Customer Reviews

Winter's Knight

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Unto darkest regal domicile christened "Darklore Manor" has thou been led. Not long after that wast thou given guidance into the very pages of the tome of shadow known as the "Necronomicon". Hearken ye now, oh most valorous listeners. Pay ye now rapt heed once again unto the gentle yet compelling call of the night's most masterful minstrels. Close thine eyes.... make open thine hearts, and allow thine senses to be enveloped in the tragic yet beautiful tale of "Winter's Knight", woven in a tapestry of melody unlike any which thou hast ever heard before.....

1. Vigil- Thus do we begin our tale, with the gentle blowing of softest frigid breeze of eventime. Into the mournful sound of wind is soon mixed the somber tolling of a solitary vesper, mated with an utterly beautiful and wistful choral melody. The star of this part of the tale is the voice of co-composer Joseph Vargo. Here, he waxes poetic with a tone of voice that is quite soothing, and carries a tone that is akin to reverence as the tale is begun with the following narration:

"Alone at tranquil twilight, a distant church bell tolls. The wind forms a ghostly choir to summon lost and wayward souls. Snow drifts down from the heavens like ghosts lost in the night, and ice crystals cling to trees to set the woods aglow with light. Along a forgotten forest path, there stands an arch of ancient stone, and amidst the hallowed ruins, a solemn figure stands alone. Snow comes to rest on raven's wings, covering black quills in ivory white, and peace settles upon the earth beneath the ebon shroud of Winter's Knight."

2. Ghosts Of Christmas Past- Here we are treated to a very poignant tune. The feeling imparted is one of being transported through a veil of mist, into the realm of your own memory Somber, yet beautiful, the honors are done with a lovely melody comprised of tolling bells, very nice piano work, and a touch of choral mastery floating at times underneath it (in the case of the lower pitched male chorals) and at times above it(as with the higher pitched female vocal harmonies. The blending of the two to complete this tune turns the song into a somber but a sublime experience.

3. Ebonshire- This is by far my favorite tune on this disc.Upon first hearing, it literally made me cry in awe at it's sheer beauty. It is begun by a gentle and lovely classical guitar melody that swirls into your mind and heart, as if inviting you to walk into a dream. The guitar riff is combined with some of the most enthralling harpsichord/keyboard work I have ever listened to in my life. It is augmented by a rapturous melodic line comprised of tenderly drifting keyboards and absolutely ethereal choral work. The dream it invites you to is one in which you are guided to a comforting and captivating haven. Ebonshire... a place so compelling, that only in the most beatiful of dreams could you visit it.

4. Solitude- Here, once again, we are treated to a tune of somber reflection. Piano and splendid chorals are the main contributors, along with lovely keyboards and strings.The melody is beautiful, and tugs insistently upon the heart. To me, it is akin to standing alone amongst gently falling snow.... to witnessing the awesome God-wrought beauty of a winter's eve, but being melancholy in your heart, because you have no one to share the wondrous vistas with. Beautiful... and poignant.

5. Crystal Forest- This time, we are gifted with a somewhat gentler opus. It is comprised of a very beautiful undercurrent provided by the harp. That is overlaid with soft xylophone-like bell tones.... tenderly floating chorals and a layer of entrancing harpsichord. The feeling I get is one of pure loveliness... of traversing through a realm so beautiful it leaves you bereft of breath.

6. First Snow - This is commenced with a tender and majestic blend of keyboards, strings and very soft choir. The harpischord very soon begins to flutter ever so gently over it. Tolling bells make a nice appearance and add a somber yet, to me, a fitting and comforting touch, to make the tune "whole" if you like.It is a whole, and a compelling picture. This is a beautiful musical "portrait" of the visual image suggested by the title. It is the first glorious snowfall of the winter season. Close your eyes, and listen. Open your heart, and your mind, you will be able both to feel it, and to see it.

7. Evening Star- Gentle piano is once again our introduction to this piece. Beautiful strings, tolling bells, and regal, majestic chorals overlay it. To me, this is a musical painting of the journey of the shepherds, as they are visited of angels and told to go and see the just-born Christ child. The entire piece is extremely lovely, but in particular, the utter majesty of the choir completes the piece wonderfully.

