Billy Talent @ O2 Academy (Leeds, UK) on October 20, 2016 [Photos]

Although the O2 Academy might not be the busiest it has been in recent weeks, the arrival of rowdy Canadian punk rockers Billy Talent is cause for much excitement amongst a good percentage of Yorkshire’s rock community and, judging by the smiles on their faces, the Canadian outfit are enjoying their time in the UK just as much.

Frontman Benjamin Kowalewicz is in particular fine form although his admission that he has relatives from the South of England wasn’t the wisest move and resulting in a particulary vocal chant of “Yorkshire!Yorkshire!” to erupt around the venue. Equally as rowdy was the bands 16 song set pulled together from their extensive back catalogue. Old songs, new songs, rarely played songs, there was little here that could disappoint the hardcore fans in the crowd as they sung every word back to tracks like “Rusted In The Rain” and “This Is How It Goes” while “Red Flag” brought the whole evening to a gloriously anthemic punk rock climax.