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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 debut album, Darklore Manor, was featured as the musical score for a New Year's Eve televised special of the 1922 silent film classic, Nosferatu. Their darkly seductive Transylvania, and the sinister Necronomicon and Carnival of Lost Souls are often played during Halloween and in haunted houses such as Busch Gardens, Knott's Scary Farms, and Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights, and are favored by fans of games like Vampire: The Masquerade, Call of Cthulhu, Fall from Heaven and Masters of Belial.
But this band does not limit itself to just the Halloween season; their gothic-Christmas release Winter's Knight hit the Billboard Music Charts Top Ten Holiday Albums of 2006 and 2007, and their medieval battle epic, Blood of the Dragon stormed in at #4 on Amazon's New Age chart that same year. Nox Arcana helped boost morale for U.S. troops stationed in Iraq, when they contributed several cases of cds to the troops attending the Ziggurat Games, held on June 9, 2007, the first-ever game convention of its kind held in a war zone.
In keeping with their literary leanings, these masters of the macabre pay tribute to their favorite authors: Bram Stoker, H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, and the Brothers Grimm. Their latest release, Grimm Tales, marks Nox Arcana's 9th full-length album in just 4 years! In addition to an extensive repertoir of music, their concept albums feature lavish artwork, captivating 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, 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; most notably to date is the illustrated gothic anthology Tales from the Dark Tower and The Gothic Tarot. The book Born of the Night: The Gothic Fantasy Artwork of Joseph Vargo features a collection of over 100 of his paintings and illustrations from about 1988 to 2005. More of Vargo's work can be found on the Monolith Graphics website.
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.
Submitted by LissaTeka
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