Blood of the Dragon - Dark Publications

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Album Description
In the time of the ancient gods, dragons ruled the skies and kingdoms rose and fell at the end of a sword. Legendary quests beckoned with the promise of danger and glory, and only a brave few dared to answer the call. For honor and vengeance they ventured forth with steel and sorcery to combat the merciless legions of darkness. For it was said that those who answered the call were possessed of the warrior spirit, and the blood of the dragon flowed through their veins.

Joseph Vargo and William Piotrowski have composed an epic soundscape of powerful orchestrations, chanting choirs, mystical melodies and medieval minstrel songs that sets the perfect mood as you traverse dark kingdoms ruled by wizards and warriors to battle alongside barbarian hordes, elven mages and knights of legend.

Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

There's only one word that fits for this one. That word is: Epic!!! December 7, 2006
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

All those who would seek a majestic musical opus will do well to pay heed. A new tale has been woven by night's most masterful minstrels. 'Tis a grand tale indeed, of mystery, intrigue, danger, honor, glory, vegeance, and treasure beyond the reckoning of many a mortal mind. Behold, "Blood Of The Dragon" stirs from it's ages-long slumber, and what an adventure it is upon which any listener shall be invited to embark.

1. Ancient Legacy - The very first moments of this tell me we are in for a much different tale, and a grand thing it is. The music does not drift in gradually and 'creep' up on us. No, instead a powerful bass drum hit and rousing choral passages immediately throw us right into the middle of this epic. It calls to mind a clear sky with clouds drifting in over a bloodred sunset as we are given a panoramic view of a lush and rugged landscape, then taken into a village where a white-robed bard or sage dark of hair and piercing of eye sits among those gathered about a fire to begin his tale:

"In the time of the ancient gods, dragons ruled the skies and kingdoms rose and fell at the end of a sword. Legendary quests beckoned with the promise of danger and glory, and only a brave few dared to heed the call. For honor and vengeance the ventured forth with steel and sorcery to combat the merciless legions of darkness. For it was said that those who answered the call were possessed of the warrior spirit, and the blood of the dragon flowed through their veins."

This stirring preamble is underscored by a compelling mixture of strings and soft drums. At its conclusion, the piece is closed out brilliantly with more strings, soft percussion, rousing choral work, and the drawing of a sword.

2. The Quest Begins- If I had to use three words to describe this piece, they would be 'pageantry' 'hope' and 'beauty'. It's a wonderful blending of stirring string work, beautiful chorus, majestic horns and blood-pumping drumbs. It is easy for me to depict an army of valliant knights and warriors preparing to venture forth to accomplish the bidding of their king amdist grand spectacle amidst tender farewells to loved ones and the hope of a glorious return.

3. Citadel Of Secrets- This piece really impresses me with effective simplicity. With no more than a choir and a tolling bell, Nox Arcana is able to convey mystery, melancholy, wonder, reverence and power.Within my mind I see a candlelit temple where the guardians of vital ancient knowledge remain ever vigilant and secluded, yet willing and able to aid any who dare to seek them, that they might grant the boon of much needed knowledge and lore.

4. Sorceror- Chorus, drums, and swirling strings do a fantastic 'waltz' here. The chorus is especially majestic and powerful but everything blends wonderfully as the piece to me depicts a wise wizard working his craft expertly, that he might aid those embarked upon a vital quest filled with great peril.

5. Treasure Of The Four Crowns- I'll get right to the point for this one. This is a beautiful ballad. A heart-tugging blend of guitar, exotic percussion and gentle flute is combined with the bardic voice of guest vocalist Jeff Endemann. The blending of that voice with a solemn narration by Joseph Vargo in the middle of this piece works pure magic. It is a beautiful ode to a perilous quest for an ancient artefact prized of many for its power to grant immortality upon the worthy finder.

