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 four 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 is playing on the subsequent 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. 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. On May 12, 2016, the band released the first single off the album - "Afraid of Heights", for free streaming on Alternative Press. A day later, the single was released through YouTube, iTunes, Spotify and other digital retailers. On June 3, 2016, the band released a lyric video for the album's second single - "Louder than the DJ". 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. On July 21, 2016, the band released the official music video for the first single off the album, "Afraid of Heights". 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". It is a live performance video and was directed by the band's drummer Aaron Solowoniuk and the band's principal photographer Dustin Rabin.
