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.
Vigil
Nox Arcana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A distant churchbell tolls,
The wind forms a ghostly choir
To summon lost and wayward souls—
Snow drifts down from the heavens,
Like ghosts lost in the night—
Ice crystals cling to trees,
To set the woods aglow with light-
Along a forgotten forest path,
There stands an arch of ancient stone—
And amidst the hallowed ruins,
A solemn figure stands alone—
Snow comes to rest on raven's wings,
Covering black quills in ivory white—
And peace settles upon the earth
Beneath the ebon shroud of Winter's Knight—
The lyrics of Nox Arcana's "Vigil" paint a haunting picture of a winter landscape at twilight. As the distant tolling of a church bell and the eerie choir of the wind echo through the woods, snow drifts down from the heavens, blanketing the trees and forest floor in a ghostly white. Amidst this stillness, the listener is transported to a forgotten forest path, where an arch of ancient stone stands in solemnity. In the midst of the hallowed ruins, a solitary figure stands, its presence as mysterious as the snow that now settles on the wings of a raven perched nearby.
The imagery of the song invites listeners to contemplate the beauty of winter and its capacity to inspire reverence and awe. The churchbell and the figure standing amidst ancient ruins evoke feelings of isolation and transcendence, while the snow and ice create a landscape of otherworldly beauty. The lyrics suggest that winter's darkness and stillness can be a source of peace and introspection, even as they hint at the mystery and uncertainty of what lies beyond this world.
With its evocative imagery and haunting melody, "Vigil" is a compelling tribute to the power of winter, nature, and the unknown. From its stirring opening lines to its haunting final chords, the song transports listeners to a place of eerie beauty and timeless mystery, inviting them to contemplate the secrets that lie hidden within winter's chill embrace.
Line by Line Meaning
Alone at tranquil twilight,
In the peaceful evening by oneself,
A distant churchbell tolls,
The sound of a far-off churchbell echoes,
The wind forms a ghostly choir
A chorus of eerie sounds is created by the wind,
To summon lost and wayward souls—
As if beckoning wandering and directionless spirits,
Snow drifts down from the heavens,
Soft snowflakes fall from the sky above,
Like ghosts lost in the night—
Appearing as if phantoms vanishing into darkness,
Ice crystals cling to trees,
Frosty crystals cling onto branches and leaves,
To set the woods aglow with light-
Creating a shining aura within the forest,
Along a forgotten forest path,
Traversing a path through a neglected and overgrown forest,
There stands an arch of ancient stone—
An arch made of outdated rock stands tall and still,
And amidst the hallowed ruins,
Found amid the great ruins of heretic importance,
A solemn figure stands alone—
A serious entity remains singular and unaccompanied,
Snow comes to rest on raven's wings,
Sleet settles gently within dark bird wings,
Covering black quills in ivory white—
Concealing ebony feathers in pale winter shades,
And peace settles upon the earth
Providing stillness and harmony all over the ground,
Beneath the ebon shroud of Winter's Knight—
Below the dark cloak of the cold season's commander,
Contributed by Elena R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
MerrickChannel
Alone at tranquil twilight
A distant church bell tolls
The wind forms a ghostly choir
To summon lost and wayward souls
Snow drifts down from the heavens
Like ghosts lost in the night
Ice crystals cling to trees
To set the woods aglow with light
Along a forgotten forest path
There stands an arch of ancient stone
And amidst the hallowed ruins
A solemn figure stands alone
Snow comes to rest on raven's wings
Covering black quills in ivory white
And peace settles upon the earth
Beneath the ebon shroud of Winter's Knight
simplethunder
I was never into poetry, but the voice, the lyrics... EVERYTHING just goes together so perfectly.
tankpuss
Alone in tranquil twilight, a distant church bell tolls, the wind forms a ghostly choir, to summon lost and wayward souls, snow drifts down from the heavens, like ghosts lost in the night, and ice crystals cling to trees to set the woods aglow with light. along a forgotten forest path there stands an arch of ancient stone, and amidst the hallowed ruins, a solomn figure stands alone, snow comes to rest on ravens wings, covering black quills in ivory white, and peace settles upon the earth
VittorioBlackRose96
I love Nox Arcana. This is the Music.
lynn rummond
me too
Chris Mallow
This really considered a song? More like a peaceful poem. Its got its own mysterious creepy feel to it.
Emily
i love how it starts out with the wind.
Lauria Lailah Mannoe
Man I'm sitting in my room lights are off and I'm like locked in on the voice and words. So wow!
MerrickChannel
Alone at tranquil twilight
A distant church bell tolls
The wind forms a ghostly choir
To summon lost and wayward souls
Snow drifts down from the heavens
Like ghosts lost in the night
Ice crystals cling to trees
To set the woods aglow with light
Along a forgotten forest path
There stands an arch of ancient stone
And amidst the hallowed ruins
A solemn figure stands alone
Snow comes to rest on raven's wings
Covering black quills in ivory white
And peace settles upon the earth
Beneath the ebon shroud of Winter's Knight
Holly Collins
nice
tankpuss
+beneath the ebon shroud of winters knight(night)