Launched Through: Symmetric Data
Liberate Date: April 2nd, 2024
Style: Symphonic Steel/Rock Opera
Hyperlinks: https://www.fb.com/
Line Up:
Elina Englezou – Balalaika, Ocarina, Songwriting
Bob Katsionis – Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Drum Programming
Aggelos Pavlos – Violin
Vassilis Koilakos – Ud
Visitor Vocalists:
Yiannis Papanikolaou – Captain Silas Hawk
Stratis Steele – Quartermaster Ian Smythe
Marios Karanastasis – First Mate Pete Glynn
Christos Kounelis – Navigator Mister Thomas Knox
Mike Livas – Demon Vythos
Iliana Tsakiraki – Siren Thelxie
Fany Melfi – Sea Witch Nerissa
The Delusion Choir – Pirates and Sirens
Tracklist:
1. Northern Winds
2. Into the Typhoon
3. Within the Captain’s Quarter’s
4. The Crone
5. Get the Pistol!
6. Ghosts of the Sea
7. Father
8. Diamonds, Emeralds and Rubies
9. Daughters of the Ocean
10. Coming House
Pirates and steel are under no circumstances a brand new aggregate, with the vintage German heavy/energy steel band Working Wild specifically having nice luck over a protracted occupation, inspiring many bands to apply swimsuit and create their very own logo of pirate-themed steel. Likewise, the comedic people/energy steel band Alestorm has been relatively a success through the years, as have many others. On the other hand, whilst there were many such bands, I don’t suppose I had ever heard of a pirate-themed rock opera ahead of, a minimum of no longer till now. Arriving on the dock and getting ready to set sail is Greek musician/songwriter Elina Englezou, who had in the past teamed up with former Firewind keyboardist Bob Katsionis to create a rock opera titled Goditha. Now, the pair have reunited for a brand new venture titled Captain Hawk, not too long ago liberating their debut album, Ghosts of the Sea. I wasn’t relatively certain what to anticipate in the beginning, however as partial to pirates and rock operas, I used to be intrigued by way of the idea that. I will say that whilst it would possibly not blow any individual away with its steel facets or its songwriting, it’s indubitably a amusing, epic concentrate with some superb vocals and storytelling.
As anticipated, the album has an epic, very cinematic really feel to it, with a big focal point on vocals and symphonic components. Englezou herself performs Balalaika and Ocarina, and there’s additionally an Ud participant within the lineup, in addition to a violinist and a choir. So, it’s no marvel that folks and symphonic components regularly dominate the song, with the latter, specifically, being the primary sound. Katsionis is in command of all steel tools at the album, together with drum programming, so fanatics of his can be expecting some instrumental thrives now and then, with the guitar paintings specifically shining all through some superb solos and transient instrumental bursts in between verses. On the other hand, whilst he’s an excessively proficient musician and does have some room to show off his skills, he obviously holds again relatively a little bit for many of the album, giving a lot of room for the vocals, people, and symphonic components to polish. It’s transparent he used to be introduced in to create song to accompany Englezou’s paintings, with out totally overtaking it, so fanatics anticipating an excessively heavy or technical steel album is also upset. On the other hand, he does an excellent process as all the time, with some really nice melodic enjoying during, and whilst the guitars and keys are regularly secondary all through vocal portions, they do sound nice when given the risk. The programmed drums also are forged, doing a just right sufficient process of keeping up rhythm, and whilst I’m no longer specifically just right at selecting up on these items, I by no means discovered the truth that they’re programmed to be a distraction. Manufacturing is forged, although unsurprisingly precedence is given to the vocals and symphonic preparations, in addition to drums, with guitars regularly being in opposition to the again of the combo, although they’re nonetheless transparent sufficient for his or her presence to be felt always.
Clearly, although, the album is much less of a steel album than this is a rock opera, and on that entrance, it’s an excessively amusing, well-made album. As I discussed ahead of, symphonic components regularly dominate the sound, regularly giving the song a cinematic really feel, along side the choir vocals. People components are extensively utilized relatively a little bit, each from the people tools in addition to on occasion from some folk-sounding guitar melodies, including to the epic really feel. Like on maximum Ayreon albums, there’s all the time a bunch of singers concerned, now and again making a song in combination and now and again alternating strains, every enjoying their very own respective function. Visitors come with Diviner vocalist Yiannis Papanikolaou, Stratis Steele from Endomain, Mike Livas from Prydain, and Enemy of Fact vocalist Iliana Tsakiraki, amongst many others. It’s a forged solid of Greek steel vocalists, with every of them doing a really perfect process. No person in reality steals the display, however as a substitute, they every carry out their function completely and paintings successfully in combination, making it a really perfect staff effort. Lyrically, the album tells the tale of Captain Silas Hawk and his pirate team as they activate by way of orders of the native King, to go back with any more or less treasure they may be able to in finding. It’s an stress-free tale, with many twists and turns, and following along side the lyrics makes for the most productive listening enjoy. Listening casually remains to be stress-free, nevertheless it’s transparent the album is supposed to be handled as a tale, with the songs most commonly mixing in combination, and whilst it’s all entertaining when listened to as a complete, there are in reality best a few tracks that stand out properly on their very own, with the remainder running a lot better as a part of a complete.