8. Reflections Of Long Ago- To me, this is the 'softest' piece on the disc, up to this point, and maybe overall. It is much more... tender than most, which is not to say the others are lacking in any way. All are beuatiful, and so is this . Gentle bell-like tones are every so-softly mated with wistful, celestial floating choral melodies. This is a tune of pure awe, leaving you awash in the sheer beauty that God has wrought with every winter's evening. "Reflections Of Long Ago" is just that, a nostalgic reflection of childhood innocence, conveyed by a melody that warms the heart.

9. December Winds - Here, we dance once again with the harpsichord. A low and somber keyboard melody carries its tones, as beautiful chorals drift over the top. The tune, though lovely, is a touch bittersweet and... to me, it conveys perfectly through music the feeling of being relentlessly buffetted by the title's namesake, the frigid winds of a glacial December eve. It is an ethereal tune, that leaves you longing for warmth and fine company.

10. Phantom Toccata- I love this tune. A beautiful, majestic soaring tempestuous pipe organ melody dances through our ears. Reminiscent of Bach's Toccata And Fugue in D Minor, yet to me it is more... compelling. It is a 'dark' tune but does not cross the line into "scary" in the sense of being "monster" music. It expertly walks the line between darkness and light to weave a short but captivating musical tapestry that I can best describe as darkly "royal" and noble.

11. Hallowed Ruins - With this piece, as with all others they write, Nox Arcana proves their facility and skill at painting musical 'pictures' Somber, and yet VERY pretty, this tune mates pipe organ, lovely choral passages and tolling bells to take you through the ruins of a haunted cathedral as no other artists could convey that image. Well done, gentlemen. Well done indeed.

12. Gregorian Hymn - Here, we are treated to a lovely and yet somber eulogy. Beautiful male choir and tolling vespers are the stars. It brings to mind a fond and loving yet bittersweet farewell being said to a beloved king in times of yore.

13. Spirit Of The Season - Here, once again, Nox Arcana does a perfect balancing act. Their expertise and combining beauty and heart-wrenching melancholy poignancy is truly unparalleled. Wistful piano and lovely choral melodies once again are here instructed to do a beautiful dance, and they dance divinely together.

14. Coventry Carol - This is my first exposure to this song, and what a beautiful song it is. Nox Arcana here weaves a lovely tapestry of gentle guitar, keyboards, harpsichord, strings, tolling bells and pipe organ. Over it all, the poignant vocals of guest singer Jeff Endemann gift us with a heartbreaking ballad in memory of the Israelite children massacred by the order of King Herod. This tune is heartbreaking, yet one of the most beautiful songs that I have ever heard.

15. Lullabye - Once again in the case of this piece, Nox Arcana treats us very gently. Bell-like tones are mated with very tender, ethereally floating choral work. The mental image I get from this is that of a parent kneeling or sitting at the bedside of their little child... perhaps singing a song to them or saying their prayers with them before bedtime. A fire crackles warmly in the hearth as a gentle winter's evening gifts the world with a pristine soft ivory blanket of snow.

16. Winter's Knight - With this, the title track, we are returned once again unto the somber. Mournful piano brings to mind a gentle falling snow, in which a solitary figure stands, silently weeping tears of eternal regret, lamenting the death of all his hopes and dreams. The choral melody that combines with it makes this piece a heartbreaking one, but it is still majestically beautiful.

17. Past Time With Good Company- Here, we are gifted with a STUNNINGLY beautiful rendition of a carol originally composed by England's King Henry VIII. It is often done as a "festive" and frollicking number. Here, Nox Arcana slow it down and turn it into a warm and elegant anthem. A lovely dance of guitar and harpsichord provide a graceful backdrop. The real star of the piece is the purely angelic operatic voice of guest vocalist Michelle Belanger. Backed up perfectly by the warm and gentle singing of poet Eric Gustafson, she truly is given a moment to shine... and verily, shine she does. This brings to mind time spent in the company and warmth of good food and even better friends. It's pure and utter bliss.

18. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen- A much beloved carol...this anthem of the arrival of Jesus on Earth is given a distinct and beautiful treatment by Nox Arcana here. Pipe organ, tolling bells, percussion and stellar choral work do a beautiful job of commemorating God's gift to the world of Himself, as both God and man, come to bring salvation, comfort and joy, to lift and comfort dejected hearts and spirits. Bravo, gentlemen. Bravo.

19. Veni Veni Emmanuel - Here, Nox Arcana proves that sometimes the greatest beauty is to be found amidst simplicity. Another rendition of a much loved Christmas carol, this tune sparkles with somber yet regal reverence for its subject. Comprised of heartbeat-like percussion, beautiful male and female choral work, tolling bells and pipe organ... this piece is awash in majesty. It is sure to tug at the strings of your heart, if you will but listen.

20. Redemption- Gentle choral work mates here with harpsichord, keyboards, and strings. The feeling conveyed to me is that of getting close to the end of a journey of hope. A dream long sought after is about to be realized. Despite the somber quality of the piece's beginning, it is transformed into an opus of regal joy. Redemption has been found.

21. Carol Of The Bells- This stellar CD is closed with this tune. It is a beautiful re-working of yet a fourth much-beloved Christmas carol. Tolling bells, swirling strings, and majestic choir do the honors. Hints of percussion make a nice appearance as well. In the end, we are encouraged by the following, gentle narration, underscored by the whispering sound of a winter breeze, mated with the tones of the xylophone, reminiscent of bells. In an almost tender whisper, we are told: "Come with us. Dream now. Rembember... Come back.... Redeem us... Save us... Repent... Have faith... Believe...."

In closing, this CD makes me love Nox Arcana even more than I already do. Why? One word: Versatility. It shows their skill at painting diverse musical portraits of various moods and emotions that are beautiful to explore They prove their ability to gracefully and perfectly dance between the haunting and the horrific... the ghastly, and the gorgeous... Heartbreaking sorrow and rapturous ecstasy. It's all here... and it makes Nox Arcana's "Winter's Knight" one of the most beloved CDs I own. You owe it to yourself to pick it up if you are fan of Nox Arcana. If you are not a fan yet, one listen to this, and you just may become a fan right quickly. Happy listening, and God bless you.

This Nox Arcana's best work yet. And just because it's titled Winter's Knight, does not mean it isn't dark. Hold on to your seats because you will be blown away by the haunting vocals and almost lullabye music of the track titled Coventry Carol. The whimsical bittersweet sounds of Crystal Forest. And the lavishly dark Veni, Veni, Emmanuel. It's A Christmas Carol & The Nightmare Before Christmas all rolled into one, but much more darker. Truly a great buy and a masterpiece.

Now this is the CD for those of you who are sick to the gills with the traditional christmas music you hear in department stores and want music with depth. This is a wonderful album that brings an edge of darkness to the Christmas night and to all your other nights. Definately worth purchasing.

Many artists claim that their music is haunting, but no one delivers the goods like Nox Arcana. Everything about this enchanting concept album is a true work of genius, from the symphonic instrumentals, Gregorian chanting and acoustic guitar melodies, to the beautiful booklet that is filled with glorious artwork and antique manuscripts of poetry and sheet music. The 21 tracks are mainly original instrumental pieces that vary between piano, harpsichord, pipe organ and orchestra strings, but the band also delivers several traditional carols with beautiful vocals and soaring gothic choirs. There is a definite feel of melancholy through most of this cd, however the album ends with several powerful and uplifting tracks. This sets the perfect mood for their musical story line of dark angel who tells his ghostly tale of winter magic in order to guide lost souls through their darkest hour. Fans of Enya will love the enchanting sounds of "Ebonshire" and "Crystal Forest." Songs like "Phantom Toccata," "Gregorian Hymn" and "Veni, Veni, Emannuel" will make you feel as if you are standing in the ruins of an ancient cathedral while ghosts from the past surround you. "Reflections of Long Ago" and "Lullaby" offer two unforgettably haunting music box melodies. The addition of guest vocalists make Nox Arcana's versions of "Coventry Carol" and "Past Time with Good Company" real standout tracks, and their powerful rendition of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" is the definitive gothic version of this classic carol. This excellent cd is beautiful music for any time of year, but listening to it on cold, snowy nights is true winter magic.

