Nox Arcana is renowned for creating haunting,
gothic-themed soundscapes with classic horror references,
strong literary influences, original captivating storylines,
hidden riddles and elaborate puzzles. The band is the musical
manifestation of gothic fantasy artist Joseph Vargo. After successfully
producing several gothic, horror-themed concept albums for other
bands, Vargo formed Nox Arcana with fellow musician William Piotrowski
in 2003. The name Nox Arcana is derived from two Latin words,
which roughly translate to "mysteries of the night."
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 their literary interests, these masters
of the macabre pay tribute to many of their favorite authors.
Their 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. The unsettling and creepy
Blackthorn Asylum explores the horrors of a forsaken 19th century
sanitarium with an original storyline
that expands upon Lovecraft's "From Beyond." Their
morbid and melancholy Shadow of the Raven pays tribute to
the great Edgar Allan Poe, and their darkly enchanting Grimm
Tales album brings the childhood nightmares of the Brothers Grimm
to life.
In addition to their popular Halloween concept CDs,
their gothic-Christmas release Winter's Knight peaked at
#8 on Billboard's Top Ten Best Holiday Albums in 2006. The band’s
2009 release Winter's Eve continues to celebrate the magic and
wonder of the winter season. The medieval sword and sorcery epic,
Blood of the Dragon stormed in at #4 on Amazon's New Age chart,
and Phantoms of the High Seas is a ghostly adventure steeped
in pirate lore that explores mysteries of the deep.
Nox Arcana's
latest release Theater of Illusion conjures a realm of
mystery and dark magic. The haunting melodies, mystical rhythms
and pulse-pounding orchestrations relate a story about an
old theater that is haunted by phantom magicians. As with all
of Nox Arcana’s concept CDs, this theme is one of personal interest
to composer Joseph Vargo, who is a lifelong fan of stage
magic. "Our music has always
been very popular with magicians, and several professional
illusionists have used various Nox Arcana CDs to enhance
their acts. With Theater of Illusion, I wanted to create
something specifically for magicians and fans of dark fantasy." The
story is set in an old Vaudeville theater, hidden from the
outside world, where master magicians gather to display their
talents every Halloween night.
In addition to an extensive
repertoire of music, the albums feature Joseph Vargo's lavish
artwork, captivating original storylines and hidden puzzles.
On the band's website, a section called The
Arcanum offers
entertaining information about Nox Arcana's favorite authors
and arcane subjects.
Joseph Vargo, composer, founder and
producer of Nox Arcana, has produced 16 albums to date, 12
Nox Arcana albums in addition to 4 other albums with various
recording artists. He has also contributed music and narrations
for various bands including Legion of the Damned and Acid
Witch. In 2011, Vargo will celebrate the 20th Anniversary
of his publishing company, Monolith Graphics, a world-leading
producer of gothic and dark-themed products.
Joseph Vargo
is an internationally acclaimed gothic fantasy artist and
writer. He achieved international acclaim in 1993 with the release
of a series of artistic works entitled "Born
of the Night," a
title which has become synonymous with his gothic empire.
His artwork has been featured in Spectrum's international
collection The Best in Contemporary Fantasy Art, in Dark's
Art Parlor Dark Visions collection, and in numerous other
horror publications including 32 covers and countless illustrations
for Dark Realms Magazine, Vampir, and the UK’s Bite
Me. His
artwork has been featured in productions by broadcast and
film companies such as NBC, Universal, A&E, 20th Century
Fox and The Discovery Channel.
In 1998 and 1999, Joseph
Vargo produced, financed, directed and performed on the gothic-themed
albums, Born of the Night and Realm of Shadows,
drastically changing the sound and style of Midnight Syndicate
to target the Halloween industry. In addition to music, Vargo
has created various artistic and literary projects including Tales
from the Dark Tower and The Gothic Tarot. His artbook, Born
of the Night: The Gothic Fantasy Artwork of Joseph Vargo, features
a collection of over 100 paintings and illustrations from
about 1988 to 2005. Vargo's latest book, The Legend of Darklore
Manor and Other Tales of Terror, contains 13 sinister stories
including the novella that chronicles the grim history of
the haunted mansion that inspired Nox Arcana's debut album.
Be sure to visit JosephVargo.com to see hundreds of paintings
and illustrations, and to read more of his extensive biography
including complete publishing credits and in-depth interviews.
William
Piotrowski, composer and engineer for Nox Arcana, began his
professional music career at the early age of 15 when he
created the musical score for an independent production entitled "Ghosts
of Ohio," a video documentary about the original "Ghost
Whisperer," now a popular TV series on CBS. William plays
several instruments including guitar and keyboards, and is
well versed in digital recording technology. William's interests
in the realm of the supernatural are reflected in his dark,
symphonic compositions and his expertise as a studio engineer
enables him to bring Nox Arcana's artistic visions to life.
William has recently graduated from Kent State University
with a Bachelor’s degree in art and music. In 2009, William
left the band to pursue other interests but continues to
act as the studio engineer for Nox Arcana.
-:{ }:-
|
