Music Review: Rockers OLP return with ‘Burn Burn’

Our Lady Peace, “Burn Burn” (Warner Independent).

Our Lady Peace maintains their status as one of Canada’s strongest bands with the release of their seventh studio disc, “Burn, Burn.”

The Toronto four-piece made a splash south of the border in the 1990s with their first two efforts — ’94’s “Naveed” and ’97’s “Clumsy” — but have since fallen into relative obscurity in the States.

That may not change too much with “Burn Burn,” but the band’s first disc since 2005’s “Healthy in Paranoid Times” is a nice return to the soaring rock they made their name on.

Lead singer Raine Maida sounds more mature than ever — mostly forsaking his once eye-popping falsetto — and brings a poetic touch to his tales of everyday struggle and hope, and guitarist Steve Mazur offers plenty of fine lead work throughout.

They kick off with the single “All You Did Was Save My Life,” a straightforward radio rocker with a soaring chorus, before sliding into the hope-filled “Dreamland.”

Often praised for their energetic live show, OLP keeps the anthemic tracks flowing with “The End Is Where We Begin,” ”Escape Artist,” ”Refuge,” and the blistering “White Flags.”

OLP’s lighter touch can be found on the acoustic “Signs of Life” and versatile disc closer “Paper Moon,” one of the finest tracks they’ve ever laid down.

CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: “Monkey Brains” is a manic blast of energy that features a — dare I say it — Steve Harris-influenced effort by bassist Duncan Coutts.