Bad Religion Return with Updated Version of Against The Grain's "Faith Alone" Coinciding with DO WHAT YOU WANT Book (Epitaph)
Los Angeles Punk/Hardcore stalwarts Bad Religion have returned, as they always do, in our world's time of need with an updated version of one of their old favorites, "Faith Alone." Now, fittingly re-titled "Faith Alone 2020," this is Bad Religion's first sonic offering since their 2019 full-length, Age of Unreason. "Faith Alone" originally appeared within Bad Religion's 1990 full-length, Against The Grain, as well as re-appearing on '92 Epitaph comp. More Songs About Anger, Fear, Sex & Death, along with then-labelmates NOFX, Pennywise, Coffin Break, Dag Nasty, L7, Down By Law, Little Fingers, and Insted. Bad Religion have morphed their once raucous Punk/Melodic Hardcore track into one now complimented by acoustic piano and lush orchestral strings. Bad Religion singer and co-songwriter Greg Graffin explains, "I have always written songs on piano. Some of our earliest songs were written on my mom's piano."
"I've been home a lot and so, I started recording a bunch of our songs that way. Brett (Gurewitz) thought "Faith Alone" was particularly relevant for this moment. For me, it exemplifies what's special about the band, which is that we write songs that go to the spiritual and intellectual aspects of human existence," Dr. Graffin continued. However, this updated recording of "Faith Alone 2020" was done remotely. Graffin's initial vocal and piano tracks augmented by the band's co-songwriter Brett Gurewitz, who added additional instrumentation, including guitar. String embellishments were, then, added by Stevie Blacke (Beck, Lady GaGa, Garbage) with drum-fueled accents provided by Bad Religion drummer Jamie Miller, while producer Carlos de la Garza added additional production and a mix.
de la Garza previously contributed production, co-writing, and mixing to Bad Religion's Age of Unreason, as well as recordings with Best Coast, Cherry Glazerr, Culture Abuse, hellogoodbye, Paramore, Reel Big Fish, of which he was once a member, Hayley Williams, The Wonder Years, and Young The Giant. Brett Gurewitz further explains, "I think, the message of "Faith Alone" really resonates with everything that's happening right now. Racial injustice, Trump, The COVID Pandemic, the rejection of science, none of these things can be solved by burying our heads in the sand. We've always believed problems can be solved through reason and action, not faith and prayer. It's what we've been writing about since the band started." Bad Religion's "Faith Alone 2020" single is now available on streaming services, via Epitaph Records. DO WHAT YOU WANT: The Story of Bad Religion, an autobiographical re-telling of Bad Religion's groundbreaking 40-year career co-written by the band with Jim Ruland is now available for purchase from Hachette Books/Audio.