Captain Hawk - Ghosts of the Sea (2024)

We are going to talk about something very unique. Captain Hawk is not a new band, but rather an once off project/ Metal Opera that is written by Elina Englezou, with the musical part being performed by Bob Katsionis (Warrior Path, Stray Gods, ex. Firewind). This is the second collaboration of the duo, succeeding their first Rock Opera called Goditha.

The music falls straight into the Epic/Power Metal category and as any Metal Opera that respects itself, Ghosts of the Sea is performed by seven vocalists of the Greek scene who are also accompanied by the Fantasy Choir. I think the theme of the concept is very obvious, we are of course dealing with a Pirate story and if you are waiting for a Pirates of the Caribbean meets Metal crossover, then you are correct. Personally, I very much welcome it as I love that setting and apart from Visions of Atlantis and the legendary Running Wild, we do not have many serious alternatives.

Time to join the crew and discuss about the music direction. You will come across 10 original compositions that are mostly mid tempo. Guitars have a more supporting role but are always there, and between the rhythmic parts and very to the point leads of pirate aesthetic, they do their job admirably. The spotlight, the selling points, call it however you want, rests on the following three elements:

The biggest of them all, is the performance of the singers. They all give their soul and since we are talking about a Metal Opera, they at times give the impression that you are watching a play unfold. You have pirates shouting commands, confortations with sirens and sea witches, back to back singing simulating dialogue between crewmates and many more. Credits go to the on point utilization of each singer’s strong points. For instance, soprano Iliana Tsakiraki (Enemy of Reality) is breathtaking in the title track that at times gives the impression that you are listening to Therion. Mike Livas (Silent Winter) has great screams and excels at higher pitches, so you can guess how he is utilized. The same applies for each of the guests.

The second virtue of the project are the orchestrations. There is no shortage of them and they help bring to life the whole pirate theme in a great way. The concept of an album is not well executed if there is not enough immersion, something that Captain Hawk does very well. Lastly, each chorus is very anthemic. If you sleep with pictures of Rhapsody under your pillow, you will feel at home here. Small detail, but those make the difference, is the inclusion of some sporadic effects like the sound of waves, the strike of a thunder, or the creaking of the ship. It is evident that great love and care was poured in this work.

I don’t believe the pirate theme will continue in a potential next Metal Opera from the team, but whatever they choose to do, I would like to have two additional things for the perfect result. The first are some more bombastic moments, some bursts of energy if you will. Imagine the peak of Pirates of the Caribbean where the pirates fight Davy Jones in the whirlpool. Translate that to a song and you will get the picture. The other is some differentiation in the tempo of the songs. A pirate ballad and one or two fast/heavier moments would be ideal. By the time the closing Coming Home comes, you have already taken all the album has to give.

Final verdict? A big fat YES, or should I say AEY. If you crave music with a pirate setting then Ghosts of the Sea is a no brainer. Same if you love Metal Operas with diverse and passionate singing. Usually I get mixed feelings from them (Metal Operas), but here the scales turn effortlessly in the “good” side. I have the impression that the album will not find its way to streaming platforms, meaning the more convenient way of listening will be purchasing it directly, so the million dollar question is if it is worth it. Judging from the uniqueness of the project and its overall quality, if you liked the already released Into the Storm, I say it is worth the investment. It came out of nowhere, turned out to be a pleasant surprise and endeavors like this deserve all the praise and recognition they can get.