6. Highland Storm- A majestic musical movement, easily worthy to depict a tale straight out of Celtic myth. Rousing and blood-stirring Highland pipes start us off. The thunder of the bodhran soon appears, first mating with the pipes in a mighty slow thunder, and then picking up in pace to a gallop as it is overlaid with wonderful fidle work. I love the choral and cello work in this one too, and the mix of the Irish Uilleann pipes into it all. Taken together, this calls to mind misty emerald fields, meadows, and mountains through which warriors both mounted and afoot charge into and engage in desperate clash, beneath overcast and weeping grey skies as thunder and lightning mightily sing together, crashing and flashing repeatedly through the heavens.

7. Mist Loch- This is a perfect blend of beauty, mystery, menace and wonder. A beautiful harp passage is mated with a haunting siren's call. I love the feel imparted by the deep bass instrument, and the feeling of ominous dread invoked by it as it couples with a tolling bell Together, thest things show me a murky mist-clad waterway through which a regal songstress guides us with her voice and harp. The question is, to where, and what awaits ahead?

8. Underworld- I was initially surprised how much I love this piece, but love it I do. Despite it's darkly suggestive title, this piece is anything but PURELY dark to the point of becoming drab. It is dark indeed but it has sense of awe and wonder in it and is very much a rousing piece too. Pounding drums and a deep bass instrument that sounds to me a bit luke a tuba in it's depth of tone start us off... blending with strings that give us both a sense of adventure and urgency together. It is as if now the mighty hero has crossed the lake of mist and is entering deep dark caverns, exploring their secrets with his brothers in arms on the way to whatever lies ahead on his quest. The choral work in this peice lends a majestic power and magnifies the intensity tenfold.

9. The Mystic's Keep- Here, we get exotic. The feel to me is heavily Egyptian, Middle Eastern and Arabic. What sounds like a sort of gong is blended with invigorating Middle Eastern style percussion and tambourines. The piece is embellished further by boisterous male and pretty and soft female choral work, as well beautiful guitar and harp in the back of the piece and a rythmic powerful chant performed by co-composer Joseph Vargo in the front. To me, in my mind I see a a dimly lit but welcoming hidden sanctuary, nestled deep within perilous caverns. It is a haven where brave adventures may partake of brief rest and gain new information from a reclusive but wise denizen. The deeper bass drumming is especially strong here.

10. Stygian Depths- This piece is a mood setter as much as anything. It is comprised of the sound of wind, blending with a deeply booming drum and what appears to me to be the sounding of a great and ancient dark battle horn. The wind has an eerie howling moan effect to it that works wonders for the piece. It invokes pure dread as we await the imminent peril that is certain to come our way, and is a perfect segue for us into...

11. Legions Of Darkness - Tense and pounding strings and drums blend with a deep horn and male choir here to take us on this part of the journey. I love how the clash of swords and what sounds like chainmail-guarded footsteps blend with the percussion. A tolling bell makes a nice appearance too. To me this arrangement is dead-on as a fit for the title, depicting a meeting with relentless armies emerging from the depths both to confront and hinder adventurers that would dare to come. The final tolling bell is a very nice touch.

12. Steeds Of Thunder- Here we are aurally gifted and presented with deep rousing horns and thunderous pounding drums. They dance for us with powerful male and female choir and urgent strings. Mighty equine beasts are easily visualized, kicking up great clouds of dust and trodden earth as they gallop across great majestic fields. The powerful chorus compounds the already tremendous strength of this piece.

13. Rogue's Hollow- I am amazed by this. Why, you ask? Two words: Simple beauty. With no more than a pair of guitars, Nox Arcana depicts a homey sanctuary nestled within a lovely glade It is a place of rest come upon after the headlong dash through vast and perilous fileds and lands. It is a welcome and gorgeous quiet moment amidst the bombastic musical storms of the quest.

14. Warrior's Dawn- I see this is the antithesis of "Legions Of Darkness". Thundering drums mate with vigorous strings and choral work possessed of colossal strength. While still solemn in character, I see this piece as noble in its cast as well, while the other was sinister in its own way. The choir in this is very very strong, and I love the blending of the deeper bass drums with the galloping militaristic thunder of the snare drum and the booming resonant voice of what sounds to me like the Irish bodhran or the Japanese taiko. The occasional clash of swords within this piece is a beautiful percussive touch.

