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Afraid of Heights (Billy Talent album)

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Not to be confused with Afraid of Heights.
Untitled

Afraid of Heights is the fifth studio album by the Canadian band Billy Talent, released on July 29, 2016. It is the band's first album in 4 years following 2012's Dead Silence.

It is also the band's first album recorded without drummer Aaron Solowoniuk who had suffered a multiple sclerosis relapse and had to take a hiatus from recording and performing to focus on his health. Jordan Hastings of Alexisonfire and Say Yes recorded the drums for the album and played on the subsequent supporting tour.

Recording and release

On January 5, 2016, the band posted a photo of a Condenser microphone on their Facebook page, with the caption "It begins", alluding to the beginning of the recording for the album.[1] On January 15, 2016, drummer Aaron Solowoniuk has announced through a Youtube video that due to a relapse in the MS disease he has been suffering, he will not be able to play drums in the foreseeable future and he'll be taking a hiatus from recording and performing with the band, to focus on his health. He has also announced that his good friend and Alexisonfire drummer Jordan Hastings will be recording the new album with the band, as well as performing on the tour supporting the album, though Aaron still will be in the studio with the band, and will be involved in a smaller capacity.[2]

On May 12, 2016, the band released the first single off the album - "Afraid of Heights", for free streaming on Alternative Press.[3][4] A day later, the single was released through Youtube, iTunes, Spotify and other digital retailers.[5]

On June 3, 2016, the band released a lyric video for the album's second single - "Louder Than the DJ".[6][7] The song was performed live for the first time, a few days earlier, along with the first single "Afraid of Heights" and another new song - "Big Red Gun", on the band's first tour date of 2016, at the Anabuk Festival in Moscow, Russia.[8]

On July 21, 2016, the band released the official music video for the first single off the album, "Afraid of Heights".[9] It was directed by Alon Isocianu, and is the band's first video featuring Jordan Hastings on drums.

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Big Red Gun"3:17
2."Afraid of Heights"3:45
3."Ghost Ship of Cannibal Rats"3:39
4."Louder Than the DJ"3:21
5."The Crutch"4:15
6."Rabbit Down the Hole"6:03
7."Time-Bomb Ticking Away"3:22
8."Leave Them All Behind"4:53
9."Horses & Chariots"3:35
10."This Is Our War"4:02
11."February Winds"4:19
12."Afraid of Heights (Reprise)"4:23
13."Half Past Dead" (Japanese bonus track) 

Deluxe edition bonus disc

No.TitleLength
1."Big Red Gun" (demo version)4:04
2."Afraid of Heights" (demo version)3:50
3."Ghost Ship of Cannibal Rats" (demo version)3:41
4."Louder Than the DJ" (demo version)3:26
5."The Crutch" (demo version)4:15
6."Time-Bomb Ticking Away" (demo version)3:24
7."Leave Them All Behind" (demo version)4:52
8."Afraid of Heights (Reprise)" (demo version)4:23

Personnel

Billy Talent
Additional musician
Additional personnel
  • Eric Ratz – engineering
  • Kenny Luong – digital engineering
  • Chris Lord-Alge – mixing (all tracks except track 2)
  • Rich Costey – mixing (track 2)
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Nik Karpen – assistant engineering
  • Martin Cooke – assistant engineering
  • Luke Schindler – assistant engineering
  • Ryan Jones – assistant engineering
  • Igor Hofbauer – artwork and illustrations
  • Antje Schröder – layout and package design

Charts

Chart (2016) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[10] 26
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[11] 66
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[12] 146
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[13] 1
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[14] 26
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[15] 1
Scottish Albums (OCC)[16] 14
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 1
UK Albums (OCC)[18] 23

References

  1. ^ https://www.facebook.com/billytalent/photos/a.430487881991.225748.49102666991/10154143537766992/?type=3&theater
  2. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50cuvTXp8M0
  3. ^ Rabab Al-Sharif (2016-05-12). "Stream Billy Talent's first single from upcoming album 'Afraid of Heights' (exclusive)".
  4. ^ http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/billy_talent_premiere_afraid_of_heights_exclusive#.VzUZ-BoYkmc.facebook
  5. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvK-3Ms3m34
  6. ^ Rabab Al-Sharif (2016-06-06). "Hear a new song from Billy Talent's upcoming album".
  7. ^ https://www.facebook.com/billytalent/photos/a.430487881991.225748.49102666991/10154456360641992/?type=3&theater
  8. ^ http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/billy-talent/2016/zeleniy-theater-moscow-russia-63fef6e3.html
  9. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6JbwiVl-8g
  10. ^ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. August 8, 2016. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  11. ^ "Ultratop.be – Billy Talent – Afraid of Heights" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  12. ^ "Ultratop.be – Billy Talent – Afraid of Heights" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  13. ^ "Billy Talent Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  14. ^ "Billy Talent: Afraid of Heights" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  15. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Billy Talent – Afraid of Heights" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  16. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  17. ^ "Nummer 1 Hits der Schweizer Hitparade". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  18. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
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