Afraid of Heights (Billy Talent album)

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

Afraid of Heights
Studio album by
Billy Talent
ReleasedJuly 29, 2016
RecordedJanuary–April 2016
StudioRevolution Recording, Toronto and Dudebox Studios, Toronto
GenreAlternative rock, post-hardcore, punk rock
Length48:54
LabelWarner Music Canada, The End
ProducerIan D'Sa
Billy Talent chronology
Hits
(2014)		 Afraid of Heights
(2016)		 Crisis of Faith
(2022)
Singles from Afraid of Heights
  1. "Afraid of Heights"
    Released: May 12, 2016
  2. "Louder than the DJ"
    Released: June 3, 2016
  3. "Ghost Ship of Cannibal Rats"
    Released: July 27, 2016
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

It is the 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 supporting tour. The album sold approximately 53,000 units in its first week.

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.[2] On January 15, 2016, drummer Aaron Solowoniuk announced through a YouTube video that he would not be able to play drums for the foreseeable future due to a multiple sclerosis relapse. He also announced that Alexisonfire drummer, Jordan Hastings, would be recording the new album with the band, as well as performing on the tour supporting the album, though Solowoniuk would still be in the studio with the band and involved in a smaller capacity.[3]

On May 12, 2016, the band released the first single off the album – "Afraid of Heights", for free streaming on Alternative Press.[4][5] A day later, the single was released through YouTube, iTunes, Spotify and other digital retailers.[6]

On June 3, 2016, the band released a lyric video for the album's second single – "Louder than the DJ".[7][8] 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.[9]

On July 21, 2016, the band released the official music video for the first single off the album, "Afraid of Heights".[10] It was directed by Alon Isocianu, and is the band's first video featuring Jordan Hastings on drums.

On August 11, 2016, the band released the official music video for the second single, "Louder than the DJ".[11] It is a live performance video and was directed by the band's drummer Aaron Solowoniuk and the band's principal photographer Dustin Rabin.

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[12]
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

Japanese edition bonus track
No.TitleLength
13."Half Past Dead"3:28

Deluxe edition bonus disc
No.TitleLength
1."Big Red Gun" (demo version)3:17
2."Afraid of Heights" (demo version)3:45
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 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

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[29] Platinum 80,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "Afraid of Heights – Billy Talent | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  2. "Billy Talent". www.facebook.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  3. "A Message From Aaron". Retrieved December 26, 2019 – via www.youtube.com.
  4. Rabab Al-Sharif (May 12, 2016). "Stream Billy Talent's first single from upcoming album 'Afraid of Heights' (exclusive)".
  5. Magazine, Alternative Press (May 13, 2016). "Stream Billy Talent's first single from upcoming album 'Afraid of Heights' (exclusive)". Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  6. "Billy Talent – Afraid Of Heights (Official Audio)". Retrieved December 26, 2019 – via www.youtube.com.
  7. Rabab Al-Sharif (June 6, 2016). "Hear a new song from Billy Talent's upcoming album".
  8. "Billy Talent". www.facebook.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  9. "Billy Talent Setlist at Anabuk 2016". setlist.fm. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  10. "Billy Talent – Afraid Of Heights (Official Music Video)". Retrieved December 26, 2019 – via www.youtube.com.
  11. "Billy Talent – Louder Than The DJ (Official Music Video)". Retrieved December 26, 2019 – via www.youtube.com.
  12. 6:14 in the mastered-for-headphones version by Klipsch.
  13. "Australiancharts.com – Billy Talent – Afraid of Heights". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  14. "Austriancharts.at – Billy Talent – Afraid of Heights" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  15. "Ultratop.be – Billy Talent – Afraid of Heights" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  16. "Ultratop.be – Billy Talent – Afraid of Heights" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  17. "Billy Talent Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  18. "Billy Talent: Afraid of Heights" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  19. "Offiziellecharts.de – Billy Talent – Afraid of Heights" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  20. "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2016. 30. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  21. 5, 2016/40/ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  22. "Nummer 1 Hits der Schweizer Hitparade". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  23. 5, 2016/7502/ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  24. "Top Current Albums". Billboard.biz. August 20, 2016. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  25. "Billy Talent Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  26. "Billy Talent Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  27. "Billy Talent Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  28. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  29. "Canadian album certifications – Billy Talent – Afraid of Heights". Music Canada. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
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