The band's name Nox Arcana is derived from
two Latin words, which roughly translate to "mysteries of
the night." It is a great interest in ancient lore, gothic
literature and classic horror that unites these two composers,
Joseph Vargo and William Piotrowski, in their neverending quest
into shadowy and dangerous realms.
Nox Arcana's haunting Gothic soundtracks are often used in independent films, in theme parks during Halloween, and for role-playing games. They have created 10 albums of original music in less than 5 years. Nox Arcana's debut album, Darklore Manor, was featured as the musical score for a 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.
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 ala Bram Stoker's Dracula. The sinister Necronomicon is put to sound in Nox Arcana's homage to H.P. Lovecraft. 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.
But this band does not limit itself to just the Halloween season;
their gothic-Christmas release Winter's Knight hit the
Billboard Top Ten Music Charts for Best Holiday Album of 2006 and 2007. Their medieval battle epic, Blood of the Dragon stormed
in at #4 on Amazon's New Age chart, and
helped boost morale for U.S. troops stationed in Iraq for the
Ziggurat Games, held on June 9, 2007, the first-ever game convention
of its kind held in a war zone. Their album Phantoms of the High Seas, a ghostly adventure steeped in pirate lore, explores mysteries of the deep.
In addition to an extensive repertoire of music, their concept albums feature Joseph Vargo's lavish artwork, captivating original storylines and hidden riddles. Be sure to check out The Arcanum which
offers entertaining information about Nox Arcana's favorite authors
and subjects: Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos, Edgar Allan Poe,
Vlad Tepes, Dracula, fallen angels, ghostly knights, sinister
carnival attractions, lost pirate treasure, and a mysterious haunted mansion.
Joseph Vargo, composer, founder and producer of Nox Arcana, is
also an internationally acclaimed gothic fantasy artist and writer.
His artwork graces the covers of numerous magazines, books, and
cds. He began his own publishing company, Monolith Graphics,
in 1991, which is now a world leading producer of gothic and
dark-themed products. In 1998 and 1999, Vargo produced and directed
the gothic-themed albums, Born of the Night and Realm
of Shadows. 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.
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 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 is currently attending Kent State University where he is studying art and music.
Nox Arcana performance
credits.
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