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.
Skull and Crossbones
Nox Arcana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was on this date two hundred years ago
That the Tempest set sail from Widow's Harbor
Never to return
The legends say that the ship met with a furious storm
Brought on by the Devil himself
And that the captain swore a curse to the heavens
Some say that the ship was a pirate vessel
And tell tale of a buried treasure
Hidden somewhere on the legendary Trove Island
But, even though its ancient wreckage surely lies at the bottom of the sea
There are those who swear they have seen the Tempest
Out beyond Devil's Reef
Sailing through the fog in the dead of night
An unearthly wind fills the ship's tattered sails
As the ghostly galleon drifts along
Beneath the banner of the skull and crossbones
Her crew staring at them with lifeless eyes
Their hollow voices whispering in the wind as they pass by
There are those who swear this tale is true
And warn sailors to beware any ship that prowls the misty night
For during the midnight hour, the dead can have no rest
The lyrics of Nox Arcana's "Skull and Crossbones" tell a haunting tale about the cursed ship, the Tempest. The song begins by setting the scene at midnight, two hundred years ago, when the Tempest departed from Widow's Harbor and never returned. According to legends, the ship encountered a violent storm believed to be summoned by the Devil himself. The captain, in desperation, uttered a curse to the heavens, dooming his crew to wander the seven seas for eternity.
There are conflicting accounts about the nature of the Tempest. Some say it was a pirate vessel, and rumors circulate about a hidden treasure buried on Trove Island, which could still be found despite the ship's wreckage resting at the sea's bottom. However, the haunting essence of the song lies in the reports of people claiming to have spotted the Tempest sailing through the fog beyond Devil's Reef, illuminated by an otherworldly wind filling its tattered sails. The ship's banner demonstrates the notorious skull and crossbones symbol associated with pirates, while the crew members emit an eerie presence, staring with lifeless eyes and their ghostly voices whispering in the wind as the ship drifts by.
While there are skeptics, there are those who firmly believe in the truth of this tale, cautioning sailors to be wary of any ship that prowls the misty night. The lyrics convey the idea that during the midnight hour, the dead find no rest, leaving room for a dark and supernatural presence to inhabit the seas. The song's eeriness and warning create a sense of unease, emphasizing the mysterious power behind the tale of the cursed ship, the Tempest.
Overall, Nox Arcana's "Skull and Crossbones" paints a vivid picture of a ship lost to the fury of a storm, forever cursed to roam the seas. It blends elements of pirate folklore, treasure hunting, and the supernatural, instilling a sense of foreboding and caution as the crew of the Tempest continues their ethereal journey through the dead of night.
Line by Line Meaning
Twelve o'clock, the midnight hour
At midnight, when darkness consumes the sky
It was on this date two hundred years ago
Exactly two hundred years ago on this very day
That the Tempest set sail from Widow's Harbor
When the Tempest ship departed from Widow's Harbor
Never to return
Never to come back again
The legends say that the ship met with a furious storm
According to legends, the ship encountered a violent storm
Brought on by the Devil himself
Caused by the Devil, as the tales tell
And that the captain swore a curse to the heavens
The captain vehemently cursed the heavens
That doomed his crew to wander the seven seas for eternity
Condemning his crew to endure an eternal voyage across the oceans
Some say that the ship was a pirate vessel
Certain individuals claim that the ship was a pirate's vessel
And tell tale of a buried treasure
They narrate stories of a hidden treasure
Hidden somewhere on the legendary Trove Island
Secretly located on the fabled Trove Island
But, even though its ancient wreckage surely lies at the bottom of the sea
However, despite its ancient remnants resting deep in the ocean
There are those who swear they have seen the Tempest
Certain individuals firmly claim to have witnessed the Tempest
Out beyond Devil's Reef
Beyond the ominous Devil's Reef
Sailing through the fog in the dead of night
Navigating through the misty darkness of the night
An unearthly wind fills the ship's tattered sails
An otherworldly wind inflates the ship's torn sails
As the ghostly galleon drifts along
While the spectral vessel aimlessly floats
Beneath the banner of the skull and crossbones
Underneath the emblem of the skull and crossed bones
Her crew staring at them with lifeless eyes
The crew, with their empty eyes, fixate upon them
Their hollow voices whispering in the wind as they pass by
Their empty voices murmur in the passing wind
There are those who swear this tale is true
Certain individuals firmly believe in the authenticity of this story
And warn sailors to beware any ship that prowls the misty night
They caution sailors to be cautious of any ship roaming the foggy night
For during the midnight hour, the dead can have no rest
As the clock strikes midnight, the deceased find no solace
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Joseph Vargo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind