Forgiveness I + II
| "Forgiveness I" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Billy Talent | ||||
| from the album Crisis of Faith | ||||
| Released | November 26, 2019 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:45 | |||
| Label | Spinefarm | |||
| Songwriters |
| |||
| Producer | Ian D'Sa | |||
| Billy Talent singles chronology | ||||
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| "Forgiveness II" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Billy Talent | ||||
| from the album Crisis of Faith | ||||
| Released | November 26, 2019 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:57 | |||
| Label | Spinefarm | |||
| Songwriters |
| |||
| Producer | Ian D'Sa | |||
| Billy Talent singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Forgiveness I and Forgiveness II" are two songs by Canadian punk band Billy Talent. The songs were initially released on November 26, 2019, as two standalone singles, but were eventually included as the first two singles on their sixth album, Crisis of Faith. The songs were written by Ben Kowalewicz, Ian D'Sa, Jonathan Gallant, and Jordan Hastings.[3]
Background
The two songs are broken into two parts; the first being "a badass, heavy, prog song", as Kowalewicz describes it, followed by a softer song that incorporate a horns section alongside the band. Part I was primarily written by D'Sa, which evoked feelings of "riding through a desert on horseback" from the rest of the band. Eventually taking inspiration from Paulo Coelho's novel, The Alchemist, the band leaned into these feelings more as they continued to develop the song. Kowalewicz described Part II as having more of a space rock feel to it, specifically comparing it to Pink Floyd.[4]
Release and reception
"Forgiveness I" and "Forgiveness II" released on November 26, 2019, alongside a lyric video.[5] Following the songs' release, it was revealed that they would not appear on the band's next album, however, they was included in the track listing for Crisis of Faith when the album was announced in 2021.[6][7]
The songs were met with mostly positive feedback, with many critics praising the guitars and vocals of the first the song. Ben Rayner of Toronto Star compared them to Rush, calling them "a multi-staged metallo-prog epic", and the band's most ambitious songs to date.[1] Mark Sutherland of Kerrang! called the two songs a "six-minute prog rock odyssey", favorably comparing them to Muse for their electronic riffs.[2]
Short film
Alongside "Forgiveness I" and "Forgiveness II", the band partnered with Canadian director Michael Maxxis on a short film titled Forgiveness. The film stars UFC fighters Rose Namajunas and Donald Cerrone, and is set is a dystopian desert.[8] The film was originally released in three parts on the band's YouTube channel, but the videos were later removed ahead of the film's premiere at the Santa Fe International Film Festival on October 21, 2022.[9] The first two episodes break the songs into their respective parts, while the third episode uses the band's following single, "Reckless Paradise".[10]
Personnel
Billy Talent
- Ben Kowalewicz – lead vocals, songwriting
- Ian D'Sa – guitars, synthesizers, piano, backing vocals, producer
- Jonathan Gallant – bass, songwriting
- Jordan Hastings – drums, songwriting
Additional musician
- Dennis Passley – tenor saxophone
- Bruce Mackinnon – alto saxophone
- Ernesto Barahona – trombone
- Tom Moffet – trumpet
Production[11]
- Rich Costey – mixing
- Eric Ratz – engineering
- Ted Jensen – mastering
Charts
| Chart (2019) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| ERROR in "Billboardcanadarock": Invalid position: 40 (both songs combined). Expected number 1–200 or dash (–). |
References
- ^ a b c "Billy Talent is going for it with big statement album 'Crisis of Faith'". Toronto Star. January 25, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
- ^ a b c "The big review: Billy Talent – Crisis Of Faith". Kerrang!. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Childers, Chad. "Billy Talent Take Journey With New Song 'Forgiveness I & II'". Loudwire. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
- ^ "Billy Talent: Ben Kowalewicz' track-by-track guide to Crisis Of Faith". Kerrang!. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
- ^ "Billy Talent have returned with a new two-part single, 'Forgiveness I & II'". Upset. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
- ^ "Billy Talent have shared the first teaser from their new album, check out 'Reckless Paradise'". Upset. Archived from the original on October 8, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
- ^ Punknews.org. "Billy Talent announce album, release song with Rivers Cuomo". www.punknews.org. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
- ^ Price, Jason (December 13, 2019). "Billy Talent Drop Episodic Film "Forgiveness" Featuring UFC Fighters Rose Namajunas and Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone". Icon Vs. Icon. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
- ^ @billytalentband (October 22, 2022). "Very honored to announce that our short film, Forgiveness, starring @Cowboycerrone & @rosenamajunas and directed by @MichaelMaxxis will officially premiere at the Santa Fe International Film Festival tonight!" (Tweet). Retrieved December 23, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ Peacock, Tim (April 9, 2020). "Watch Chapter Three Of Billy Talent's Short Film, 'Forgiveness'". uDiscover Music. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
- ^ Forgiveness I + II, retrieved October 23, 2022