Customer Reviews

Transylvania

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

In all respect to other Gothic musicians, Nox Arcana has become in a mere year's time my favorite maestros of the macabre. Their stupendous musical opus is a tribute that in my mind would have made Bram Stoker himself very very proud.

1. Transylvania Overture - Soft choral tones begin this. Soon, a gently flowing melody with keyboards carries the following narration:

"Darkness descends upon the land to wrap the world in night's black embrace. The restless dead stir within their ancient tombs, and creatures born of shadow rise to quench their savage hungers. Whispers echo from the crypt, beckoning with the promise of dark desire, and those who heed their call are forever lost in the night". After that , a pipe organ and soft strings, along with darkly regal choir, segue into what I call in my own mind "Dracula's theme". It is somber, yet poignant and beautiful. It is brilliant.

2- The Voyage - A swirling harp melody combines with majestic strings, drums, choir and pipe organ to tell the story of our journey through the countryside of Vlad Dracula's beautiful rugged land. The tune is grand, adventurous and epic.

3- Gossamer Mist- This piece is primarily piano driven with the sound of wind and soft choral vocal effects underneath it.

4. The Black Coach-This tune is beautiful, ominous and heavy. It begins with pounding strings and drums which in pacing resemble a heartbeat. The string melody later turns sweeping and darkly regal, combining with numerous 'hits' on piano, powerful choral notes, and the sound of thunder. It expertly conveys the dread of making the journey towards Dracula's castle

5. Sentinels Of Stone- This is a 'narrative' track. After a brief sound of stone scraping, we hear a deep gravelly voice say "We are the sentinels of stone. We are the guardians at the gateway of shadows. We are the watchers in the night. None shall tresspass here."

6. Into The Shadows- I see this as a companion piece to The Black Coach. It uses quick strings, choir, and hints of percussion to take us the rest of the way to 'meet' Count Dracula at his castle...seguing perfectly into:

7. Castle Dracula- This is my favorite piece on the disc. It is, in essence a reprise of part of tune in Transylvania Overture. I do NOT mean that in a bad way though. This is, in a sense, what I call "Dracula's Theme" I LOVE the way the slow and stately pipe organ creates a bed to carry a beatuful current of majestic choir, tolling bells and exquisite wordless female voice. To me, this respresents most perfectly the chilling yet noble and terrifying grandeur of Dracula's ancient fortress home.

8. Visitors In The Night- This is primarily a vocal track. There is the sound of soft vocal moans and whispered female voice, culminating with a line from Stoker's novel. "You are first and we shall follow"... Then as if to the listener, the female vampires intone. "Surrender.... you belong to us. This goes right into:

9. Brides To Darkness- A musical homage to Dracula's three vampire brides, this piece uses exquisite femal vocal harmony, combined with keys and harpsichord to convey the ethereal deadly beauty and melancholy lonely existence of the trio of vampiric vixens.

10. Grande Masquerade- Harpsichord, keys, choir, strings, drums and tolling bells appear here, in a tune that seems to be JUST about right for a stately waltz to be danced with king of night's creatures... if you dare to dance with the Count or with his lovely brides at all, that is.

11. Momento Mori - This uses what seems to be either a xylophone or chimes, combined with tolling bells and softest currents of a choir. The feeling is one of pure beauty, but laden heavily with melancholy, isolation, and loneliness. Still it is a lovly piece.

12. The Howling- This uses ominous choral moaning to carry the sounds of the growls and howling of werewolves. It features Count Dracula's famous line "Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make."

13. Nocturne- Piano, strings, and choir do the honors here, telling through a beautiful but somber tune of the falling of night. Tolling bells put in a nice appearance.

14. Bats In The Belfry- This one is just what you might thing. Tolling bells mate with the sounds of bats screeching softly as the flutter into flight. This segues directly into:

15. Gothic Sanctum- Tolling bells return, mixing with choir to form a melody that hints at a sanctuary for night's creatures, where denizens of the night might gather to pay homage to the king of vampires.

16. Gypsy Caravan- This tune is surprisingly pretty, and speaks of exoticism and adventure. Middle-Eastern style percussion dances with keyboards and tamborines to hint at the exotic realm in which Dracula lives, and the others that inhabit it with him.

17. From Dusk Till Dawn - What sounds for a moment like wind and soft choral 'moaning' carries this narration in a sort of a witch-like voice: "From dusk till dawn beware night's call. For nightmares rise as shadows fall. Wolves howl and wail neath moonlit skies, and grim things hearken to their cries. The restless dead and souls forsaken, from their deathly sleep awaken. And things that shun the light of day, prowl the night in search of prey."

18 Night Of The Wolf- Heavy and ominous. It features brooding but grand strings, pounding percussion and chilling choral chant and song.

19. Echoes From The Crypt- Swirling strings, tolling bells and soft choir mate with piano and percussion to give a feel of wandering into the resting place of one of Dracula's minions.

