Search - Nox Arcana :: Phantoms of the High Seas

An enchanting voyage indeed.

John Rossi | Somers Point, NJ United States | 10/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Avast, me hearties. Lend me your ears, and I shall tell ye of a tale... a tale woven in exquisite melodious poetry. Through many dark and macabre lands of lore have Nox Arcana taken us. Now, if ye dare, prepare to set sail across the dark and misty waters of the unknown. Aye, after many o'erland travels, we're invited to embark on a new journey over the wide vast oceans. Prepare ye, one and all, to come face to face with the:



Phantoms of the High Seas



1. Dead Men Tale No Tales - Drifting to our ears and hearts comes the grimly fitting and stirring chant of "Yo ho..." given by male choirs. Blended with a six-beat cello passage, deep horns and strings, along with soft timpani drums, solemn tolling vespers and snare drums, it forms a bed of melody upon which rests a gruff but blood-stirring narration by Joseph Vargo, portraying a weathered sea captain as he relates:



"Avast ye pirates and black hearted sea dogs! Many a man has been summoned by the lure of the deep. And many a man has met his death beneath the dark waters of the endless abyss. For the sea is a cruel mistress, and what she claims, she holds onto forever. Mariners tell tale of phantom ships, whose ghostly captain and crew have been cursed to wander the mist-shrouded waves for all eternity. Other tales tell of sea monsters and sirens. Sunken cities and ancient maps that lead to uncharted islands, where treasure beyond most mens' wildest dreams lay buried. But these are merely stories, and the truth may never be told. For such secrets are known only to the phantoms of the high seas... and dead men tell no tales..."



Easily painted here in my mind is the image of a grisly, gruff sea captain below decks, studying his charts, legends and maps in a dark and musty cabin below decks, calling his crew to him to relate of the things which they seek, and what they may face along the way The female chorals near the end are a beautiful touch.



2. The High Seas - Now, the adventure begins in earnest, started with a violin or fiddle that feels Celtic at its heart. It is both poignant, tear-jerking and beautiful, dancing nimbly at the beginning with a seven-beat cello passage. That is joined soon by soft heart stirring drums as the strings break into a more adventurous tune. Joined by regal horns, swirling keyboards, and invigorating stately chorals, they paint a lovely picture upon my mind's canvas. It "feels" like the maiden voyage of a new and proud vessel, bearing within herself a noble King to take him upon the seas, but what I see is the crew,after much preparation, about to take their first seafaring journey of their lives, heady with the excitement of it all.



3. Edge of the World - Again, kingly timpani thunder is joined with cello doing an eight-step dance. Yearning higher pitched violin glides through it, full of longing and spirited joy at the same time. Snare drums add a touch of spirited questing and adventure, as do slightly more brooding yet still stirring horns, and very nice blended male and female choir. Now I see the crew awash in the wonder and awe of discovering new vistas, as they come to the edge of all they know, and dare to venture beyond it all.



4. Pirates: A four-note violin passage that later expands to six is joined with a cello and horn undercurrent, and regal timpani drums. I love the quicker violin "runs" in the beginning, and the drums are like a joyous, lusty heartbeat. There's a real vigor to this one that makes it a favorite. The main melody played by the horns and later by the strings, is very happy and vigorous. Adventure at its finest. The descending string runs at the first "bridge" are great. and I love the blending of the beautiful female choirs into it at the end of the first "stanza" if you like the word. What I "see" here, is unadulterated zeal. and the ecstasy of discovery. It's like the young pirate crew, under the guidance of their experienced captain, has just "struck it rich" and they are revelling in the joy of their find.



5. The Gallows Jig- This is, to me, a companion piece to track four. The pirate voices yelling "Hey!" is blended with an Irish bodhran undercurrent that soon dances with wonderful fiddle work and "plucked" guitar or lute strings. The snare drums add a very nice touch. Now I see everyone below decks with the food and grog freely flowing in joy, getting up from the table to do a spirited dance of joy.



