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.
Nevermore
Nox Arcana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon′s that is dreaming
And the lamplight o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted, nevermore
The lyrics are a portion of Nox Arcana's adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's iconic poem, 'The Raven.' The singer is describing his sorrow, loss, and despair over the death of a loved one, Lenore. As he sits in his room, grief-stricken, a raven appears, perching atop a bust of Pallas above the chamber door. The unsettling gaze of the bird, along with its rocky position, adds to the already eerie atmosphere.
The singer describes the raven, saying that its eyes look like that of a demon, as if it is in a trance. The continuous stream of light from the lamp falls over the bird, casting a shadow onto the floor, which the singer's soul seems to float on. The singer then surmises that only the raven's shadow exists in the room, but his soul lies in the shadow of the raven, and it will remain there, trapped in despair, forever.
Overall, the lyrics convey a somber and melancholy tone. The raven plays a significant role in the poem, symbolizing death and despair, and it is a reminder of the loss that cannot be forgotten.
Line by Line Meaning
And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
The raven refuses to leave and continues to sit in the same spot, without any movement.
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door
The raven is perched on a white statue of Pallas, located directly above the singer's bedroom door.
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon′s that is dreaming
The raven's eyes resemble those of a demon, which the singer describes as having a haunting appearance.
And the lamplight o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor
The light from the lamp illuminates the raven, creating a shadow that is cast onto the ground.
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
The artist's soul appears to rise out of the shadow created by the raven's presence in the room.
Shall be lifted, nevermore
The singer believes that his soul will never again return to the shadow and the darkness it represents, as symbolized by the finality of the word 'nevermore.'
Writer(s): Nox Arcana
Contributed by Lily K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.