Brilliant song - there's a lulling, psychedelic quality to it, while it still retains a distinctly heavy, metallic overtone. Very progressive, very good song.
This is definitely about religious authority. The "Charm Offensive" is the procedures taken to win us over by our religion - the words spoken and facades displayed to win us over to the side of religion, attempting to tackle us using diplomacy and smiles, whilst all the while harbouring evil intents.
The first verse shows how we are lulled into their grasp - 'perception' a 'camera trick', 'authority' a 'uniform'. We are prey to techniques of display and PR. Religion is 'another name for a second chance' - I think this means that our only motivation is through personal desire to go to heaven, throughout most religions. It is nothing deeper than that, and nothing unselfish.
The song goes on to show how this should be our choice, whilst we are still victim to their attempts on our souls rather than personal choice - and yet we 'take this lying down', we accept it and leave it be. It 'burns us all out', leaves us an empty shell, and moves 'everyone into position', to their seperate sphere and role in society, all of them the same.
Possibly the religious theme is not necessarily present (although the 'second chance' line is a big pointer). Fits with the rest of the album nicely though. :)
Brilliant song - there's a lulling, psychedelic quality to it, while it still retains a distinctly heavy, metallic overtone. Very progressive, very good song.
This is definitely about religious authority. The "Charm Offensive" is the procedures taken to win us over by our religion - the words spoken and facades displayed to win us over to the side of religion, attempting to tackle us using diplomacy and smiles, whilst all the while harbouring evil intents.
The first verse shows how we are lulled into their grasp - 'perception' a 'camera trick', 'authority' a 'uniform'. We are prey to techniques of display and PR. Religion is 'another name for a second chance' - I think this means that our only motivation is through personal desire to go to heaven, throughout most religions. It is nothing deeper than that, and nothing unselfish.
The song goes on to show how this should be our choice, whilst we are still victim to their attempts on our souls rather than personal choice - and yet we 'take this lying down', we accept it and leave it be. It 'burns us all out', leaves us an empty shell, and moves 'everyone into position', to their seperate sphere and role in society, all of them the same.
Possibly the religious theme is not necessarily present (although the 'second chance' line is a big pointer). Fits with the rest of the album nicely though. :)