Bild- und Textquelle: Trinity Music

Born from the excitement of the Melbourne quartet’s tour in support of 2022 predecessor Daisy Chain, Forgiving Spree is a record tailormade for the stage, stacked with singalong anthems that lean into Slowly Slowly’s pop sensibilities – think hip-shaking grooves, infectious melodies, sonic hooks for days, and choruses ready-made for live show singalongs – brimming with lyrics that lean into frontman and songwriter Ben Stewart’s signature introspective life reflections shared using clever wordplay.

With four full length albums already under their belts – 2016’s Chamomile, 2018’s St Leonards, 2020’s Race Car Blues, and 2022’s Daisy Chain – each record seeing the four-piece pushing their sonic boundaries a little further, Forgiving Spree finds Slowly Slowly at their most adventurous yet. With influences spanning the likes of The Killers to Bruce Springsteen and John Farnham, and the raw emotion, anthemic energy, and dynamic edge of artists like Gang of Youths, Stand Atlantic, and Pale Waves, Slowly Slowly’s stunning fifth record is both comfortingly familiar and refreshingly new.

Following recent singles, Good Will Hunting-inspired anthem “Gimme The Wrench” and universe-spanning love song “All Time”, today’s news arrives alongside the release of the album’s title track. “Forgiving Spree” not only opens the record with an absolute bang, it was also the track that provided Stewart with purpose for the album.

With its powerful lyrics and driving melody, it’s a bold statement about letting go of grudges and moving forward. On the track, Stewart says, „‚Forgiving Spree‘ was written at the end of the writing period for the album. It’s a song about moving on, real deep lasting change, and the act of forgiveness as a tool to achieve it. It is also a reminder that forgiveness can be a tool used to move forward, let go, grow. and not look back.“

Across Forgiving Spree’s nine track journey, you’ll find Slowly Slowly tackling emotions including love, loss, self-discovery, and forgiveness. While the vivid storytelling, deep introspection, and witty wordplay are in full swing, this time around they’re trading self-deprecation for kindness.

With songwriting sessions split between Melbourne and LA, Forgiving Spree is also the first time Stewart has brought collaborators into the writing process, working with the likes of Courtney Ballard (5 Seconds of Summer, Waterparks, State Champs, Stand Atlantic, Good Charlotte) and acclaimed Panic At The Disco, Weezer, and Fall Out Boy collaborator Suzy Shinn. Mixing duties were once again in the hands of UK heavyweight Jonathan Gilmore (Wolf Alice, The 1975, Nothing But Thieves).

A collection of songs that reflect the changes in Stewart’s life over the past few years, the album offers a raw and honest look at how his perception of the world has shifted. Each track captures a specific emotion or moment, creating a narrative that is both deeply personal and universally relatable. It is an exploration of the evolving state of being present and realising that forgiveness – whether it’s forgiving others or himself – was key to unlocking a more peaceful life. Forgiving Spree isn’t centred on one theme, but rather a mosaic of experiences that together paint a picture of personal transformation.

Forgiving Spree finds Slowly Slowly at their most open, raw, and boldest yet.