Nox Arcana's versatility has made them a tough act to follow. Whether it be a musical journey into the foreboding land of vampires (Transylvania) or a sinister carnival with a bloody history (Carnival of Lost Souls) or any of their other forays into gothic imaginings, Nox Arcana has taken each concept and breathed impressive, symphonic life into it. Their CDs truly are mini symphonies, with astounding musicianship and intricate orchestrations.

In Winter's Knight, Nox Arcana presents a moody, elegant collection of holiday-themed songs that captures the more mystical, meditative side of Christmas. The CD's strong medieval/classical flavor is refreshing, particularly since most Christmas music nowadays seems dominated by more modern songs. Joseph Vargo and William Piotrowski offer great new arrangements of classic pieces like "Veni, Veni, Emmanuel" as well as many of their own moving compositions, such as the memorably haunting "Crystal Forest" and the chilling piano-dominated "Evening Star." Guest vocalist Michelle Belanger also contributes a lovely interpretation of the holiday standard "Past Time With Good Company" and Jeff Endemann's vocal work on "Coventry Carol" is likewise a highlight.

While most Christmas music is, unfortunately, either infantile and annoying or overdone, Winter's Knight provides a refreshing change of piece full of musical elegance and mystical beauty.

A black winged knight appears only once per year - on the Winter Solstice - to haunt the ruins of a cathedral. The magical Ebonshire Forest is nearby. The scene has been set for Winter's Knight - the dark, mysterious, and magical gothic holiday album by Nox Arcana.

The feeling I get while listening to this album is of standing next to that old abandoned cathedral while it's 10 degrees outside with not a soul around and a strong, cold wintery wind blowing powder snow into my face, making my face sting a little. This is good stuff that will make you appreciate and embrace winter and its harsh elements. I embrace this darker theme and approach to holiday/winter music. Don't get me wrong - there are some cheerful songs on this album as well. But the holidays make up only a fraction of the season of winter. What about when it's, say, February and you're in the mood for some wintery music, but not exactly the traditional Christmas/holiday music? How about listening to something that puts you into a winter state of mind that is on the darker side, but not too dark? Think about it. Winter has the least amount of daylight of any season. Winter is cold. Winter is dark. Winter can even be.........haunting - if you use your imagination. Why not listen to a musical wintertime ghost story, a gothic winter album? This album gives you the best of both worlds - a few recognizable Christmas/holiday classics mixed with a ton of original dark/gothic wintery music that is perfect to listen to during just plain winter - like, say, February.

If you're somebody like me who listens to music that's on the dark side year round, then you'll love this album and embrace its dark theme. If you're somebody who is open minded and is just looking for something different for the holidays and the rest of winter, then I'll bet you'll love this album's uniquely dark approach. Just keep the theme and concept of this album in mind when you're listening to it. The black winged knight who appears only on the Winter Solstice to haunt the cathedral ruins along with the Ebonshire Forest setting are truly unique. I give Nox Arcana a huge amount of credit for coming up with this theme that musically captures the spirit, magic, mysteries, and darkness of winter and the holidays with a dark gothic twist.

This album is right up there with its sister album, Winter's Eve. This album is darker and more "gothic" than Winter's Eve, but equally as enjoyable. I'm scolding myself for not buying this album a long time ago. It is right up my alley, and so is Winter's Eve.

My favorite tracks are Ghosts Of Christmas Past, Ebonshire, Solitude, Crystal Forest, First Snow, Evening Star, Reflections Of Long Ago, Phantom Toccata, Hallowed Ruins, Gregorian Hymn, Coventry Carol, Winter's Knight, Veni, Veni, Emmanuel, Redemption, and Carol Of The Bells.

Highly recommended album.

My husband introduced me to the music of Nox Arcana a few years ago. I've loved everything that I've listened too.

Recently, we pulled out the Winter's Knight CD to play while I did a Reiki session. I know it's a bit early for Christmas music but it set the perfect mood for the healing session. It isn't banal like so much New-Age music used for healing. This CD was dark but not overly so and created just the right atmosphere.

