Canadian punk band Billy Talent will bring their new record to the O2 ABC on Sunday

The group were rocked when drummer Aaron Solowoniuk’s ongoing battle with multiple sclerosis took a turn for the worse.

He felt he couldn’t play on the record, meaning the band were left with a difficult decision about what to do.

“Not only is Aaron the drummer in the band, but he’s my best friend,” says singer Ben Kowalewicz.

“It was probably the most devastating thing to ever happen to the band and it challenged us in every way, shape and form. You can’t really talk to anybody about it because no-one really understands.

“We stood by him and he encouraged us to keep going on and move forward. Once we decided that we were going to go into the studio and make an album, that was the hardest part over.”

That decision saw the group’s friend Jordan Hastings, previously the sticksman for Alexisonfire, take over the drum stool and fill in on both the album and their upcoming tour. However Ben is still hopeful that Aaron will return eventually to the group.

“I saw Aaron three or four days ago, and he looks great,” he explains.

“He is training religiously, he has a team of people that he works with and he is doing everything in his power to get back playing drums. He’s positive and optimistic again – obviously he was down for a while when this first started going on, but he’s feeling better and we’re all keeping our fingers crossed for him.”

Out of that turmoil has come Afraid of Heights, the band’s fifth album and first in four years. They are still fast, angry and sharp throughout, although there’s a few variations on their punk roots, including the synth driven Horses and Chariots.

Lyrically the likes of Big Red Gun and Time Bomb Ticking Away tackle topics like gun control laws and mental health, while This Is Our War offers a direct protest against a certain billionaire running for the White House. Ben reckons the album offers a snapshot of everything wrong in the world now.

“It’s a turbulent, upsetting time,” he says.

“There are a lot of people who seem opposed to progress, the Donald Trumps of the world, where it’s borderline comedic that he has got so far, yet it scares the hell out of us too. Even if he doesn’t win, it’s scary that there are many people who think that way.

“So there’s things from the environment to gun laws to how we react to each other in society that we’ve covered, but we don’t want to stand on a soapbox either – we have our ideas and if people agree with them then great, and if not that’s great too.”

Some people might dismiss such songwriting as being naïve, but Ben feels music can actually make a difference in the world.

“Music can change things,” he says.

“When you look at when times were tough, or there was anger over both the gulf wars, then music was the soundtrack for that to people who cared. Like-minded people are stronger together, and that’s why we try and promote a good message as a band. I’m not saying we’re angels, but a good message starts from within, works its way out, and music can be a part of that.”

The group now head for Scotland, where Ben has a personal connection, as his wife has family who stay in the Borders.

“I have a deep love for Scotland for that reason,” he says.

“I’ve been able to get over a couple of times without the band and just enjoy the country. When I’m in Glasgow, if I can hang out with them I’ll be happy – no matter where the pub is. If they’re there and I can get a whiskey, I’ll be happy.”

Billy Talent, O2 ABC, Sunday, £19, 7pm