Carnival Of Lost Souls

Nox Arcana | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 6, 2006)
• Original Release Date: June 6, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Monolith Graphics
• ASIN: B000FOT9EE
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #100,381 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #28 in Music > Miscellaneous > Holiday > Halloween
  • #31 in Music > Miscellaneous > Sound Effects

Editorial Reviews

Review

''Carnival of Lost Souls'' is The Greatest Show on Earth. An absolutely enchanting opus; besides the brilliant orchestrations, this album manages to conjure the underlying sensation of a Magical world you will never want to leave.
      By the pricking of my thumbs... I am fondly reminded of the Ray Bradbury classic ''Something Wicked This Way Comes.'' Carnival of Lost Souls is by far Nox Arcana's sexiest cd to date---a celebration of the seduction and allure of the carnival.
      The mystique of drifters traveling from town to town with their strange collection of secrets. This brethren of the macabre, from the midway carnies to the freakshow performers; for a brief time they cast their spell, enchant and seduce us, and then they're gone.
     The unrelenting drums of ''Soul Stealer'' puts to music hidden desires and unbridled passion. ''Harlequin's Lament'' is hypnotically hot, as is the exotic and provocative ''Snake Charmer.'' With ''Haunted Carousel'' I was reminded of a ballroom, of figures in black lace and crimson velvet. ''Nightmare Parade'' captures the beauty of the dark side. making you desire to dance with the shadows and be part of their ghostly entourage. ''Spellbound'' is a little treat for any of you who love the crackling of old records played on an old Victrola.
      And speaking of SPELLBOUND!! What a treat at the end of the album to hear a REAL metal song for us Old Schoolers! I admit, I did shed a tear. I think Nox Arcana should do this at the end of all their albums, but I am just being very biased to my decade of choice. Each song is as perfect as the last, from start to finish.
     Let's talk about Vargo's art. We all know what a genius he is. I was seriously considering getting the evil jester image on the back cover as a tattoo. The green motif is superb and I still pray at night that in my next life I will be the lady riding the haunted carousel on the insert.
-- Fangoria


For those familiar with atmospheric horror music, the name Joseph Vargo might ring a bell, after all he was the mastermind behind the Midnight Syndicate album Born Of The Night. For the last few years, however, he has been working alongside William Piotrowski as Nox Arcana, and creating beautiful soundscapes to haunt your mind and home. They have released five albums over the past three years, a feat lots of bands could never pull off, and have truly created a niche for themselves with their brand of conceptual horror soundtrack featuring everything from deep orchestral pieces to hair-raising sound effects, effortlessly blended together to draw the listener into whichever world they wish, be it a haunted Victorian mansion, a Gothic Winter wonderland, Bram Stoker's Dracula, or HP Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos. This time around though we are given a ticket, paid in full, that allows us entrance into the Carnival of Lost Souls.
     We begin or journey with the opening track ''Ghosts Of The Midway,'' which ushers us into the scariest carnival this side of the afterlife, the Circus Diabolique. All of the attractions are here, the ''Haunted Carousel,'' ''Hall Of Mirrors,'' ''Freaks,'' and even ''Madame Endora'' the fortune-teller. The album deftly leads us through each part of the midway, offering glimpses of what lies in store for you inside of each tent. Some contain magic, ''Spellbound,'' some contain terror, ''Nightmare Parade,'' but all of the songs are masterful arrangements that drag you deeper into the mythology Nox Arcana has created. You are so engulfed in your excursion through the Circus Diabolique that time will fly by, leaving you no choice but to cash in your ticket once more and begin your trip down the grounds of the circus again.
     This is a fantastic album, creating a nightmare world, which this reviewer didn't want to leave. I highly recommend all of Nox Arcana's aural horrors, and Carnival Of Lost Souls is no exception. As fans of fright will quickly see these ghouls know how to create unearthly terror deep in the minds eye. So, what are you waiting for, enter the realm of Circus Diabolique, that is if you dare!
-- Hacker's Source