15 The Siege - A deep bass drone begins this one. It is soon blending with heavy slow drumming, invigorating but chilling choral chant, and brooding horns. After what sounds like a rousing battle cheer, the drumming kicks into VERY high gear, becoming a thunderous charge. That charge is lent extra power by the blended song of male and female choir, and the tensely swirling strings that drift through the chorus as the pounding percussion intensifies more and more, building to a breath-stealing climax.

16. Dragon Riders- I love this piece. It has resonant millitaristic drumming and urgent strings. They combine with majestic soaring horns and heart-pounding chorus to depict in my mind an army of airborned mighty warriors and the regal beasts they ride into desperate battle, contesting mightily with each other within darkened flame-streaked skies

17. Flame Tongue- This is a great heart-pounder of an ambient 'mood' track. The movement of great wings is combined with distant growls. Eventually they intensify in volume. The heart-stopping climax that also induced a smile of awe for me, comes when a pair of positively mighty roars are given, and combined with crackling flame. It was everything I had envisioned for a moment like this.

18. Defenders Of The Realm- Here we go! Now we get another touch of grand heroism! Deep and pounding drums blend once more with swirling strings and majestic choir as well as some very powerful horn passages. This time, the battle is turning in our favor. You see, we've got some tough hombres on our side too! I love the pure power of this piece It's an invigorating anthem for our land's heroes that I never tire of hearing. My mind depicts mighty heroic warriors rushing to meet the enemy within our keep, engaging in herculean battle within the keep as boiling oil and huge boulders rain down from above...Valiant archers lend their skill as well, firing swiftly and true upon the foes straining to breach our defenses, but failing in the end as our brave and mighty guardians save the day.

19. Chamber Of The Immortals- I will be bold and declare that this is the MOST BEAUTIFUL piece of music that Nox Arcana has EVER done to date. From the very beginning, the floodgates FLEW open for me and they absolutely would not stop. I immediately envisioned a beautiful crowned queen with long flowing hair clad in a pristine white gown standing amidst a magnificent treasure filled chapel-like room with brilliant light streaming in through crystal-forged 'windows' almost like stained glass, but crystalline in nature. I envisioned a mighty, steadfast and most noble warrior being given assurance of undreamed of glory, but that one final peril lay ahead for him to face. An even greater poignancy and power is lent to the peice by the blended chorus, and the soft drums and strings that augment it at the climax. The whole piece is heartstirring and heavily awash in pure loveliness.

20. Blood Of The Dragon- I LOVE 'thematic' compositions. Here, we get one of those, and it is grand and epic in it's power, scope, and stregnth. As with "Ancient Legacy", we are immediately gifted with a solitary bombastic bass drum hit blended with wonderful and regal choral melody. Instead of narration, this time we get to hear a blood-stirring combination of soft strings, drums and choir. Eventually, they all increase in strength and volume, and in power. They blend wonderfully to dominate the piece, mixing to comprise a composition replete with kingly intensity, depicting in my mind a colossal personal final battle between a mighty paladin of justice and a nefarious warrior king of dreaded repute. My favorite part is the POWERFUL chorus but the way the drums and the strings blend with it is absolutely stunning. The deep horns I heard near the end closed it brilliantly. Many times I have cried for awe when listening to this one.

21. Eternal Champions- Here we are, at last... facing the climax of this grand and epic quest. Here, we are at first gently washed over by a pounding three-hit drumbeat that alternates between three, four, five or more beats per measure. That is blended with powerful choir and tolling bells. Very soon, very comes the powerful bombast of regal horns and strings. This will stir the blood for certain. Further power is given bye an intense choral melody and song. I love the sword clashes that are part of the percussiveness of this piece. I adore the heart-pounding blend of everything: Drums, chorus, strings, horns, sword-clash and more. All told, it is a more than fitting closer to the disc. What I really love is how the horns and the strings will 'take turns' withing the piece. On the first 'run' the horns come to the front of the melody while the strings stay in the back. In the second 'run', the strings come to the front and the strings retreat a bit, but never "too much". It is just the right blend. In the final 'run' the horns and strings blend together equally, mixing with everything else to bring the tale to a stunning conclusion. All told, this song is a heroic fanfare very much befitting a victorious warrior and his band of bretheren. In my mind is depicted a mighty paladin of justice and right being gifted by the Lady seen in the Chamber Of The Immortals with the treasure long-sought by many, earning immortality and his rightful place in legend and lore, then freely going home at last with his faithful companions and his valiant bretheren in arms.

