Omar Rodríguez-López started writing material for the band's second album even before "De-Loused in the Comatorium" was released, and during the subsequent tour, several new musical ideas would be tried out in concert. Two parts of "Cygnus...Vismund Cygnus" ("Facilis Descenus Averni" and "Con Safo") first appeared as middle sections in "Drunkship of Lanterns" (as heard on "Live" EP) and "Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt" respectively, while several parts of "Cassandra Gemini" previously appeared in "Cicatriz ESP" lengthy improvisational workouts (as would be heard on "Scabdates"). The album was initially to be titled "Sarcophagus".