Nox Arcana with their cd Carnival of Lost Souls evokes the carnival as a place of wickedness and danger. Released appropriately on 6-6-6, the album is mostly instrumental music of the horror goth variety with sound effects and a chorus of voices to create a haunting, ghostly journey perfect for haunted houses or Halloween parties.
      The album opens with a collage of sounds on ''Ghosts of the Midway,'' with the crowds shuffling, the calliope in the distance, and underneath it all, a deep drone like something dark pervading the fun-seeking crowds. The ringmaster begins shouting a welcome but gives warning as well of dark wonders that may threaten. In ''After Hours,'' the crowds have gone home and the listener is left alone to see what goes on in the carnival after dark. Spectral laughter cackles from here and there, and a creepy voice implores the listener to follow. Then on ''Harlequin's Lament'' a sad piano refrain is joined by the ''Gregorian Shadow Choir'' that sings on many of the album's tunes. This is the central style of Nox Arcana's music: a mournful piano and a funerary chorale. This gives the album a uniform quality ideal for background music, but each song also adds individual sound effects and other variations to keep things interesting.
      The piece ''Calliope'' of course features that instrument, a particularly wheezy version like the old steam-powered style. This calliope then comes and goes throughout the album like a theme revisited. The thundering tympani on ''Nightmare Parade'' also reappear in other pieces like ''Circus Diabolique'' and ''The Devil's Daggers'' to create a sound like apocalyptic horses charging, such as Basil Poledouri's achieved in his ''Conan'' soundtrack. Quite different are the several pieces that use a delicate and slightly warped music box sound as on ''Living Dolls'' which gives a feeling more like Goblin's work on ''Suspiria.'' The piece ''Snake Charmer'' uses a melody and beat evocative of Middle Eastern music. And on several pieces, the chorus rises to epic heights giving a feeling like Carl Orff's ''O Fortuna.''
      A still more unique piece is ''Spellbound'' which begins with a sound as though it is being played through a crackling old Victrola. Mournful strings play and a voice begins to sing. The song is very brief, almost a fragment. But on the last track of the album, the song returns after a long pause as a hidden extra. In this version, the song is a full-blown goth rock number with Jim Hamar singing like a glam-era Bowie and guitarist Jeff Endemann providing solid metal riffs. On the last listed track, ''Storm,'' the ringmaster bids us farewell and the fortune teller lets us know that we only got away this time and that we are still doomed by fate. It's a classic Hollywood touch that serves well as the end of this cinematic night trip through this diabolical carnival.
-- Big Ole Face Full of Monster

Product Description

Step this way... there's no turning back. Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the circus of the strange, the sideshow of the sinister and the theater of the bizarre. Cast your eyes upon the cruel oddities of nature and behold monstrous creatures from the depths of the abyss. Hear the dark wisdom of the old gypsy soothsayer as she foretells of things yet to come, and marvel with awe and dismay at unbelievable death-defying acts that teeter on the very brink of doom. Leave the mundane world behind, for those who visit this festival of phantasms are never the same again.
     Nox Arcana takes listeners inside an old-fashioned traveling circus, in the tradition of Bradbury's ''Something Wicked This Way Comes.'' As the Circus Diabolique rises from the shadows every one-hundred years, the true faces of its diabolical denizens are unmasked. Carnival of Lost Souls delivers 21 tracks of dark orchestrations and eerie melodies, haunting calliope, piano and pipe organ, ghostly choirs and sinister voices that echo from the shadows. (21 tracks. 63 mins.)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Masterpiece From The Maestros Of The Macabre, June 6, 2006

By 

John Rossi (Somers Point, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Carnival Of Lost Souls (Audio CD)

First: They took you on a horrifying journey through the halls of a haunted Victorian mansion, home of the notorious Darklore clan, a sanctuary of shadows which few dare enter, and from which none return...

Then, just when you thought the terror was over, they walked with you on a spine-tingling musical journey into the pages H.P. Lovecraft's terrifying literary world, opening the ancient tome known as the "Necronomicon"

Later, a restful and refreshing respite was had, and a time of somber reflection, with a journey into Ebonshire Forest, and the surrounding village as the Knight Of Winter related a tragic yet beautiful cautionary tale....

And finally, the dark realm of the vampire was breached, with a visit to the rugged lovely land of "Transylvania", with a chilling, grandiose and spellbinding musical tribute to the king of Vampires, Vlad Dracula himself...

For a while, or so it seemed, all was quiet....Until...

NOW............

Travel anew if you dare, with Nox Arcana... masterful minstrels of the macabre as an all new musical nightmare is set to unfold. Step this way,ladies and gentlemen... and bring your tickets.... as you are about to cross onto the fairgrounds of the Circus Diabolique. Welcome, one and all... to the Carnival Of Lost Souls....

1. Ghosts Of The Midway- Oh, how festively do we begin our journey into theunknown. A soft undercurrent of choral "moaning" carries a blend of children's and grownups laughter and revelry, along with the sounds of what may be tricycle horns. Soon we are greeted by the Ringmaster, runner of these fiendishly fun attractions. A swirling and eerily playful keyboard melody buoys a deep, charming, yet slightly sinister voice as we are invited to explore our wickedest dreams and most diabolical nightmares. The fun is just getting started...