I think it would be good for healing, meditation or simply for pleasurable listening. I plan on buying some of the newer CDs since I like their work so much.

As mesmerizing as falling snow, this poetic and magickal soundscape creates a wonderland of lavish treats befitting the Holiday Season. Haunting and sophisticated, there's a certain luster to these songs that reflects the gothically romantic luxury only Nox Arcana can deliver. The addition of neo-bard, Jeff Endemann's spellbinding voice on "Coventry Carol" delivers an extra gift of warmth for those chilly Yuletide evenings. The original score by Vargo and Piotrowski interspersed with classic carols and a booklet of eye-candy artwork by Joseph Vargo makes this a perfect fit for any Holiday Collection, so fill your wassail cup, pull up some moonlight and breathe in the wonder of Winter Knights.

Here is Solstice musick for our kind - every song geared towards a winter theme, ergo, the title "Winter's Knight", displaying a black winged Knight wielding a sword in the midst of the graceful falling of first snow...

There are a couple of traditional tunes herein such as "Veni, Veni, Emmanuel", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman", and even a folk song "Coventry Carol" floats through the forest from an arcane time long ago... yet they are done in a manner that is most mystically enchanting - veritably 'darkened' to taste. Haunted Winter cantibles, to be sure.

The overall impression derived is that of an abandoned windblown cathedral still resonating its ghostly orchestras, both angelic and monk-like choirs, with phantom fingers at the splenderous organ creating the soundtrack of nightmares and dreams in this magical season, spread forth across the year through. There are occasional inclusions of classical guitar, distant church bells, howling wind, and poetic narrations enriches the opus creating one-of-a-kind compositions ideal for Solstice celebration and beautifully evocative ponderation.

Many of the excellent reviews here appear to be written by younger people who are affiliated with the Goth scene or other arcane artistic elements. I am, by way of contrast, a 50-year-old man who wears a suit five days a week and who is generally ensconced in a rather conservative profession and social network. Having discovered Nox Arcana (NA, hereafter) a few years ago when Amazon recommended them to me, and realizing immediately that this is profound, intense, totally wonderful music, I feel obliged to chip in my two-cent's worth. My fear is that NA is, or could be, marginalized as music for only those involved in Goth "studies" or other macabre interests, or that this music could be unfairly sequestered as "Halloween music." Either limitation would be highly unfortunate. I believe this music is nothing short of brilliant and would have broad appeal to most who hear it.

Please note that this review does not apply specifically to just this album. I am posting this on all the NA albums. I first bought "Transylvania." Upon receiving it, and listening to it one time, I immediately bought every single NA album. They are all obviously of the same dark genre, and they are all superb. There may be a few that stand out as my favorites, but all of them are 10/10. Why did Amazon recommend NA to me? I'm not sure if it related to my purchase history of ambient music, or horror films, or both combined. I had invested quite a bit of time and money pursuing both interests, and it was insightful for the Amazon program to realize that NA was right up my alley.

In fact, the Amazon recommendation sated an ongoing and expensive frustration. The ambient music I'd been spending a fortune on was not satisfying. The fascination with ambient music began with Angelo Badalamenti's soundtrack music for "Twin Peaks" in the early 90s. That album captivated me for a couple of years. I must have given 25 copies as gifts, and everyone had a resounding response. So, I tried to expand on that attraction, and had limited success. Too much ambient music relies on minimalism. Brian Eno's material is haunting, but it doesn't always captivate me. My mind will wander. A lot of ambient merges into techno or electronic, which actually tended to ambient me into a full-blown migraine! And so, I had a box with about 75 ambient CDs, and maybe five of them really merited repeated playing.

What I was looking for was music that captures me and whisks me away into an alternative state of mind. As someone who has job with a lot of responsibility, and as a father, I can't drop LSD on my Tuesday nights. In fact, I have to keep it down to two drinks or less if I want to be clear-headed the next morning. And, I don't have the time for yoga or meditation. Music has always seemed to be the best route for efficient escapism. While my traditional musical affinity has always been of a hard rock orientation, as I "matured" I realized that in addition to Led Zeppelin and AC/DC there were other more mellow artists who did add richness and meaning to my life: Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, for example, brought back great childhood memories, and Sinatra and Dino added some cocktail hour pizzazz, and many others enhanced specific occasions or moods.

