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.
Dead Men Tell No Tales
Nox Arcana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Avast ye pirates and black-hearted sea dogs
Many a man has been summoned by the lore of the deep
And many a man has met his death beneath the dark waters of the endless abyss
For the sea is a cruel mistress
And what she claims she holds on to forever
Who's ghostly captain and crew have been cursed to wander the mist shrowded waves for all eternity
Other tales tell of sea-monsters and sirens, sunken cities and ancient maps that lead to uncharted islands where treasure beyond most men's wildest dreams lays buried
But these are merely stories, and the truth may never be told
For such secrets are known only to the phantoms of the high seas
And dead men tell no tales
Yo-ho
, Yo-ho, the lyrics to Nox Arcana's "Dead Men Tell No Tales" paints a vivid picture of the treacherous world of piracy and the dangers of the deep. The song begins with a rallying cry to all pirates and sea dogs, inviting them to listen closely to the tales of the deep that have lured many a man to their death. The sea is portrayed as a cruel mistress that holds the fate of all mariners in her hands. She is a mystery that has claimed the lives of countless sailors.
The lyrics go on to explore the myths and legends that surround the sea, such as the stories of phantom ships crewed by cursed captains and the lore of sea-monsters and sirens. The idea of sunken cities and uncharted islands where untold riches lay buried also add to the mystique and allure of the sea. However, the song concludes on a somber note, reminding us that the truth of these stories will never be known as the secrets of the high seas are locked away with the dead. The final line, "dead men tell no tales", reinforces the idea that once a mariner meets his fate at sea, his story is lost forever.
The lyrics to "Dead Men Tell No Tales" are powerful and thought-provoking, conjuring up vivid imagery of the dangers and mysteries of the sea. The song is a reflection of the human fascination with the unknown and the lure of the forbidden, as well as the dangers that come with such exploration.
Line by Line Meaning
Avast ye pirates and black-hearted sea dogs
Listen up, you ruthless pirates and seafaring scoundrels
Many a man has been summoned by the lore of the deep
Many men are drawn to the mysteries and legends of the sea
And many a man has met his death beneath the dark waters of the endless abyss
Unfortunately, many of these men have met their ultimate fate in the treacherous depths of the ocean
For the sea is a cruel mistress
The ocean can be an unforgiving and brutal force
And what she claims she holds on to forever
Anything claimed by the sea is never to be found again
Mariners tell tale of phantom ships
Sailors have shared stories of ghostly ships appearing and disappearing before their eyes
Who's ghostly captain and crew have been cursed to wander the mist shrouded waves for all eternity
These ships are thought to be cursed, and the crew doomed to wander the seas forever in their spectral form
Other tales tell of sea-monsters and sirens, sunken cities and ancient maps that lead to uncharted islands where treasure beyond most men's wildest dreams lays buried
Legends also speak of sea-dwelling beasts, enchanting creatures, lost underwater cities, and mysterious maps leading to valuable treasures hidden away on unexplored islands
But these are merely stories, and the truth may never be told
However, these stories may simply be just myths and the truth is may never be known
For such secrets are known only to the phantoms of the high seas
These secrets are only known by those who have already perished and become phantoms themselves
And dead men tell no tales
Since deceased men cannot communicate, their secrets will always remain buried with them
Contributed by Isabelle B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.