Bossk
.2

Release Date: 2007 | Tracklist

Bossk’s second EP, .2, while retaining the distinct style that was showcased in 2005’s .1, is, at the same time, a completely different animal. While .1 brought to mind a picture of life before the advent of modern times and artificiality, .2’s sound is grounded in exactly that. It is no less beautiful, yet the music, the lyrics, and even the album cover (a panorama of a city) ponder the current age rather than the past. The music, which retained a simpler, guitar-based character in the first EP, is now much more mechanical in sound. It is not mechanical in the sense of it being cold and emotionless: in fact, there could be nothing farther from the truth. It’s just that the execution just seems more unnatural. The production, which was raw, unpolished, and emotional in .1, is now crystal clear and pristine. The distorted sections, instead of having the huge, sludgy power chords of .1, are now drop-Z downtuned behemoths that, at very first listen, bring to mind a much sludgier Meshuggah (see the opening riffs on Define for a perfect example). This sort of tone is shown in both songs, but much more prevalent are electronics-heavy sections of ambiance that are largely reminiscent of Russian Circle’s Geneva at times, with a surprisingly beautiful acoustic element added, to good effect.

Just like the musical style, the lyrics to this album serve as a sequel to those of .1. While those of the previous EP spoke of times past, and how man’s heart longs for that serenity, the lyrics here are much more pessimistic in nature. In Truth (Define is instrumental), one section states, “I now realize everything’s been lost for us, how did we lose sight of the truth?/Isn't it more important then anything else? I now realize what this empty space was for.” Here, the subject comes to terms with the mortality of him and his artificial, manufactured way of life. But the problem is that it’s too late to change anything. His eyes are opened to the falseness of modern times, but everything’s lost. It’s too late for us to make a change. Culture will continue its downward spiral, while he watches in horror and dejection: but not all hope is lost. While no one can ever save humanity as a whole, each individual, with his realization of the importance of that single, definite Truth, can save himself, even as culture tears itself apart. He cannot fill the empty space of humanity, but he can fill that which is within his heart. Here, like in II, what exactly this singular truth represents is up to the listener to decide, but the message of both this EP and their first is definite.

1: Humanity longs for meaning, purpose, serenity, and a life without falsehood and artificiality.

2: It’s too late to save humanity and culture as a whole: we’ve brought ourselves down too low. But once we, as individuals, recognize the singular truth that defines us, and use that truth to fill the emptiness, we can redeem ourselves.

Floating in the dead of space, 30 seconds ‘til the end
Things are falling apart again, maybe for the last time
No matter how hard we try, we can't let the void fade away.
I now realize everything’s been lost for us, how did we lose sight of the truth?
Isn't it more important then anything else? I now realize what this empty space was for.
We all fall into the dark, floating away to fragile stars.
Waiting for you, with starry eyes, an empty soul, waiting for you, always.

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3.9 excellent

Rank: #0 for 2007