Blood of the Dragon (album)

Infobox Album
Name = Blood of the Dragon
Type = Studio album
Artist = Nox Arcana


Released = November 27, 2006
Recorded =
Genre = New Age, Ambient
Length =
Label = [http://www.monolithgraphics.com Monolith Graphics]
Producer =
Reviews = [http://www.blackangelpromotions.com/noxarcana1.html Black Angel ] , [http://www.side-line.com/reviews_comments.php?id=22905_0_17_0_C Side-line Magazine]
Last album = Blood of Angels (2006)
This album = Blood of the Dragon (2006)
Next album = Shadow of the Raven (2007)

"Blood of the Dragon" is a musical album incorporating an interactive puzzle. The music is mainly instrumental, with a classical, symphonic, and at times tribal Celtic sound. The music is interspersed with brief narrations and sound effects that relate a story.

The overall theme is laden with elements popularized in sword and sorcery stories and games, such as wizards, warriors, dragons, elves, witches, dwarves and trolls. These and other dark fantasy archetypes are represented visually in the artwork that accompanies the disc, and are also strongly suggested by the musical compositions. [ [http://www.kitleyskrypt.com/soundtracks.htm#BLOOD%20OF%20THE%20DRAGON Album summary from Kitley's Krypt] ]

The instrumentation includes heavy-sounding drums, gong, bagpipe, harp, acoustic guitar and fiddle, and features appropriate sound effects such as war horns, deeply reverberating chants, swords clashing, chainmail clanking and the war cries and stamping feet of what sound like thousands of men. The album begins and ends with some brief narration in the manner of furthering the story.

Nox Arcana took their concepts of musical storytelling even further with "Blood of the Dragon" by incorporating an actual quest into their music and cd packaging. The booklet features artwork and puzzle designs by Joseph Vargo. The songs provide hints to set the listener/player upon their Quest. [ [http://noxarcana.com/crown.html First person to discover the Quest for the "Treasure of the Four Crowns."] ]

The overall consensus from reviewers and fans of the "Dungeons & Dragons" games is that "Blood of the Dragon" is "one of the best "Dungeons & Dragons" style soundtracks" and exceeds the listener's expectations. The music has been recommended as an alternative or complementary soundtrack for movies like "Conan The Barbarian", "The 13th Warrior" and "Lord of the Rings". [ [http://www.blackangelpromotions.com/noxarcana1.html Reviewed at Black Angel] ] [ [http://www.side-line.com/reviews_comments.php?id=22905_0_17_0_C Reviewed at Side-line Magazine] ] [ [http://www.geocities.com/prognaut/reviews/nox-arcana2.html� Prognaut (reviews from a fan's perspective)] ] [ [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/B000L22PE6/ Customer Reviews at Amazon.com] ]

Track listing

"Music composed and performed by Joseph Vargo and William Piotrowski."

#"Ancient Legacy" — 1:34
#"The Quest Begins — 3:29
#"Citadel of Secrets" — 3:05
#"Sorcerer" — 2:38
#"Treasure of the Four Crowns" — 3:11
#"Highland Storm" — 3:52
#"Mist Loch" — 2:57
#"Underworld" — 3:31
#"The Mystic’s Keep" — 4:01
#"Stygian Depths" — 1:15
#"Legions of Darkness" — 2:46
#"Steeds of Thunder" — 3:28
#"Rogue’s Hollow" — 1:15
#"Warrior’s Dawn" — 4:13
#"The Siege" — 3:51
#"Dragon Riders" — 3:08
#"Flame Tongue" — :57
#"Defenders of the Realm" — 4:28
#"Chamber of the Immortals" — 1:39
#"Blood of the Dragon" — 3:11
#"Eternal Champions" — 4:15*
* A hidden track on this recording provides an audio clue to solving a riddle that's hidden inside this album.

External links

* [http://www.noxarcana.com Nox Arcana official website]
*

References