20. Shadow Hunters- The strings, percussion and choir, mixing again with tolling bells, give this tune a martial sound, hinting either at you hunting Dracula and his minions, or perhaps at Dracula and his minions hunting you... Which is right is up to you to determine.

21- Lair Of The Vampire: At last we visit darkness' heart. Beware, ye who dare to venture where angels fear to tread. After a welcome from female vampires, pounding percussion and keys mix with choir and quick toccata pipe organ passages to depict the final battle between Dracula and humankind.... but... in the end.... is it really over? Latin incantations and chanting , combined with percussion and wordless choral melody indicate that...maybe... just maybe... it isn't over after all. *laughs eerily with a deep bass voice.*

To close, Nox Arcana are, to me, the undisputed champions of Gothic horror musical soundscapes. This musical tribute to Dracula is first rate. If you love Gothic horror music you simply cannot go wrong with this CD. Pick it up. Happy listening, and God bless.

Books don't usually have soundtracks. "Dracula" definitely didn;t.

But when listening to Nox Arcana's "Transylvania," all I could think of was Bram Stoker's quintessential vampire, and the hauntingly creepy atmosphere of the book. The band forms plenty of rich neoclassical tunes, around a hazy storyline about (what else?) vampires.

It opens with a creepy organ, some smooth violins sweeping up from behind. A deep voice intones, "Darkness descends upon the land, wrap the world in night's black embrace... the restless dead stir within their ancient tombs, and creatures born of shadow rise to quench their savage hunger..." Imagine Bela Lugosi rising from a coffin.

It's followed up by some warmup songs -- the darkly enticing "Voyage," which expands out into an epic, eerie sweep, and the ghostly piano of "Gossamer Mist." The songs that follow are just as richly imagined -- ghostly fast-paced strings, magnificently dark organ and grim gypsy music, laced with church bells, shimmering vocals and ghostly little breezes.

Listening to "Transylvania" is like walking slowly through a cobwebbed, shadowy castle, and listening to Dracula playing a pipe organ in a dusty ballroom, with his brides singing accompaniment. It's not too hard to imagine that you're Jonathan Harker, after hearing songs like "Echoes From the Crypt."

Their music is an lush dusty tapesty of gothic instrumentation. Rich, hollow organ, shimmering harp, strings both windy and rapid, fast-moving percussion, a delicate piano, and some dark shimmers of keyboard all blend together into haunting slow-turning melodies. And as if that weren't good enough, they sprinkle the music with the flutter of bat wings, church bells, ghostly murmurs, and delicate music-box tinkles.

Fortunately Nox Arcana doesn't wreck all this eerie atmosphere with typical singing. Instead we get the occasional deep-voiced intonations, sort of like the introduction. And there are some delicate female vocals -- they murmur softly one minute, only to rise into echoing, wordless solos the next. It's absolutely stunning.

Nox Arcana's "Transylvania" does a brilliant job of capturing the ideal vampire-gothic atmosphere -- creepy and beautifully refined, with no kitschiness. The ideal soundtrack to Bram Stoker's classic (not to mention Halloween).

Embark on a voyage into the dark and mysterious lands of Transylvania, where the children of the night do indeed make beautiful music. This cd will haunt you, thrill you and at times chill you to the bone. The compositions range from eerie piano melodies of "Nocturne" and "Gossamer Mist" to the to the pipe organ refrains of "Castle Dracula" and the brooding orchestrations and chanting that fill "Night of the Wolf." "Grande Masquerade" and "Gothic Sanctum" will more than satisfy any dark music lover's classical appetite, while "Gypsy Caravan" has a mystical percussive rhythm that is musically hypnotic. Several creepy vocal interludes accent the story to further immerse you in this macabre and shadowy realm. Creatures of the night howl at the full moon and unearthly voices of sentinel gargoyles warn trespassers away while the whispers of Dracula's brides lure the listener deeper into the lair of the vampire. This is a phenomenal cd that is the perfect soundtrack to any dark soul's gothic dreams or nightmares.

Vampire fans will definitely want to get this cd. With Transylvania, Nox Arcana delivers a fantastic blend of sinister sound effects, nightmarish narratives and haunting music that runs the gothic gambit from darkly romantic to powerfully macabre. Based on Bram Stoker's Dracula, Nox Arcana adds few original surprises to enhance the story with gravely voiced gargoyles and cackling old crones who deliver ominous warnings. Vampire bats screech and flutter, wolves howl in the night, and Dracula's undead brides beckon seductively as the listener is treated to one dark track after another. The album is filled with great gothic melodies like "The Voyage," "The Black Coach," "Castle Dracula," and the elegant "Grande Masquerade." Other tracks like "Into the Shadows, "Night of the Wolf" and "Lair of the Vampire" are spine-tingling mood-setters. Nox Arcana is unsurpassed in creating this kind of music.

