick.....and their drummer is quite good too....i love his use of high hats, and he knows how to hit those sixteenth notes.....o and by the way, if u don't like Billy Talent, fine...but do u really have 2 rain on everyone else's parade(y post)?

[guitarfreak79]

hey jammyninja, you want to know why your review got held up for a shitty UG review? It's because they don't get payed when you do a review. It's a featured eview so they are most likely getting payed for writing it.

[skaguitarist53]

At lease now they should be ashamed to sing lines like “You can steal my body but you can't steal my soul / Cause this is how it is and this is how it goes.”

Nothing to be ashamed of. If im not mistaken this song is about some disease, which explains it killing your body. and as for the second part its alliteration, a simple writing technique.

[TheZookeeper]

I love Billy Talent and they are excellent live, but wtf is the '666' about. They're so black metal right now /sarcasm

[FelixJZ]

Actually not a bad band, saw them live at a concert just an hour away, decent sound live (although the singer was pretty crap). I have to admit, I like a few of their songs, but I also laughed at people saying how the guitarist was one of the best modern guitarists, hahahaha thats funny.

[CapnKickass]

there are definately a lot of guitarists today that are way better then Ian, but for their genre/style I'd say he's still outstanding in some aspects. Ben sounds even funnier(stupider/annoyinger?) live, I like his vocals on their actual albums but live isn't quite as good.

[CapnKickass]

FelixJZ wrote:

Actually not a bad band, saw them live at a concert just an hour away, decent sound live (although the singer was pretty crap). I have to admit, I like a few of their songs, but I also laughed at people saying how the guitarist was one of the best modern guitarists, hahahaha thats funny.

lol I inversed what you just said XD

[hobo467]

They're definitely overexposed in Canada, which makes you overlook how awesome Ian D'Sa is at guitar. Their music is just too catchy for me on their latest album. Still, people should learn to know good talent when they see it.

[george92]

billy talent is so refreshing. there are better guitarists out there than ian, but a lot of them dont have the unique sound that ian possesses. also ian created a style of his own.

[devinbryndel]

they died after their first album...the sequel to their first album had almost the same guitar riffs..

[guitar_hero543]

billy talent..well...they're decent i'll give em that, they're not really all that mainstreamish..they have a unique sound although some songs may seem repetitive (pins and needles for one)...they're guitarist definetly isnt one of the best although he's decent, they suck live i have to say, anybody who says they rock live never heard any classic bands like the beatles or led zeppelin or peter frampton especially...i think ben pays way too much attention to jumping around and that affects his singing way to much cause he's out of breath and thus the singing kills it...then he has to take off his shirt and show his no muscles (lets face it, he's not jacked, and if you're not jacked then dont take your shirt off) otherwise d'sa and gallant and especially solowoniuk do a good job...but ya, billy talent definetly arent the best live, a singer with energy doesnt mean good..it means panting and more panting in the microphone..i like a band that focuses on their music more and has moves that dont waste their energy and breath..billy talent just doesnt do that live so i just have to say, they suck live..

[guitar_hero543]

btw i dont think he'll get ashamed of singing "you can steal my body but you can't steal my soul!/cause this is how it is and this is how it goes!" because that song is actually about aaron solowoniuk (the drummer) because he has multiple scerlosis(i dont know the spellin') and it says that although ms can take his body away, his soul and spirit will still be there...paul mcCartney would probably not mind those lyrics to tell you the truth

[george92]

devinbryndel wrote:

they died after their first album...the sequel to their first album had almost the same guitar riffs..

i hate idiots

[mulletman39]

BILLY TALENT RULE! Seen them live twice(once at manchester academy & once at leeds fest last year!)& both times they prwn'd! =D ...also, Ian is a really inventive guitarist & whoever says he's rubbish either doesn't play guitar/know about decent/different guitarist or is just ignorant & thinks that playing guitar is all about wicked fast solos!! (btw i love everything from paul gilbert/rusty cooly, etc... to death/black metal, to punk, to rock, to some pop & even DnB n classical!) Music & Guitars are made to both be versatile so don't be a douche just because u don't necessarily like something!!! ...end of rant/comment =P

actually i lied; p.s. i agree with 'bcrguy41' ...why DO ppl read reviews on stuff they hate then comment!? =S ...surely that's not ONLY a waste of time but down right retarded!?

[guitar_hero543]

lol ok, ian's ok i'll tell you that much, he's original, but he just doenst even come close to eric clapton or george harrison or joe satriani or jimi hendrix or peter frampton or slash or the guitarists from the dragon force or protest the hero or the human abstract(especially) he just doesnt, and if you think that all us "ignorant" guys think that guitar is all about wicked fast solo's, think again, everyone here who digs mathmetal and such also digs songs such as stairway to heaven and songs that have good guitar with good singing and that can be played live without sounding like a piece 'a shit...ive heard billy talent so much and played so much stuff of theirs, i am hereby sick of 'em and im gonna stick with my velvet revolver an audioslave ect.

[billysgottalent]

The-13roken wrote:

Billy Talent is so lame.... "666"? Wtf really? I wish this band would hurry up and die... such a lack of talent and creativity...

ok... first of all the quality of the sound in the video sucks thats why it sounds "nasaly", and also its called 666 because there were 6 songs from the three shows

[billysgottalent]

[u][/u]

[gareno]

billy talent is trying to be like all the satanic bands by calling their cd 666, wow thats pathetic, you gotta agree with me there they certainly dont mix with bands like ozzy osbourne, seether and metallica

[j-walk]

Thanks for clearing that up billys. Some people like to b\harp about things they know nothing about.

[olimajor123]

Confetti wrote:

A thousand lol's for people saying that the guitarist is such a rare talent and the greatest guitarist out there right now. I say it again - lol!

They seem ok otherwise.
One of the most original sounding emo rock bands i have heard. The singing doesen't irritate me that much..

Just a little.

People say Ian is a great modern guitarist because of his style of play is completely unique within their genre. The guitaring in Billy Talent is much more interesting and different to other emo/punk bands. Ian gets so much credit because its unique within the mainstream, not because he can do sweeps with the guitar on the other side of the room or something stupid.
I agree that Ben's vocals aren't that great live but he focuses much more on giving a performance as opposed to giving perfect vocals. im sure if his vocals sounded exactly like the cd then people would be saying its crap cos it sounds like the cd.