2. After Hours- We get more somber here. Though this is a very pretty tune, more tension is building. Ringing bell-like tones... almost like a xylophone but not quite, resemble a heartbeat in their pacing, as they combine with soft moans, children's laughter, beautifully sad and mysterious choral passages, and tolling vespers to tell of the imminent falling of night. A whispered voice dares us onward to explore further the festive yet fearful fairgrounds, saying..."Follow me..... This way..." Do you dare to move on?

3. Harlequin's Lament- Mournful piano and choral tones tell the story here, mixing with tolling bells.. `Tis the tale of one of the performers, a heart-stirring tale of one sentenced to forever entertain the patrons of a circus of fiends

4. Calliope- A festive, playful musical opus, this, or so it seems uses a mix of keyboard, flute, very nice tolling bells, xylophone and choral notes. It depicts the innocence of children, enjoying a ride that might be more captivating, and dangerous than it appears. The sound of children laughing on occasion really adds to this effect.

5. Madame Endora- The dropping of money tells of a daring soul indeed.. A beautiful swirling harp tune blends with choir and pipe organ, as we are told by the soothsayer in a grating, witch-like voice, of bleak horizons and a path before us filled with darkness. Beware the coming storm. Tense, ominous, heavily atmospheric, and beautiful.

6. Nightmare Parade- This is a heavily martial piece, rousing and adventurous. Pounding percussion, invigorating strings and choir do the honors. The snap of a cracking whip and the growls of animals make an appearance, along with tolling bells, xylophone-like sounds , pipe organ and great choral passages.

7. Shadow's Fall- Percussion and somber piano are the stars here. They are accompanied by melancholy but beautiful strings. This speaks of more dangers and horrors that lie on the path ahead. Beware!

8. Hall Of Mirrors- This is a "fun" piece, but still creepy. The lead players in this part of the drama are keyboards and sinister laughter in varying pitches. It pays homage to the frightening yet fun mirror houses we all remember from our own visits to the circus as children.

9. Spellbound- This is a piece of pure and lovely nostalgia. The sound of an old phonograph gives way to a sad but very pretty violin tune over which the following is sung "The witching hour's drawing near. And my tragic fate is clear. I'll take your secret to my grave. For evermore I'll be you slave. Because I'm spellbound." The record whooshes to a stop, and the track ends with a choral moan of a sort.

10. Cries In The Night-Oh, how to choose words that do this justice. These cries are not screams of terror. Nay, they are heartstring-tugging choral passages,. hinting at a deep and lonely sorrow and a heart-wrenching loveliness. Xylophone-like notes make a brief guest appearance alongside some of the most emotion-stirring choral voice work I have ever had the pleasure to listen to.

11. Soul Stealer- Choir, heavy percussion, pipe organ, and quick violin runs tell this tale. It is an invigorating `chase' as you are hounded through the fairgrounds by dark forces that seek to overtake you. Run for your life. Your very soul may depend on it

12. - Haunted Carousel- I see this as a "companion piece" to Calliope, but that is not to disparage this piece. It is a beautiful mix of keys, pipe organ, tolling bells and choir that depict a turn upon a ride we all remember fondly. It is a tune almost of seduction... promising fun if you indulge in partaking in a ride upon an amusement which, in this case you
shouldn't touch, but the music is so alluring. Won't you give in, just this once, and if you do, will you be able to resist doing it again?

13. Theater Of Sorrows - Piano, choir, violin and tolling bells are the stars of this show once more. This is a great and very beautiful piece, somber yet thrilling in a way that is all its own.

14. Living Dolls - This begins with the sound of wind-up toys being cranked up. Bell-like tones blend with soft and alluring choir, lovely string work, and the laughter of a child to depict our favorite toys.

15. Lost In The Darkness- This may be among the most beautiful pieces of music I've heard. It uses noble, somber piano and pipe organ, blended with the soul stirring power of majestic strings, and some of the most beautiful choral passages my ears have even ingested. Despite it's dark, bleak nature, depicting a lost and wandering soul, the piece seems to carry a current of hope... that maybe, just maybe the wanderer will find a way home. We root for them, whoever they are, even though we know they will find no escape. Truly an awe-inspring loveliness is to be found here.

16. Snake Charmer- This is one of my favorite "attractions" in this show. Exotic percussion mixes with beautiful flute, enchanting Middle Eastern instrumentation and alluring choral passages to take us on an awesome journey to a land far away, to a place only reachable in our dreams, as we watch one of great skill do musical `battle' to charm a deadly serpent.