6. Crossfire- Snare drums and tolling vespers are mated here with deep heart-pounding cannon fire, and blended chorals. My favorite part of this is the beautiful string passages, but they blend wonderfully with the swirling keyboard movements, and the lovely choirs. The cannon fire at the end, made me smile with its power. Alas, most joy does not last forever, and now the crew, giddy with the joy of treasure, must face the haunting threat of a fateful battle on the open sea, with numerous foes gunning for them as they valliantly fight back.



7. Oblivion- A classical sounding organ tocatta is blended with ominous horns and blended male and female choirs, and tolling bells make an appearance through it. Horns join in, sounding almost "desperate" at times. In my mind I see pitch black skies, lightning flashing, rain pounring down, huge waves pounding the ship, and even the sea on fire... as the desperate crew fights to escape the title's namesake, but many...don't make it....evidenced by the last tolling bell at the end of the piece.



8. Racing the Wind- Pure energy resides here. Furious cello runs blend with noble strings and horns. The timpani coursing through it adds a real blood-pumping energy to an already great piece. I love the high pitched violin vibrattoes blended wiwth wonderful chorals. Pipe organ appears nicely in the back. I just love this one. It feels...determined and heroic. The crew has managed to make repairs, and are now determined to out-race a rival to the next great treasure trove to be found.



9. Siren's Call- Deep low drums like a slow, dreadfilled heartbeat are joined with a hauntingly beautiful and lovely solitary female voice, and what sounds like either a soft reverberating "gong" or softly blowing winds, with an undercurrent of somber horns and very soft piano hits on occasion. A ghostly voice beckons the crew through dark and misty waters, daring them to find their next big strike, if they have but one thing... the courage to go get it.



10. Trove Islad- Deep and brooding horns dance with invigorating tribal drums, strings, pipe organs and mixed male and female choirs. Well, now the crew have got the treasure, but it appears to me that they've been set upon by an isle full of cannibalistic and undead headhunters. Better leave all that booty behind if they want to escape with their lives. Run, me mateys. Run!!!



11. Against the Storm - Fast paced strings, horns, drums and choirs are the stars of this opus. Snare drums are here in force, and noble higher pitched violin passages dance with cello through the piece, with some really nice vibrattoes. Once again the skies are dark, and Mother Nature shows her fury with lightning, rain and thunder tossing the waves, but the captain is having none of it, and neither is the crew. This is a battle of wills, man against nature, to get safely home, and the crew wins it... this time.



12. Lords of the Deep- Snare drums, horns and strings dance for us again. With big finds under their belts the crew has begun to feel as if they are masters of all they survey upon the waters, and with such wealth in their holds, who can argue with them? The whole piece has a darkly millitaristic feel, appropriate to the "rulers" of the sea.



13. Maelstrom - This is a "mood-setter", a powerful, musicless "scene-painting" piece. Mighty booming thunder and lightning blend with blowing winds and creaking ropes as waves pound all they touch. I don't see the crew here though. I see the ship at rest before attempting it's next big haul...and while the crew is safe and warm on land for the moment, outside, the sea is swearing her inevitable vengeance.



14. Out of the Mist - I love organ pieces, and we get a great one here. I must be honest. The first thirty seconds of this piece had me crying with a beautiful blend of organ with haunting female voice. The organ is later partnered with yearning and powerful strings and drums and mixed choir. I see the crew back out on the seas again, proud vessel glidin through the misty waters in defiance of nature's former fury, after their coastal haven was devastated by a monster storm. They may have been "down", but they're not out... yet.



15. Still Waters- Deep male choir plends with tolling bells, moaning winds, and a forlorn piano melody. The waves are calm, but there is no joy to be had for it. It seems more then one town was impacted by the dreadful gales, and now all the crew can do is look back upon the devastation and mourn it.



16. Black Sails - Beautiful harp passages blend with ominous horns and strings. Timpani drums and a driving guitar melody join in, along with beautiful female choral melodies in a great melodious picture. We get our first glimpse here of the dreaded "Tempest" a haunted ship of many ages of lore, both written and spoken. Raven canvasses snappin in the windm it seeks both treasure, and mortal souls. The crew and their own ship must flee if they wish to live, and flee they do.... just in time, for now.



