“Your thoughts and prayers can’t fix the pain.”
Billy Talent are a Canadian group formed in the early 1990s and they remain one of the country’s largest acts. Crisis of Faith is their much anticipated sixth studio album after a six year break from their fifth major release, Afraid of Heights. The band is known for their punk rock sound and socially conscious lyrics and Crisis of Faith brings those same qualities to the table.
“Forgiveness I + II” starts off feeling quintessentially Billy Talent which is both comforting and a bit disappointing. A robust track, but it brings no growth and truly could have been a part of the discography at multiple points in time. A lukewarm breakdown adds nothing special to a very lukewarm opener. The transition into “Forgiveness II” is nice and smooth and brings some interesting chill and nearly jazzy vibes into play. It feels reminiscent of 60s and 70s rock in the best kind of way. Saxophone? Yes, please!
Much of the album was recorded during the chaotic times known as the pandemic and as always, the band does not shy away from this topic. “I Beg To Differ (This Will Get Better)” was initially released as a single during April 2020 as a message of hope during the pandemic. The band also posted the phone number for crisis hotlines around the world to accompany the music video. The song is upbeat with punchy drumming and a fun riff to help boost the spirits.
Like much of the album, “Reckless Paradise” sinks back into that signature Billy Talent sound. The lyrics have the bite that many of their songs are known for, with some perhaps too on the nose lines such as, “Your thoughts and prayers can’t fix the pain.”. “End of Me” features Weezer‘s River Cuomo. With that in mind, the expectation of a kind of quirky 90s feel is set and delivered. The execution leaves something to desire, feeling a bit desperately nostalgic. A fun track, but somehow falls short of what was expected.
With Crisis of Faith, the band delivers a sound that is consistently their own but capitalizes on the element of surprise by delivering small nuggets of evolution throughout the album. There’s solid musicianship throughout. Lyrically sound with strong vocals to match as would be expected. More variety would have given the album a more mature feel but does not take away from it being solid, if predictable.
Crisis of Faith releases on streaming platforms via Warner Music Canada on January 21st, 2022.
6/10