Billy Talent took time out from recording their third studio album, to venture down to Australia for Soundwave festival and a couple of sideshows. “You guys are a fuck-way away…and I don’t really like flying which makes it seem further,” remarks frontman Ben Kowalewicz.

With some of the world’s biggest festivals to their name including Lollapalooza, Warped Reading and Leeds, Billy Talent can now add Australia’s more modest Soundwave to the list. “Festivals are all kind of cast from the same mould,” Ben concedes.

With a hectic schedule of Soundwave, sideshows and media commitments, the boys have had little time to chill out. They did make time however to check out Sydney’s panoramic Bondi Beach and “had a splash in the waves.” During the festival “There is little time to hang out or watch anyone…everyone is always coming and going, flying in and out. On our days off we hang out with some of the bands. We are having a blast on tour with our good friends Moneen, Attack in Black, Goldfinger and The Subways.”

Whilst in Australia, Billy Talent squeezed in two sideshows for their real devoted fans, who Ben speaks quite highly of. ”[We] had a great show at the Metro. We got to play with Face to Face, who are a favourite old school band of ours – which was exciting. They had their fans, we had ours…It was a really healthy mix.” Speaking of devoted fans, “A couple of girls flew from California and some boys went to Soundwave in Brisbane, Sydney and to our sideshow… I try and recognise faces when we play.”

Australian fans were lucky enough to receive a taste of Billy Talent III, with one song off their forthcoming album debuted. Trying to keep their album under wraps from all evil that plagues the internet, the boys gave in. “Fuck it! Let’s just play one,” they decided. Having not played a show in seven months, they are quite anxious to speed up the transition from recording to performing. “I feel like I have ants in my pants,” articulates Ben. “We have 14 new songs to share with people.”

Those 14 songs will be released to Australian audiences in June. Keeping things simple, the album has been dubbed Billy Talent III and will mark a change for the boys. “We’re really proud of it!” exclaims Ben. The record is set to be produced by Brendan O’Brien, who has worked with the likes of Pearl Jam and Rage Against The Machine. ”[We’re] blown away that Brendan O’Brien wanted to work with us,” Ben says. “The whole process was amazing. He brought out things in me as a singer that I never knew I had.”

After being together as a band for fifteen years, it seems Billy Talent have overcome many obstacles. “It’s like being in a relationship with anyone. You love each other and respect each other. We have each other’s back. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I want to punch them in the face, but that’s how relationships work.

“Life is about small goals and accomplishments,” Ben adds. “We all have our wish-list of what we want to do and as a band. We have managed to have that common goal of writing good music and playing it for people.”

The rock – œn’ roll dream is sure to continue for these four mates from Ontario, Canada. After their brief stint in Australia they return to California to finish Part III and tour with Rancid and Rise Against. Ben assures me that they will return to Australia sooner rather than later. Even though we are so far away.