There's one thing more that I will say. Do not hit 'stop' on your CD player when Eternal Champions goes quiet. The bonus tracks here are brilliantly done, and they each induced a smile from me in their own way and for their own reason.

In closing, if you are a fan of Nox Arcana, you owe it to yourself to get "Blood Of The Dragon". If you are not a fan, one listen to "Blood Of The Dragon" may be enough to make you a fan forever. It is a step into new territory for Nox Arcana, and what a great and tremendous step it is. They have meticulously crafted a beautiful, majestic, heartpounding, blood-stirring and soul-sooothing epic fantasy musical opus that could easily stand admidst the company of nearly any Hollywood fantasy movie score. It is a fantastic tale unlike any other that I have ever experienced. Come forth and embark upon this epic quest. It shall not be regretted. No, truly 'tis most likely that it shall be loved, as it is with me.

5 out of 5 stars

Mighty Malefik Musick... December 5, 2006
3 out of 6 found this review helpful

The theme of this invigorating Classical / Mideival opus is that of Fantasy-Action-Adventure, with music reminiscent of Highlander at some points, with a distinct Dungeons & Dragons flavor. A veritable soundtrack to warrior escapades into realms of myth and legend, dragons and knights, misty lochs, Sorcerers and maidens fair. Great musick to plunge the depths of the imagination to accompany many mental adventures, with narrations from a veritable "Over Watcher" leads you into places only dreamed of in dark lore fane.

The Ancient Legacy beckons The Mighty as The Quest Begins. The Citadel of Secrets awaits your entrance, towering from knotted vines and black iron gates. Can you translate the ancient runes encribed on yellowed scrolls to lead you to the next great discovery? Deep within the lambent temple dim by flickering torch flame, consult The Sorcerer to find the Treasure of The Four Crowns, where your journey twists along dark paths amidst the Highland Storm unto the enchanting Mist Loch where many mysteries dwell, transmutating fog swirls about you revealing ghostly forms and phantom faces; a gateway to the Underworld opens beyond The Mystic's Keep, leading down through the Stygian Depths where the Legions of Darkness await. Hellfires leap from below with vengeful demonic cries, whose denizens shall soon pillage the land. Steeds of Thunder shake the heavens and quake the earth in their terrible wrath as baneful spectres emerge with eyes aglow in infernal light.

Rogue's Hollow there dwells shrouded in a haze of ancient spell as the Warrior's Dawn glows red, an omen of what is to come. With hearts pounding, The Siege yields Dragon Riders sillhouetted upon the horizon, as the fearsome Flame Tongue spreads across the bloodied land. Defenders of The Realm rise up to battle these shadowy phantoms with warcries echoing through the ages. Within the marble-laden Chamber of The Immortals, the living gods are present, and with the Blood of The Dragon, hail the Eternal Champions evermore.

As usual, the actual CD and booklet are splendidly elegant, filled with marvellous artwork {including a topographical map of Draconia}, and accentuating storylines.

Dare you step through the arcane portal into fabled dangerous dimensions to face nightmarish creatures and bewitching beings who rise up from the Stygian depths? Can you solve the riddle and survive to become part of the legend, or perish where many mighty have fallen...

