“Absolution” is an instrumental song released as a bonus track in 2004 remastered and remixed edition of Youthanasia. This song was demoed for Countdown to Extinction and Youthanasia, but didn’t get used until “Trust” from Cryptic Writings and “The Doctor Is Calling” from Risk.

This song is an instrumental piece of music that had the front section cut out of it and used in the hit single off of Cryptic Writings, called “Trust.” Marty and I were talking about various song ideas and I told him that I had one idea to do a renaissance-type song. There are two versions of this song. The title for “Absolution” was my idea because I loved the word ‘absolution’ because it suggests forgiveness — which I need a lot of — and had first heard it in a Crowded House song called “There Goes God.”

—Dave Mustaine, in Youthanasia 2004 re-release liner notes