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.
The House Beyond The Graveyard
Nox Arcana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is no place to stay the night
For once its ancient doors creak shut
There's no escape in sight
The old house looks deserted
Abandoned and forsaken
But every night, as darkness falls
Shadows roam the cobwebbed halls
And whispers fill the rooms
And in the cold crypts far below
The dead rise from their tombs
So if you dare to venture there
Leave long before night falls
Lest you join the restless ghosts
That haunt its shadowed halls
The lyrics to "The House Beyond The Graveyard" by Nox Arcana paint a picture of a dark and foreboding place that should be avoided at all costs. The first stanza warns the listener that the house is not a place to stay the night, as once the doors close, there is no escape. The second stanza describes the outside appearance of the house as abandoned, but as darkness falls, its residents awaken. The third stanza reveals that shadows roam the halls, whispers fill the rooms, and the dead rise from their tombs in the crypts below. The final stanza serves as a warning to those who dare to venture to the house beyond the graveyard, advising that they leave before nightfall or risk becoming one of the restless ghosts that haunt the halls.
Line by Line Meaning
The house beyond the graveyard
The location of the house is found in the remote of the graveyard
Is no place to stay the night
It is not safe to spend the night there
For once its ancient doors creak shut
Once the old doors close
There's no escape in sight
No way out of the house is visible
The old house looks deserted
The house appears lifeless
Abandoned and forsaken
The house is neglected and forgotten
But every night, as darkness falls
Every night, when the dark approaches
Its residents awaken
The inhabitants awake
Shadows roam the cobwebbed halls
Dark figures wander through the dusty corridors
And whispers fill the rooms
Soft murmurs can be heard in each chamber
And in the cold crypts far below
Deep in the chilly tombs underneath
The dead rise from their tombs
The deceased emerges from their graves
So if you dare to venture there
If you choose to explore the house
Leave long before the night falls
Make sure you exit before the darkness ensues
Lest you join the restless ghosts
Otherwise, the agitated spirits may capture you
That haunt its shadowed halls
That haunt the dim passages
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Joseph Vargo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
dtrix10kc
The night comes. Evil walks as silent as a whisper among the unsuspecting.
It is All Hallows Eve. Cold as ice. Blood runs free. Madness runs rampant, doesn't everyone see?
If a knock comes at your door, for your safety and your sanity, do not answer. Pray that you do not give in.
Why, you may ask? Because I am The Reaper and I stand and wait.
Welcome to my nightmare, you poor innocent fool.
::screaming with insane, murderous laughter::
Happy Halloween, Nox Arcana!
ravenandthecrow
Once I get out of my financial problems, I am going to buy EVERY cds you have and ALL the artwork.
You guys are just amazing.
Phoebe Graveyard
I have this album and this is my favorite song of all. On the album its done in little girl voices. Very eerie. I literally live in a 150 year old house with a graveyard down my front path.
hypnotize mind
👏👏👏🌙
gyloir
You guys make some of the best and creepiest music, perfect for Halloween.
Jose Domingo Lopez Flores
¡¡ esta narración y ambientacion tenebrosa junto con la melodía. Son de otro nivel 👌en lo personal no eh encontrado algo mejor. Todo un clásico de lo que realmente representa un ambiente de terror 👍
AlexMoby
I got goosebumps, it's a very inspiring and frightening track. Thanks for uploading new videos.
Francesco Migliaccio
Bellissimo ❤
Bleu_Ace
This is one of the reasons why I have been enraptured by Nox Arcana for nearly a decade: AMBIANCE!
Lesa Stamm
.. total rush
The Summoner
I just downloaded this album and it is scary cool! Nox arcana, you are as awesome as the day I first came by y'all's music. It's inspired some poems to come to be cause of y'all & I thank you for it. Keep making great music. Your music is awesome!