Transylvania (2005) is a great musical tribute to the legendary 1897 Bram Stoker novel "Dracula." The gothic atmosphere is rich and the fright level is high. This album brings the listener into the world of vampires, werewolves, and witches in Transylvania. You'll hear spoken word passages, the creatures of the night, gothic music, and a powerful song called "Castle Dracula" - a song that captures the very essence of Count Dracula and his famous castle. There are a wide variety of songs on this album, most sounding uniquely different. From the power of "Castle Dracula" to the dramatic "Night Of The Wolf", to the emotional "The Voyage" to the spooky "Gossamer Mist" to the upbeat "Gypsy Caravan" to the morbid "Brides To Darkness" to the eerie "Memento Mori", this album has it all. Certain instruments are used very effectively, such as the harpsicord, piano, and violins. The tolling bells in a lot of the songs add to the gothic flavor of this album. The song "Gothic Sanctum" is a perfect example of this.

My personal favorite song on this album is "Nocturne" because to me it is a combination of suspense, nervousness, drama, and spookiness.

If you want a really good selection for the Halloween season or any time of the year when you're in a dark mood, then pick up this album. Highly recommended.

If you like Midnight Syndicate you are going to LOVE Nox Arcana. Yes I know the story behind the two bands and the striking similarities in styles. And as this was my first cd from Nox Arcana I really did not know what to expect. But I was pleasantly suprised with some stand out differences between the two bands.

There is a far stronger and deeper depth of darkness to the music with Nox Arcana. You FEEL the composers are a part of the journey too, that they UNDERSTAND the intensity of experiences the listeners goes through upon hearing their music.
Where as with many other similar bands you feel it's just a bunch of musicians making the sounds for people to listen too. And while it may be of a dark nature and quite pleasing to the ear and yes even takes you on a journey or two as well, there just does not appear to be the same intensity.

As many know Joseph Vargo is a very talented and extremely creative creature of which I adore his art work and perhaps this has influenced my judgement a little. But to Transylvania.

Bravo Nox Arcana for capturing the listener from the very first track and taking them on a true journey, delving deep into the realms of Brahm Stokers Dracula. It exceeded all my expectations.

Transylvania by Nox Arcana is a solid effort that has such standout tracks like THE BLACK COACH and NOCTURNE. I will admit that it has taken me several listens to fully appreciate it and to capture its essence. This is a fine work by those two masters of gothic, Vargo and Piotrowski. I was so glad to see an album out there that captures the 'spirit' of Transylvania. Sound effects always add to the overall feel, but it's especially true on this album. I like the bats, in particular.

Transylvania
Nox Arcana
Monolith Graphics
[...]
Reviewed By: Josh Haney
Originally Published In Hacker's Source Issue #22

Nox Arcana's Joseph Vargo and William Piotrowski are at it again, taking on the long dark history of vampiric lore with their release Transylvania. The chilling soundscapes are mesmerizing, creating wonderfully wicked movies in the mind for those who dare listen with their eyes closed. It is no small undertaking trying to create the atmosphere of darkest Carpathia through music, but Nox Arcana executes it perfectly, allowing you to envision every blood-soaked detail.
Transylvanian Overture, a narrated piece performed by Joseph Vargo, starts us off, perfectly capturing the eerie mood of the album. The Voyage and The Black Coach lead us right into the heart of darkness, the tension forever building as we await the inevitable arrival at Castle Dracula. For the duration of your passage through the land of darkness gothic choirs sing wraithlike in your ears, while an orchestra of the damned plays ceaselessly. It is so easy to become lost here, time seeming to stand still as each of the tracks lead us deeper into the realm of one of the most beloved and feared creatures of literature. We are taken everywhere in the castle, from the belfry to the crypt, all the while the sounds of bats and wolves accompanying our every step.
One piece that adds to the ambience of this release is the CD booklet, which includes some of Joseph Vargo's amazing artwork alongside the lyrics for some of the narrated portions of the album. These haunting images make it that much easier to immerse yourself in Nox Arcana's Transylvania.
If this is your first trip into the nether realms created by Nox Arcana, I can assure you it will not be your last. Vargo and Piotrowski have a way of creating evocative environments that linger in your psyche. I can honestly say they are without equal, and they have fast become one of my favorite bands.
So what are you waiting for? Take a one-way trip to Transylvania, a world that will live on in your nightmares.

Journey with Jonathan Harker as he explores the shadows of Dracula's castle, deep in the gothic domain of Transylvania. This is an outstanding collection of dark neo-classical music, centering around the theme of Bram Stoker's classic vampire novel. The 21 tracks range from haunting piano, harpsichord and pipe organ melodies to fully orchestrated pieces with ominous gothic choirs. There are a few tracks that feature sound effects as well as the voices of Dracula, his undead brides, monstrous sentinel gargoyles and even a creepy old gypsy witch. The melodies are full of emotion and evoke a wide range of feelings--from dark, forbidden passion to brooding tension, to sheer horror. The entire production, including the cd art and packaging is superb. This is music to die for.

The CD was delivered earlier than the stated shipping date and the product was in mint condition. I bought the CD as background music for a Halloween party after listening to the sample selections. Its classical music and I am certain most of them were movie soundtracks. The guests loved it. I would recommended this product.