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.
From Dusk Till Dawn
Nox Arcana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For Nightmares rise as shadows fall—
Wolves howl and wail 'neath moonlit skies,
And grim things harken to their cries—
The restless dead and souls forsaken,
From their deathly sleep, awaken—
And things that shun the light of day,
Prowl the night in search of prey—
The lyrics to Nox Arcana’s song From Dusk Till Dawn are an eerie warning to all those who dare to venture out after sunset. The lyrics describe a world where nightmares come to life and shadows seem to have a mind of their own. It is a world where wolves howl under the eerie glow of the moon and the dead awaken from their slumber. The song also describes demonic creatures that shun the light of day, lurking in the darkness and searching for their next victim.
This dark and foreboding song paints a vivid picture of a world that is not meant for the faint of heart. From Dusk Till Dawn seems to be a warning to those who are brave enough to journey into this world, reminding them that the night is full of danger and terror. The haunting melody and mysterious lyrics of this song create an atmosphere of unease, transporting the listener to a place where anything is possible.
Line by Line Meaning
From dusk till dawn, beware night's call
As the day draws to a close, be cautious of the allure of the night
For Nightmares rise as shadows fall
As darkness descends, dreams become more frightening
Wolves howl and wail 'neath moonlit skies
Under the glowing moon, wolves let out mournful cries
And grim things harken to their cries
Dark creatures heed the call of the wolves
The restless dead and souls forsaken,
Those who have passed on without peace or closure
From their deathly sleep, awaken—
Are stirred from their slumber to roam the earth again
And things that shun the light of day,
Creatures that avoid sunlight
Prowl the night in search of prey—
Hunt and stalk their victims under the cover of night
Contributed by Riley M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.