But there was something in the sphere of ambient music that I knew could be expanded upon. I hadn't realized it initially, but I realize now the musical "high" I was looking for was frequently delivered in the soundtracks of horror movies. The weird, pulsating, haunting music that we experience in Carrie, Carnival of Souls, The Exorcist, Burnt Offerings, The Shining, and so many others is exciting and hints at alternative "non-Euclidean" perspectives. So, I started buying soundtracks for horror films. I found some great music this direction, but it was spotty. Some songs sounded simply like....generic soundtrack music. There was no particular continuity. My attention waxed and waned.

Enter Nox Arcana. (And, I should mention, I have had a similar positive experience with Midnight Syndicate, a group with a similar orientation.) NA, I later learned, was created by a fellow named Joseph Vargo, who is also a talented painter (making me wonder if he made some deal with the devil; there's just too much talent in this one person to comport to the normal parameters of evolution). Amazon, and many of the reviewers described NA music as "Halloween music." That seemed like a fairly narrow niche to me, but as I mentioned I went ahead and gambled on "Transylvania."

Wow. On that album and on all the others, here's what I've found:

First, you get extremely beautiful music. The music is simply beautiful, there's nothing jarring, abrasive, or ugly to detract. If someone were to walk into your home for a few moments as you were listening to this, they'd probably just presume your were listening to some Baroque-era classical-type music. The level of sophistication is mesmerizing, and the array of elements are primal and organic: whispers, gongs, piano, organ, harpsichord, acoustic guitars, bells, music boxes,laughter, violin--all orchestrated fabulously.

Second, this music is haunting. By "haunting," I mean it really gets under your current subjective mood and yanks you into its own mystical realm. You are transported. I recently read the 1960's classic "The Natural Mind" by Dr. Andrew Weil wherein he discusses various alternatives to drug usage to satisfy the deeply entrenched human desire to achieve altered states of consciousness. I'm sure that if NA had been around at the time he wrote that book, he would have given NA a warm recommendation. This music transports the listener. Every time I play an NA album I find myself taken from the suburbs of Los Angeles and deposited to some cold, dark castle or some windy, isolated hill, or any of a hundred other barren places. That "barrenness" somehow transforms my mood. It takes me out of my own myopic, stressed, subjectivity and reminds me that we live in a vast, cold, mystical cosmos, one which is beautiful but full of unknowns and unknowables. I may not immediately see "the big picture," but I am reminded that there is indeed a big picture to be seen, or at least sought. This is "ambient music" of the highest order. Indeed, Wikipedia tells me that NA creates "Dark Ambient" music, and I find that this is probably the best description out there. I would add the adjective "rich," because this is not minimalist ambient music, it is filled with a thousand elements and forces. It is indeed: "Rich, Dark Ambient."

Third: This music is serious. Some naysayers may find the narratives which precede some of the songs to render this music down onto a less-serious plane. Honestly, at first I didn't appreciate the whispery narratives (ex: "You are entering the dark and empty manor..."). However, let's remember that folklore and storytelling are important parts of our human cultural odyssey. And the introductions here are typically very short. After a few listens, I've found that they actually set the stage very nicely and add some nice context. They ultimately add to the "eldritch" (a Lovecraft word for you) moodiness. And the powerful NA melodies immediately sweep away any residuum of campiness should you perceive it in that light. I assure you, I am not into campy music at all, and NA is not campy. "Profound" is the main word that comes to my mind after exploring their entire oeuvre.

Recent NA albums have been, amazingly, as good as the earliest albums. There must be close to a dozen titles at this point. Can Nox Arcana continue to deliver the same high quality music in the years to come? In my mind, that is the major question. This is a wonderful universe Joseph Vargo, et al., has created, but it is almost certainly a finite universe. I hope they will know when it is time to give it up. I'd hate to see even a single watered-down album be released.

This is almost religious-level music here, and I hope it will stay ultra- orthodox until the end.