Season of the Witch
Nox Arcana · 2017
70 min · 21 tracks · gothic rock
A haunting tapestry of orchestral arrangements and dark soundscapes, evoking the eerie essence of witchcraft and folklore.
Top tracks — play these first
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The Witching Hour — This opening track sets an ominous tone with its ethereal sounds and choral elements that immediately transport listeners into a mystical realm.
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Bell, Book and Candle — This piece intertwines traditional themes with a modern gothic flair, showcasing the duo's ability to blend narrative depth with haunting melodies.
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Malleus Maleficarum — Named after the infamous witch-hunting manual, this track captures historical dread while incorporating rich instrumentation that enhances its thematic weight.
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Season of the Witch — The title track culminates the album's exploration of witchcraft, featuring evocative lyrics that encapsulate the darker aspects of nature and magic.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's orchestral arrangements and thematic consistency create a strong gothic atmosphere, appealing for seasonal listening.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of orchestral elements, with strings and choral arrangements layered over dark ambient soundscapes.
- Each track typically maintains a slow to mid-tempo pace, contributing to the overall haunting atmosphere without significant tempo shifts.
- Several tracks incorporate spoken word segments that enhance the narrative quality of the music, creating an immersive experience.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- eerie soundscapes for autumn evenings
- immersive background for storytelling
- short tracks for focused sessions
- haunting melodies that linger
- mysterious ambiance for late nights
Maybe skip if you
- seeking upbeat, fast-paced tracks
- prefer straightforward song structures
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on January 1, 2017, Season of the Witch is Nox Arcana's fifth studio album, following their 2015 release, Shadows in the Dark. At this point in their career, the duo had established themselves as a prominent act within the gothic and dark ambient genres, known for their cinematic soundscapes inspired by horror themes.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Midnight Syndicate· Lustmord· Black Tape for a Blue Girl
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 The Witching Hour 2:13
- 2 Autumn Dusk 2:57
- 3 Bell, Book and Candle 3:34
- 4 Shadow Dance 3:19
- 5 The Path of No Return 3:41
- 6 Gypsy Spell 3:10
- 7 Spirits in the Mist 3:17
- 8 Dark Powers 3:53
- 9 Warlock's Wake 2:44
- 10 Malleus Maleficarum 2:52
- 11 Witch Hunters 2:50
- 12 From the Ashes 3:11
- 13 The Haunted Forest 2:55
- 14 Raven's Hollow 3:50
- 15 Black Cauldron 2:57
- 16 Unpleasant Dreams 3:18
- 17 Book of Shadows 4:22
- 18 Mystic Circle 3:40
- 19 Sabbat Night 2:50
- 20 Ritual of Fire 3:17
- 21 Season of the Witch 5:12
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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