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.
Fate of the Tempest
Nox Arcana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That the Tempest left Black Raven’s Bay
Setting sail for lands unknown,
Seeking fortune along the way
All men aboard bid their ladies farewell
As the ship left the harbor astern,
And the Tempest sailed off, out into the mist,
Out in the midst of the ocean’s abyss
A furious storm crossed their path
And the ship and its crew all perished beneath
King Neptune’s merciless wrath
So beware the whispering wind
In the misty dead of night,
For the voices ye hear are but ghosts, and I fear,
There’s no end to their journey in sight
So beware the whispering wind
In the misty dead of night,
For the voices ye hear are but ghosts, and I fear,
There’s no end to their journey in sight
So hearken ye pirates and black-hearted dogs,
Lest your fate be the same, or far worse
For the men who set sail beneath the skull and bones
Are destined to suffer this curse
The song "Fate of the Tempest" by Nox Arcana is a haunting tale of a ship known as the Tempest that set sail from Black Raven's Bay in search of fortune but never returned. The song begins by describing the misty morning when the Tempest left the bay and the farewell given by the crew's loved ones. The ship sails out into the mist, never to be seen again. The ship, crew, and all aboard are lost to the fury of King Neptune's wrath when they encounter a storm and perish.
The lyrics warn listeners to beware of the whispering wind and voices heard in the misty dead of night, for they are but ghosts, and there is no end to their journey in sight. The song ends with a warning to pirates and those who sail beneath a black flag that they are destined to suffer the same fate or worse than the Tempest.
Overall, the song is a chilling reminder of the dangers of the sea and the inherent risk involved in seeking fortune and adventure on the open ocean.
Line by Line Meaning
Twas many a misty morning past
Many misty mornings have passed since the events that are about to be recounted.
That the Tempest left Black Raven’s Bay
On one such morning, a ship called the Tempest left Black Raven's Bay.
Setting sail for lands unknown,
The ship was headed towards unknown lands,
Seeking fortune along the way
Eager to find wealth and fame.
All men aboard bid their ladies farewell
Before departing, the men on board said goodbye to their loved ones.
As the ship left the harbor astern,
Once the ship set sail, the harbor was left behind.
And the Tempest sailed off, out into the mist,
Amidst the mist, the Tempest continued its journey.
Never to return
Unfortunately, the ship would never return.
Out in the midst of the ocean’s abyss
While sailing in the middle of the ocean,
A furious storm crossed their path
The ship encountered a raging storm.
And the ship and its crew all perished beneath
Sadly, the ship and everyone on board were lost.
King Neptune’s merciless wrath
This was due to the merciless wrath of King Neptune, the Roman god of the sea.
So beware the whispering wind
Be careful when you hear the wind's whispers.
In the misty dead of night,
Especially at night, when the mist obscures everything.
For the voices ye hear are but ghosts, and I fear,
The voices are merely those of ghosts, and there is something to be feared.
There’s no end to their journey in sight
These ghosts may never find peace and continue on their journey forever.
So hearken ye pirates and black-hearted dogs,
Listen well, ye pirates and wicked curs,
Lest your fate be the same, or far worse
So that you do not suffer the same fate, or an even worse one.
For the men who set sail beneath the skull and bones
Those who sail with the Jolly Roger, the infamous pirate flag with a skull and crossbones,
Are destined to suffer this curse
May be destined to suffer a similar fate as the crew of the doomed Tempest.
Contributed by Reagan M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.