Crisis of Faith

On 2016's Afraid of Heights, Canadian hard rock mainstays Billy Talent stared fear and anxiety in the face and struck an ideal balance between energy and message, delivering one of the best albums in their catalog. Six years later, they confront negativity and darkness once again on Crisis of Faith, ten tracks of cathartic release and hardened hope from a band still digesting the chaotic years between releases. Executive produced by guitarist and main songwriter Ian D'Sa, Faith sticks close to their winning formula, offering a few artistic surprises to push the group forward. Opening salvo "Forgiveness I + II" is an instant standout, a two-part prog exercise that unfolds from a crunchy riff-packed assault into an unexpected midtempo, horn-backed epic. It's one of the most daring and satisfying creative moves in their decades-long career. Aside from the somber, string-washed ballad "The Wolf," the rest of the set is fairly standard Billy Talent fare, with snaking riffs and pounding drum