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.
Darkness Rising
Nox Arcana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
they lurk in the shadows—gargoyles of living stone,
lost souls who wander mist-shrouded cemeteries,
and vampires who dwell deep within forbidden crypts.
They are the spirits that haunt
the blackest wells of midnight
trapped between the realms of the living and the dead,
the shadow of The Dark Tower.
The lyrics to Nox Arcana's "Darkness Rising" paint a vivid picture of the creatures that lurk in the darkest corners of the night. The song begins by introducing gargoyles made of living stone, lost souls wandering through mist-shrouded cemeteries, and vampires residing in forbidden crypts. These creatures are the spirits that haunt the darkest wells of midnight, caught between the living and the dead, forsaken and cursed to dwell forever beneath the shadow of The Dark Tower. The lyrics exude a sense of foreboding and impending doom, as if warning the listener of the dangers that await them in the dead of night.
The contrast between light and dark is a recurring theme in "Darkness Rising." The song paints a picture of the world after the sun has set, where the darkness casts a shadow over everything. It's a world where the creatures that normally stay hidden in the shadows come out to play. The lyrics describe the creatures as being "born of the night," suggesting that they are a natural part of the darkness that envelops the world. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that these creatures are not to be trifled with. They are dangerous and malevolent, with the power to curse and haunt those who cross their paths.
Line by Line Meaning
Born of the Night,
Emerging from the darkness, creatures of the night come to light.
they lurk in the shadows—gargoyles of living stone,
They hide in the darkness - statues of gargoyles which appear alive.
lost souls who wander mist-shrouded cemeteries,
These creatures are souls that roam around cemeteries hidden in foggy mist.
and vampires who dwell deep within forbidden crypts.
Vampires who live in secret tombs are also among them.
They are the spirits that haunt
These beings are spirits that bother people.
the blackest wells of midnight
They are usually found seeking in the darkest places during the middle of the night
trapped between the realms of the living and the dead,
They are stuck between the living and the realm of the dead.
forsaken and cursed to forever dwell beneath
They are excluded and doomed to remain beneath the world of the living.
the shadow of The Dark Tower.
They are destined to dwell in the shadow of a tower that symbolizes the power of darkness.
Contributed by Kylie H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.