Nox Arcana is a band that can be best described as atmospheric soundtrack horror music. Each of the previous albums takes on a theme of the macabre such as gothic castles, winter wonderlands, Bram Stoker's Dracula, and even HP Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos.
So in 2006, Nox Arcana decided to go to the carnival, and released Carnival of the Lost Souls, their fifth album since 2003. For those unaware, Nox Arcana is basically a duo of Joseph Vargo and William Piotrowski, both create hauntingly beautiful gothic orchestral music that stays with you long after the cd is over. Nox Arcana’s music is really unlike anything done today and can be put side by side with two similar artists comparatively are Ghosts Of Pompeii and Karda Estra but closer to the latter.
This is my first exposure to Nox Arcana and I’ve become an instant fan of their music. You’ll find yourself, like I did, wanting to explore the other worlds Nox Arcana has visited. If my words aren’t convincing enough, you can hear the musical splendor of Nox Arcana on their page at MySpace.com and once you do, you’ll be in their clutches forever.
In closing I feel that most fans of progressive rock will need Carnival of the Lost Souls in their collection. I highly recommend Nox Arcana's Carnival Of Lost Souls to fans of dark orchestral music. It’s one of my top favorites of 2006 and the year isn’t over yet!
Reviewed by Ron Fuchs on July 25th, 2006
