(Music written by Agrippa, Cabrero, and Dugan)

City of Pyramids started as a collaboration project in the summer of 2008 between guitarists Myk Dugan, Carlos Cabrero, and Agrippa. After the song was finished Agrippa invited both Dugan and Cabrero to join Agrippa93 to write more songs together. Those writing sessions steered Agrippa93 into a new direction resulting in their debut album, Beneath the Cypress Tree. City of Pyramids is the 1st track from album and because it encompasses many of the sounds that defined A93 at the time, it became the album’s first single.

Lyrics: The lyrics of City of Pyramids, at first glance, appear to be violent and a bit morbid, but are actually rich with Thelemic (θέλημα: “will”) symbolism describing the journey across the depths the Abyss to attain mastery. In order to achieve this one must destroy all ego under the “Night of Pan” (N.O.X.) and become nothing but the dust of Self. If successful, the adept takes the name “Nemo” (latin: No-Man) and is declared Master of the Temple continuing the path toward spiritual perfection.

Lyrics written by Agrippa in 2008.

Plunged deep in blackness I am

Under the Night of Pan

Sacrificed my earthly Ego

Blood drained in to the Graal

I am the dust of Self

As a Babe of the Babalon

In the temple of Initiation

See the light of the hooded Adepts

Walk the path of the pyramid steps

I contemplate the choice

I hear the Angel’s voice

I crossed the depths of the Abyss

Secrets my eyes beheld

I see the Masters veiled

I shed my Self in the Abyss

Master of the Temple I am

Under the Night of Pan

My name is Nemo

Cast out in the Jupiter Sphere

As a Babe of the Babalon

In the temple of Initiation

See the light of the hooded Adepts

Walk the path of the pyramid steps

I contemplate the choice

I hear the Angel’s voice

I crossed the depths of the Abyss

Secrets my eyes beheld

I see the Masters veiled

I shed my Self in the Abyss

-

“This is one of many songs that I’ve written which have occult themes. Some others include Evocation, Reincarnate, Divinity, I Invite, Equilibrium, and voice from the Corner. I’ve immersed myself occult studies for so many years that there’s bound to be some influence on my lyric writing.”  - Agrippa

In Studio: City of Pyramids was the 1st song completed for the Beneath the Cypress Tree album.

Agrippa – Lead and backup vocals, bass programming, synths, sequencer, piano, and drum programming.

Myk Dugan – Lead and rhythm guitars and backup vocals.

Carlos Cabrero – Lead and rhythm guitars and acoustic guitar.

City of Pyramids is currently being rewritten as a new version, which will reflect the current sound of Agrippa93 and will be rereleased as a single.

“We are in the process of retooling it and, while it might sound basically the same, it will in fact be streamlined and more theoretically correct, musically.” – Scott Williams

Live Performance: City of Pyramids was performed live with the 2009 line up using an acoustic drum kit played by Alex Richard in place of the programmed drum sequence found in the album recording and programmed bass lines were played live by bassist, Joe Deep. The song will continue to appear on the setlist for future shows, but will do so in the newly re-imaged version.

(Lyrics and music copyright 2009 by Sickle Pation Studio)