5 out of 5 stars

Breathtaking! December 10, 2006
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Whether it be by sword, sorcery or just plain creative genius Nox Arcana has stirred up an amazing alchemical mix of power-filled and haunting tunes. The bardic voice of guest vocalist Jeff Endemann is so heartbreakingly beautiful on "The Treasure of the Four Crowns" one can just imagine a lone shadow wandering a windswept cliff singing to the soul of those who would answer the call to this ancient quest. Vargo and Piotrowski lay out a feast fit for Kings and Queens- a feast for the ears, the eyes (Vargo's artwork adorns the accompanying booklet) and the heart that hungers for magick, mystery and a majesty of dizzying proportions. Escape to this realm and claim your right to the Blood of the Dragon.

4 out of 5 stars

D&D extraordinaire January 12, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Techniclly, you don't need a soundtrack to play Dungeons and Dragons, or maybe a "Lord of the Rings" Monopoly game. But asuming you WANT one, then Nox Arcana's latest, "Blood of the Dragon," is an excellent option -- majestical, fantastical, gothic, and geeky.

It opens with fantasy-rock flourishes, steam hissing, and a chorus of powerful choirlike voices. Very "Lord of the Rings." Then a deep voice says very solemnly: "In a time of the ancient gods, dragons ruled the skies. Kingdoms rose and fell at the end of a sword. Legendary quests beckoned with the promise of danger and glory, and only a brave few dared to answer the call..."

That more or less sets the tone for the rest of the album: Nox Arcana keeps up that high fantasy feel throughout, flavoured with some Celtic sounds. Bagpipe stomp, eerie haunting medieval ballads, shimmering ethereal pop urgent, urgent strings and ominous "Dark Lord" music, darkly intriguing gothic music, frightening fantasy war-march, and new-age balladry.

Nox Arcana has already tackled ghosts, vampires, angels and even sinister Christmas. It's about time that they got to the whole D&D-music style, and they pull it off quite nicely -- atmospheric and heavy, but the guys know when to lighten the mood with some more ethereal songs, and that not every song should be a hard-rocker about a battle -- there are magical moments as well.

In fact, this is sort of a story album, although the story is more or less yours to fill in. Nox Arcana uses heavy percussion, gongs, some well-played bagpipes, harp and hard strings to add intense atmosphere to all of these, and listeners can easily imagine what they represent -- a nighttime chase, underground searches, a misty lake, a beautiful palace, evil armies attacking a castle, or even.... yes, a dragon.

"The Siege" is the pinnacle of this, since it actually sounds like a battle -- war horns, ominous chants, stamping feet. Then the album really takes off, right up to the rousing, inspiring finale "Eternal Heroes" -- it's up to the listener what has happened, but the rousing feeling of it is clear.

Steeped in atmosphere, and rich with solid instrumentation, "Blood of the Dragon" is a must-have for D&D and/or fantasy geeks.

5 out of 5 stars

A stunning musical achievement! January 2, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

In just a few short years, Nox Arcana has pioneered and perfected the gothic instrumental genre, and now they have taken the genre to an entirely new level.
"Blood of the Dragon" is an arresting symphonic experience that takes the listener on a journey back to a mythic, medieval world populated by sorcerers, warring knights and lethal dragons. This setting provides a rich canvas for Joseph Vargo and William Piotrowski to work their magic, and the composers deliver crisp, memorable melodies brought to life with the most intricate and impressive orchestrations Nox Arcana has yet created. Strings, horns and percussion are backed by stirring choirs and sound effects that easily conjure images of clashing swords, marching armies and awe-inspiring dragons. One of the CD's highlights is "Highland Storm," in which an urgent violin melodically chases a rhythm of pounding war drums, evoking images of horsemen racing across a storm-tossed plain. Another standout piece is the stark, slower-paced "Rogue's Hollow," a haunting mandolin song that showcases Nox Arcana's uncanny ability to craft elegant, meditative melodies that will linger in the listener's mind long after the CD has ended. Jeff Endemann's impressive guest vocal on the ballad-like "Treasure of the Four Crowns" is yet another CD highlight, demonstrating how Nox Arcana can move easily among musical styles, from stirring, symphonic war anthems to moody ballads and minstrel pieces.
"Blood of the Dragon" should have been the soundtrack to Lord of the Rings - it's that good. You have to hear it to believe it.

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