17. Fate of the Tempest - A beautiful guitar melody blends with a forlorn whistling. Soft male choir and drums and tamborines mix into it. To me this is the best ballad that Nox Arcana has done to date, and Ty Cook, as guest vocalist does a great job with it, sounding like an old-time sailor, relating the tale of the downfall of the famed ghost ship christened the "Tempest" with poignancy, and maybe a touch of regret. It is as if the singer was a young but world-weary mariner , as if he knew of the vessel and were lamenting its passage. It is both a sad eulogy for the ship, and a cautionary tale that drips with earnestness.



18. The Fog Rolls In - This is anothr "scene painting" piece. Blowing winds mate with gentle waves, and deep horns like a foghorn. Also present are chilling ghostly whispers swearing vengeance on the guilty and other dreaded vows, creaks of wood and the "ringing" of a buoy. This is a shiver inducing scene if I've ever heard one. It saddens me a little, and I feel the intended cold, but it works beautifully.



19. Widow's Harbor - Mournful female choir and piano are the stars of this piece. Starring with them is a current of deep male choir, crying horns, and relentless cello and drums. All of it combines to paint a picture of the weight of relentless grief, as the families left behind by the crew of the Tempest lament the passing long ago of all those that they loved.



20. Ghost Ship - Pounding timpani drums and driving strings dance with swirling pipe organ, male choir, and snare drums. Tolling bells, moaning winds and female chorals appear effectively as well. The Tempest is back with a fury. Vengeance is claimed upon another ship that dared attempt to elude them....but for any that dare cross the haunted seas, from that dread vessel, there can be no escape.



21. Skull And Crossbones- A five beat cello passage blends with pounding drums, darkly noble horns, and higher pitched, faster cello and violin runs. Mixed male and female choir passages are the icing on the cake, along with snare drum runs that dance through the piece. My favorite things in this are the string melodies and occasional violin vibrattoes, but everything together makes it a jewel. At last, the Tempest has had it's revenge, and the other crew is now part of its own, sailing forever and being counted among the number... of the phantoms of the high seas.



In closing I will say this. Don't hit stop when the music goes quiet. There's a very fitting and well done bonus track to be found, a moving tale of memory and caution to be told, that closes the disc brilliantly. Nox Arcana has crafted an epic and haunting tale of the sea worthy to stand alongside the works of Cooleridge, Hemingway, Melville, and all others who have gifted us with such tales. It's the tenth jewel in the crown of the undisputed kings of the gothic fantasy and gothic horror soundscape. Do yourself a favor. Don't miss it."

So beware the whispering wind...

Draconis Blackthorne | The Haunted Noctuary | 10/17/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A phantom ship appears in the fog, torn sails, cruising eerily through the night underneath the full moon's blue light, as the ghosts of maritime swashbucklers arise from the deep to tell of deadly adventures...



Based upon the travels of an accursed vessel named The Tempest, and beginning with an appropriately gruff narration as if spoken by Black Beard himself, setting the tone for this morbid excursion [complete with the chanting of "Yo-Ho..." in the background}, Phantoms of The High Seas is a splendid Gothic translation of Pirate lore, with choirs and sound-effects to richly compliment and accentuate the tenebrous orchestrations. Also featured is a haunting vocal piece entitled "Fate of The Tempest" sung by 'Ty Cook', which recounts the tale.



The lavishly decorated booklet is your treasure map to the musickal gems herein, filled with darksome illustrations from the quest which will accompany you along your journey.



'Neath the black banner of the Jolly Roger do we sail for gold and treasures unimagined in splendor. May greed be your guide, and may the cleverest survive to enjoy the booty!"

A Spooky Voyage like no other...

Buzz Zombie | www.buzz-works.com | 10/25/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Nox Arcana is at it again, and like always they prove why they are the undisputed Kings of Haunting Music. Nox Arcana sets the course that other artists just seem to keep following! This cd is a must have whether you love all things pirates, or just enjoy a unique atmospheric soundtracks.



From the opening track with chants of YO-HO to the final note, I truly enjoyed this entire cd. I cannot imagine how they could have improved on this terrific effort.



Highly recommended!!!!



"