1. HALL OF THE DEAD

The great stone walls
Rise above our heads,
Cold and sad
Pale light, a dusty veil

The sun makes its way in
Destitute, weak
You're at my side again
Faithful guide unfailing,
Here we stand among the others
The living among the dead

Veins still flowing full
Lungs filled with white light

Push forward
Lifeless bodies swept aside
They are on us
Cast a net of armor
Over our heads
Hide our life
Lest it be lifted from us

We must leave this place
Of deathly decay

Don't look back, press on


2. GHOST KEY

It's cold snowing
Blue light
Dusk settles

A fire burns with failing light
Against the growing darkness

Bending over the dying flames
You were with me then as always

Through the fluttering veil of frozen blue
A hooded figure cuts its path
To cleave the night in two

Pull its outer husk from its body
And the rest escapes

And there upon the ground
The remnants of our struggle

This is the ghost key


3. HAND OF THE HOST

It is here
That vice indulged
Bleeds the living
Of their trust

Hand of the host
Extended from his fingers
Dangles scented flesh

Bodies offered spun
From infant minds
Perfect in their
Empty conception

To be devoured
By my lustful heart
I am commanded
"Do as thou wilt"

Through the halls I am lead
Following I am lead

"Writhe and gnaw each other's flesh"

He lies uncovered
This ancient man
Of bristle and bone
Hoary and unwashed
His lonely soul
Fills the room

Our reverie
Lays broken on the floor
Cast him out into the throngs
Into unholy laughter


4. WAVERING RADIANT

(Instrumental)


5. STONE TO WAKE A SERPENT

We four, bound by blood
Standing in the crossroads

On the underside of the world
Waiting our turn

Here we see
Coiled serpent
Black and baking
In the sun

Stone is flung
Serpent wakens
Arrow of poison
Pierces our hearts

Teeth sink into tender flesh
Lightning strikes, too fast to see

We seek succor for the stricken
Pleas met with spiteful laughs

Slow advance, not to stir the poison
Its course fast and merciless

Merciless, merciless

In vast halls, buried in hurried hordes
No help found here, only dreadful tears


6. 20 MINUTES/40 YEARS

Tendrils extend from the cloudy black mass

They slither and slide through the ones and zeroes
Prophecy of collapse unfolds
Last grain of sand spirals down the hole

Chance has graced me with a gift
Grasp at gold before the dark descends
Sun beats down and panic reigns
In this time of endings

Eyes are shut, feet are bare
For this journey I'm unprepared

I walk on
Sight renewed
Seek new life
I seek new life
Walk on

Seeking her, the one I wish to see
She wanders the outer lands
From the grasp of wolves I will pluck her

Twin arteries flow with the pulse of one mighty heart


7. THRESHOLD OF TRANSFORMATION

I've arrived city of lucid dreams
Before me a building
Looms caked in inky grime

The act unknown
Actor in sleep
Here I enter, and here I see
The circle and bones made in haste

Winds to anoint the faithful

Amorphous specter turns
From old to new
Rests in faith beside me
We wait for the quiet fire
To be born and there it is
Embodied by a boy
His voice small and grey
Whispers smoke to the chosen

Upon our heads he places crowns
Sewn with hiss and higher tones

The boy presses whispers into her
And they bathe in valley's pale rain


8. WAY THROUGH WOVEN BRANCHES

He and I
Seek the silent
Halfway through
Beneath

Traveling in
The woven
Branches of
Another world

Got to hall ending
Step from the living trees
My trial now
Let come to pass
He and I
On a silent path

This is
The way we know
We go on

This is the hope
Woven branches
Falling
Take our weights

I see this
Down this way
A place

So it comes to pass
We go our separate ways
A solitary course
To a place of rest

Passing through the
Golden grey
This is the way
The only way

On a course
Bring them to
Our place of rest