Dark, Enchanting, Haunting
Wow. Wow. Wow. I am Enedelia's 13 year old daughter. I was stupid enough not to get this album as my first Nox Arcana CD. I was lucky to get the remastered version of this CD. It sounds stunning! I can't tell you how impressed I was by this album. This whole album reminded me somewhat of the story of Dark Shadows. From the first few seconds of the first track, I felt in a completely different realm.
Legend- The sound of wind starts this piece. Some low pitched gentle and elegant strings then enter. Joseph Vargo speaks in this piece with the following narration: "Along a dark, forsaken road, there stands a stark and grim abode. An old manor house looms black and tall, to cast a grave and deathly pall. Beyond the ancient-wrought iron gate, a thousand nightmare lie in wait. For dark things dwell in this house of fear, and none but the dead dare trespass here."
Darklore Manor- Male choir and flowing strings begin this song. There is also pipe organ that comes in. Gentle female choir softens the piece as Latin Chants add a sense of an ancient presence.
Threshold of the Dead- The strings bear a slight choral sound to get the sense of entering a place of antiquity and wonder. It's brilliant and beautiful.
Trespassers- The sound of a creaking door opens this song. this tune is march like, but a bit slower in pacing. There are times when you detect a slight choral sound. We get a heavy and ominous feeling when we "enter through the ancient door" like we are not welcome here and that we may not leave this manor alive...
Veil of Darkness- Gently drifting piano start this piece as male choir and strings come in to add a darkened sense to it. For we have stepped beyond a veil to partake in the darkest secrets of the night
Sancuary of Shadows- Low pitched strings begin this piece, and once again you get a slight choral sound. Stately pipe organ enters. The pipe organ turns to freely flowing and Latin chants soon come in as well to give sense of dread.
The Grande Hall- This piece is just plain beautiful. Smooth and lovely strings start this piece and tolling bells and soft female choir then waltz with it. The bells get a chance to sing the melody while pipe organ dances around it. The bells and strings waltz in harmony till the end of this wonderful piece.
Remnants- Elegant harpsicord and strings start this piece. The strings will soon bear the choral sound again. This tune gives you a sense of the grandeur of the mansion that has fallen to shadow and disrepair. Nox Arcana does a splendid job of blending woe, tragedy and elegance.
Phantom Procession- This piece is primarily tolling bells and choir
Belladonna- Here we get sad. This is an ode to Damon and Elizabeth Darklore's beautiful daughter Belladonna. Strings and the choral sound start this piece, and mournful piano enters. This piece laments the loss of a beloved daugher, lost to shadow and darkness.
Nursery Rhyme- This piece was just a tad creepy. The voice of Christine Filipak is altered to sound childlike while reciting this rhyme: "Sandman, come to me tonight, comfort me till morning light. As darkness falls and shadows loom, I bid you welcome to my room. Rest your bones beside my bed, lay your hands upon my head. Cast your spell of slumber deep, and stay beside me as I sleep. If I should die before I wake, I grant to you my soul to take."
Music Box- This piece is music box like tones, which give this tune its namesake. You hear a child singing and laughing, giving this piece a sad and tragic edge.
The Forgotten- This piece was just tolling bells, pipe organ and piano. It was a simple piece, but effective.
Nightmare- This tune was simple and effective as well. we have a dance of strings, tolling bells, piano, and that haunting choral sound to give a sense of spinning into the insanity of pure terror in your darkest nightmare.
No Rest For the Wicked- Low pitched strings and latin chants to depict the people who have commited blasphemous acts and wicked deeds have no rest in the afterlife...
Omen- Joseph Vargo once again narrates with the darkest omen anyone could ever hear: "Ghostly wispers fill the air, chanting omens to beware. Shadows stir in the candlelight, then rise to prowl the dead of night. Spirits lurk within these walls, and wander these unhallowed halls. Cursed to haunt this dark domain, where mortal woe and sorrow reign."
Seance- This is my second favorite piece next to the Grande Hall. We have the choral strings play for us again and ghostly voices talking to you beyond the grave. "We are among you... Beware the darkness... Lift this curse... End our suffering... Release us... Leave this place... Turn back..." the piece is ended with silence and a chilling laugh from Joseph Vargo.
Beyond Midnight- this piece definately a march tune. It has quick paced strings along the beat, chior, and pipe organ. It give you the sense of seeing the Darklore bloodline surround you, not letting you leave.
Darkness Immortal- Male choir starts this piece and stately pipe organ enter. You get a mix of choir and the choral sound with the pipe organ.
Incantation- A sound resembling a heartbeat starts this piece as Joseph Vargo chants an INCANTATION: Ab Aeterno,
Ad limina Mortem et extra,
Abyssus Abyssum invocat--
E tenebris,
Veteris vestigia flammae ardere denuo--
Iure Sanguinis,
Mors tua, vita mea aeternum--
Terra es, terram ibis--
Ecce quomodo Moritur,
Hoc sustinate Damnosa hereditas--
Translated from Latin:
From the beginning of Time,
To the threshold of Death, and beyond,
Hell calls upon Hell--
Out of the darkness,
Remnants of an ancient flame burn anew--
By the rite of Blood,
You must die, so that I may live eternally--
You are dust, you shall return to dust--
Behold the way of Death,
And endure the inheritance of the Damned--
Resurrected- Dark and brooding strings, pipe organ and latin chants are the primary things in this piece. After a minute or so of silence, you hear a phonograph playing a piano version of Remnants, after which Joseph Vargo gives us another chilling laugh. Joseph then speaks as Damon Darklore in a confession: "Woe befalls all who dwell within Darklore Manor, for those who have met their fate within this blighted place are cursed to forever wander its unhallowed halls. Within this sancuary of shadows, the restless dead can find no surcease from their eternal suffering. I have brought this curse upon myself, as did my ancestors before me. I hereby confess my guilt, for I have conspired in blasphemous acts and have commited grievous and ghastly deeds. And though I be the last of the Darklore Bloodline, this curse shall not end with my death, for we have awakened a great darkness, and it hungers cannot be quenced."
I really enjoyed this album. I really didn't know what to expect. One listen to this album can change you. For you too, may wander into the unhallowed halls of Darklore Manor...
There will be no returning on this night. Nothing will ever escape these walls again...
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