Record companies aren't so scary, especially if the band they've signed are a bunch of gifted rockers who know how to stick together.

The four guys in Billy Talent learned this when it came time to record their second album, Billy Talent II.

It was late 2004 and the tight group of 13 years had just finished relentless touring for their self-titled debut, which nabbed them a Juno Award for album of the year and a second, surprise win for group of the year over favourites The Tragically Hip.

They were to get just a month off before heading into the studio.

In town recently to promote II, drummer Aaron Solowoniuk and guitarist Ian D'Sa (who join fearless, vein-popping frontman Ben Kowalewicz and bassist Jon Gallant in the band) said the group just knew they wouldn't be ready.

"We couldn't (do it) for ourselves. It's our second chance, it's going to be our second record, it's something we hold so personal, creating music," said Solowoniuk. "Why would we jeopardize it because of a business' timeline?"

The group ended up putting off the label three different times, for six months, and recording the album they wanted.

D'Sa said it's not hard to face a force like Warner Music, but only because the group sticks together.

"We'll look for strength within the four of us, and when all four are saying, 'We can't go to the studio because the songs aren't ready,' that's when we'll make a phone call," he said smiling. "In the end, everyone's happy. The label's happy, we're happy."

So happy, in fact, the label wanted all 13 songs on the album, even A Perfect World, which the band had wanted as a B-side release.

With the Juno Award and lots of fan love, not to mention years of performing practice, D'Sa and Solowoniuk say they weren't worried about following up on the success of their debut or any sort of sophomore curse. It is a challenge,however, for a group of rockers with no musical theory background to communicate to one another how each song is supposed to sound.

"It's kind of weird, because I'll come up with a riff and put a bunch of riffs together and bring it to the band and what I envision in my head, the band doing would be totally different than what's coming out," said D'Sa. "The hardest part is communicating without talking in musical terms. 'You know that song, from that band?' That's how we have to communicate."

The biggest change in their lives, now that they are full-time musicians, is actually relaxing into the role. All four had day jobs --D'Sa as an animator, Solowoniuk an auto worker, Kowalewicz a radio producer and Gallant a financial planner -- and rehearsed and played at night before success hit.

"To do this for a living is really weird ... to actually feel like you're really doing something for the money you get to pay rent," said D'Sa.

The group's first single off the new album, Devil in a Midnight Mass, was released last week.

Earlier this month it earned five MuchMusic Video Awards nominations, including best video, though Billy Talent didn't win any during the show Sunday night. Nor was the group on hand to top last year's red carpet arrival in an army tank.

Instead, Billy Talent was overseas in Germany, playing and plugging the album.

"Just being in a touring rock band," said Solowoniuk.