17. Freaks - This piece is heavily atmospheric It seems to use a `drone' effect made of deep wordless male choir, mixing it with deep laughter, the growls of mythical beasts, and the rattling of chains. The feel of one is pure and inescapable tension.

18. Circus Diabolique- Here we have a great martial musical opus, utilizing brooding but melodic strings, militaristic percussion and snare drums, horns, pipe organ and choir. It is a thrilling piece of music, with a steady mid-range tempo. We are invited by our kind Ringmaster to draw our attention to center stage, where we are told we will each "bear witness to terrifying sights that will haunt you till the day you die. " Behold the Circus Diabolique, and let the nightmare begin!!!

19. Pandora's Music Box- This is a lovely tune filled, to me, with wonder and mystery, and tension It utilizes beautiful bells, choir, strings, and pipe organ to suggest the temptation and allure of having within our reach something that can promise great power and show us wondrous things we've not
seen before, but warns us that they will be a price to pay if we give in to that temptation.

20. The Devil's Daggers - This is the most INTENSE attraction of the show. The sinister swirling string melodies and thundering percussion are relentless, and they carry a current of beautiful yet foreboding choir atop themselves. The chase is on, and you MUST run for your life if you wish to keep it.

21. Storm - Steady, brooding strings and choir do the honors here, dancing with inexorable percussion and briefly with sinister pipe organ It conveys the unstoppable power of nature's fury. The thunderclaps that appear within this piece of music are the most awesome thunderclaps that I have ever heard utilized in any recording that I know of.

One thing you must be aware of. Even as the last mighty thunderclap on "Storm" fades away, do not hit "Stop" on your CD player. There are some excellent bonus tracks to which you will be treated, including a harp-tinged reading from the ghostly Madame Endora, a beautiful music-box number, and an AWESOME rock/metal version of Spellbound that is led into brilliantly by a purely lovely violin melody on an old phonograph that 'skips' a few times before launching into blistering and brilliant heavy metal guitar riffs.

Here's the simple truth of the matter to me. Nox Arcana have outdone themselves with this CD. It is their best work to date. If you are a fan, you owe it to yourself to get this CD. If you are not a fan... one listen to this could make you a fan. Pick it up if you get the chance, and happy listening. :)... Read more ›

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent sound tapestry of gothic horror!, June 7, 2006

By 

David Albert "doctordruidphd" (Pacific Northwest, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Carnival Of Lost Souls (Audio CD)

This CD is Nox Arcana's best to date, and that is saying something, since all of Nox Arcana's productions are first rate.

If you are new to the music of Nox Arcana, it is basically a gothic horror novel, told through the medium of music and special effects. Think Dracula, Wolf Man, Frankenstein; that kind of thing. But instead of film or video, the tale is woven through masterfully crafted music, with special effects judiciously added to enhance the mood and effect. The result is an auditory journey through a nightmare world.

Imagine yourself in an old-time carnival, complete with tents, animal shows, fortune tellers, and assorted side shows and attractions. Except something is not quite right. From the very beginning, you get the feeling you are being watched. So you decide to sneak back in after closing time. Somehow, the carnival comes back to life... but maybe "life" is not quite the right word. Welcome to the Carnival of Lost Souls.

This is definitely not elevator music, and probably not music to drive your car by, either. It draws you into its world and captivates your imagination. It's a bit like old time radio; you provide the video from within your own mind, which makes it all the more vivid.

On the other hand, if you own either the "Gothic Tarot" or "Madame Endora's Fortune Cards", here is the perfect music to read them by! Indeed, Madame herself makes a special appearance on the CD; two actually. As mentioned by another reviewer, don't hit the off button when the last track goes quiet; be patient, there is more, well worth the wait.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Come to the Carnival, October 31, 2007

By 

D. A Wend (Arlington Heights, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Carnival Of Lost Souls (Audio CD)

This is the only Nox Arcana CD that I have so far and it is a very pleasing program of creepy, atmospheric music. First of all, the cover art is very effective, particularly if, like me, you are fond of the macabre. The tracks are well-thought out and differ from each other nicely. For example, the Snake Charmer track has an Eastern feel and although not typically sinister is a good interlude. The sound effects are used effectively and not over-used, allowing the music to set the mood. There is a good use of a chorus, as in tracks like Pandora's Music Box, where the voices turn from singing to moaning. I agree with John Rossi on the enjoyment of the CD and his review is by far the most descriptive review here.

This is a great CD for playing around Halloween but anytime you want something sinister Carnival of Lost Souls is a good choice.