Nox Arcana's debut album, Darklore Manor, was featured as the musical score for the WB's televised special of the 1922 silent film classic, Nosferatu, and has spawned a book of original horror stories, The Legend of Darklore Manor and Other Tales of Terror. Their haunting Gothic soundtracks have also been used in theatrical productions of Bram Stokers' Dracula, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and Lewis Carrol's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. During the Halloween season the music of Nox Arcana can be heard throughout haunted attractions and theme parks around the world, including Universal Studios, Busch Gardens, Six Flags, and Knott’s Berry Farm.
In keeping with Vargo's literary interests, several concept albums pay tribute to many of his favorite authors. The darkly seductive album, Transylvania, ventures into the land of vampires, musically expounding upon Bram Stoker's Dracula. The sinister Necronomicon is brought to life in Nox Arcana's homage to H.P. Lovecraft. And the unsettling Blackthorn Asylum explores the horrors of a forsaken 19th century sanitarium with an original storyline that expands upon Lovecraft's "From Beyond." Carnival of Lost Souls takes listeners inside an old-fashioned traveling circus that harbors living nightmares and sinister secrets, in the tradition of Bradbury’s “Something Wicked This Way Comes." The morbid and melancholy Shadow of the Raven pays tribute to the great Edgar Allan Poe, and the darkly enchanting Grimm Tales album brings the childhood nightmares of the Brothers Grimm to life. Theater of Illusion conjures a realm of mystery and dark magic, set in an old Vaudeville theater, hidden from the outside world, where master magicians gather to display their talents every Halloween night. The Dark Tower is a sinister symphony based on Joseph Vargo's original book series, Tales From The Dark Tower, and its sequel, Beyond The Dark Tower, which follows an epic saga of the vampire Lord Brom and his quest to solve the ancient mysteries of the accursed keep.
Nox Arcana also delves into the realms of fantasy with the medieval sword and sorcery epic, Blood of the Dragon, which stormed in at #4 on Amazon's New Age chart, and Phantoms of the High Seas, a ghostly adventure steeped in pirate lore that explores mysteries of the deep. The gothic-Christmas release Winter's Knight peaked at #8 on the Billboard Music Chart for Best Holiday Album in 2006. Winter's Eve continued the celebration of the magic and wonder of the winter season. Nox Arcana returned to the wintery realm of Ebonshire forest with Winter's Majesty, marking the third and final installment of winter-holiday albums.
Since the early stages of Blackthorn Asylum, Nox Arcana has been the solo project of Joseph Vargo, who has been the sole composer and musician on all subsequent albums, including Winter's Eve, Theater of Illusion, The Dark Tower, Winter's Majesty, Legion Of Shadows and Ebonshire. Vargo has also composed the music for two Buzz-Works CDs (Zombie Influx and House of Nightmares), as well as the musical scores for the cable series Eerie America and the upcoming computer game The Cabinets of Doctor Arcana.
As with all of Nox Arcana’s albums, the concepts and themes are of personal interest to Joseph Vargo, who also creates the lavish artwork, captivating storylines and hidden puzzles that accompany each CD. The section called The Arcanum offers entertaining information about Nox Arcana's favorite authors and arcane subjects.
Over the past decade, Nox Arcana has released a total of 18 full-length albums, comprising more than 380 compositions, and have never re-released any of their material on other albums. The latest release, Legion of Shadows, marks the band's 10 year anniversary, with 21 all new instrumental tracks dedicated to Nox Arcana's fans and all creatures of the night.
Ashes To Ashes
Nox Arcana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't recall my name
Whispered voices calling
Standing here on the darkened street
Can't remember years
Swirled like bitter ashes
All my memories are just bitter ashes
Day and night searching empty dreams
In the end we find only bitter ashes
Standing here stripped of everything
I have lost my faith it's all bitter ashes
Standing here as the waters rise
All my memories swirling down the gutter
Standing here on the dust strewn streets
All my memories are just bitter ashes
Day and night searching empty dreams
In the end we find only bitter ashes
Where are we going now
What will become of us
What does the future hold
Having forsaken us
Where are we going now
What will become of us
What does the future hold
Having forsaken us
Standing here in the fucare
Can you hear my voice I'm just shadows falling
The song "Bitter Ashes" by Nox Arcana and Michelle Belanger is a haunting reminder of the transience of life and the inevitability of change. The lyrics paint a picture of someone standing in the ruins of their life, unable to remember their name, as memories swirl around them like bitter ashes. They are lost and alone, stripped of everything they once held dear, with their only companion being the whispering voices of the past.
Despite the feeling of hopelessness, there is a sense of resilience in the repeated refrain of "day and night searching empty dreams, in the end we find only bitter ashes." It suggests a sense of determination to keep moving forward, even in the face of overwhelming despair. However, as the waters rise and memories continue to fade, there is a palpable sense of urgency to grasp onto something tangible before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing here in the dust of dreams
I find myself in a place that feels like the remains of forgotten dreams
Can't recall my name
I have lost touch with my identity
Whispered voices calling
I hear faint voices beckoning me
Standing here on the darkened street
I stand on a street that is shrouded in darkness
Can't remember years
I have trouble recollecting the passing of time
Swirled like bitter ashes
My memories are like ashes, carried away by the wind
Standing here stripped of everything
I am bare, having lost everything I once had
I have lost my faith it's all bitter ashes
I no longer have faith in anything, as everything has turned to ashes
Standing here as the waters rise
I am standing here watching as the waters rise around me
All my memories swirling down the gutter
My memories are being swept away along with the flowing water
Day and night searching empty dreams
I am constantly searching for something in my empty dreams
In the end we find only bitter ashes
Ultimately, our search leads us only to ashes
Where are we going now
What will become of us
What does the future hold
Having forsaken us
We are lost and uncertain of our future, having been abandoned
Standing here in the fucare
I am standing here, surrounded by darkness
Can you hear my voice I'm just shadows falling
I wonder if anyone can hear my voice, as I feel like I am fading away like a shadow
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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