Nox Arcana

Community biography from

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. Their 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. Blackthorn Asylum explores the horrors of a forsaken 19th century sanitarium with an original storyline that expands upon Lovecraft's "From Beyond".

     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, a haunted mansion, and an abandoned asylum.

      Joseph Vargo and William Piotrowski have released 14 albums to date, 10 for Nox Arcana, plus 4 more albums with other recording artists. They're currently at work on Winter's Eve, a new album for the winter holidays.

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.