Unpredictable as ever, Kevin Max swims deeply into Britpop waters on his digital-only EP Crashing Gates. As part of DC Talk, Max was always the wild card, skewing the trio’s sound towards the outer banks of mainstream Christian rock. Crashing Gates finds him spinning tales of 21st-century social breakdowns and spiritual rebellions with the air of a fugitive street preacher. His vocals — rising from spoken whispers to an insinuating croon — emphasize the ominous themes in tracks like “Future Love Song” and “Crashing Gates and Passing Keepers.” Max’s past infatuation with the Beatles is echoed in the buoyant sound of “Baby, I’m Your Man,” while “Out of the Wild” marries slamming guitars to a sashaying rhythm in fine glam-rock fashion. The omnipresence of God amidst the conformity and madness of the modern world is a recurring topic here, shining forth most clearly in “Your Beautiful Mind 2009” (a revised version of a previously released tune). Max’s frequent shifts in style have sometimes led to confusion among his fans. Here he emerges as a fully engaged artist with a focused vision and an unyielding grip on his faith.