Certainly, whilst the songwriting is forged, it’s additionally relatively samey, with maximum tracks in large part shifting at a sluggish to mid-pace, with bits of heaviness right here and there in addition to the occasional rapid phase, however maximum vocal sections are very melodic and transfer at extra of a comfy speed, to permit room for the vocals and lyrics to dominate. Kicking issues off is Northern Winds, a monitor that instantly shall we listeners know what to anticipate. It begins off with bits of narration and a sweeping orchestral ranking ahead of the steel tools kick in and the monitor begins shifting at a average pace, with forged musicianship giving technique to superb vocals during the verses. The refrain, specifically, may be very amusing, upbeat, and catchy, with some great choir vocals. Whilst all singers sound nice, Papanikolaou particularly shines as an impressive, gruff-sounding captain, whilst Disharmony vocalist Christos Kounelis excels in this monitor and plenty of others, because of his deep, super-smooth voice.
Subsequent is Into the Typhoon, a monitor that provides a lot of room for all 4 pirate vocalists to polish. The monitor opens up with a cushy, folk-infused passage with some very cushy vocals from The Silent Wedding ceremony vocalist Marios Karanastasis ahead of selecting up the pace a little bit and becoming an epic mix of folks/symphonic steel, with some great melodic guitar paintings and a ton of folks and symphonic components. The verses are particularly amusing as they retain alternating between other vocalists, whilst the refrain speeds issues up very moderately and is relatively epic and intense, telling the tale of the pirates rescuing an outdated girl from a sea hurricane. Very good gang vocals open up Within the Pirate Quarters, a slow-paced, atmospheric monitor with some great melodic guitar paintings. The verses are sluggish and feature a thick setting, alternating vocals between Papanikolaou and an animated, creepy-sounding Fany Melfi who works rather well with him. The refrain additionally shall we the ones two paintings in combination, and lines some somewhat explosive drums, shifting at a quicker speed, and having an excessively catchy track. The monitor ends with the remainder of the pirates noticing one thing is occurring between the 2, which is readily adopted up on within the following two tracks.
Some other folk-infused monitor is The Crone, telling the tale of the pirates being misplaced at sea in a fog, whilst the Captain and the outdated girl conceal within the cabin, ignoring the team’s pleas for assist. The monitor begins off sluggish and cushy, however because it progresses it turns into extra folk-infused, with some cheery melodies, whilst the refrain is relatively intense, amusing, and catchy, and there’s some great folk-infused, melodic guitar paintings during. My private favourite monitor is Get the Pistol!, which options the remainder of the team plotting to take the send over, after shedding all believe of their Captain. It’s some of the heavier tracks at the album, in addition to one of the epic and intense, beginning off with choir vocals and sweeping orchestral preparations, ahead of some great melodic guitar paintings kicks in and becomes an epic symphonic steel monitor, with a slight energy steel really feel. Verses are relatively cushy and comfy, in large part vocal-driven, whilst the refrain has heavier guitar paintings, intense drums, and a few improbable vocals and lyrics. It accelerates midway via and is in all probability the catchiest refrain at the album, whilst additionally that includes the tremendous badass line “Get the pistol, the musket, the cutlass, the sword, purpose this night we’re taking the send for our personal.” Merely epic! The narration during the monitor may be improbable, and typically, I in finding this album makes use of narration rather well, briefly using it to assist inform the tale, with out it ever turning into distracting or having it remove an excessive amount of from the song.
Issues take a darker flip at the identify monitor, because the team is misplaced in a depressing sea, with out their Captain to assist them. It’s a cushy, darkish, and atmospheric monitor, with the verses having a ballad-like really feel to them, whilst the refrain is a little more epic and upbeat, with some nice choir vocals. For probably the most phase, although, it’s an excessively story-driven monitor, with superb vocals and lyrics, whilst the song is relatively minimum, apart from some intense moments all through the refrain and a very good folk-infused instrumental phase in opposition to the top. One of the crucial intense tracks is Father, which starts with some superb buzzing vocals ahead of some great, folk-infused melodic guitar paintings kicks in, proceeding during a somewhat comfy opening verse. The refrain is way heavier and lines some intense, fiery vocals from Mike Livas, portraying a demon removing the Captain, who after all emerges from the cabin to assist his team.
The pirates after all satisfy their goal at the upbeat monitor Diamonds, Emeralds & Rubies, an epic symphonic steel monitor, which by no means totally accelerates however strikes at a relatively upbeat pace during the verses, and it has some great melodic guitar paintings during, accompanied by way of some intense, sped-up drumming all through the refrain, because the pirates discover a cave stuffed with the whole thing they need and extra. On the other hand, they stumble upon a bunch of sea creatures on Daughters of the Ocean, every other monitor which opens up softly as a ballad ahead of turning into a little bit heavier and extra intense all through the refrain because the pirates battle their undesirable corporate off. The monitor options some gorgeous operatic vocals from Iliana Tsakiraki, who plays as some of the Sirens, and does an improbable process. Final out the album is the triumphant-sounding Coming House, which sees the team heading again house, making a song in regards to the rewards and celebrations looking ahead to them. It’s the fastest-paced monitor at the album, shifting at a relatively fast speed and having a pleasant combine of folks and symphonic components. The verses are upbeat however nonetheless relatively calm and melodic, whilst the refrain will increase the pace and is likely one of the most enjoyable, epic, and catchy choruses at the album, with a more than happy sound to it, in addition to some superb choir vocals, as standard.
The speculation of a pirate-themed rock opera is one thing I had by no means considered ahead of, however I used to be instantly intrigued once I came upon Ghosts of the Sea and determined I had to give it a concentrate instantly. I’m satisfied I did as it’s an excessively amusing album, with superb vocals and lyrics, in addition to some forged instrumental paintings during. It’s very a lot the type of album that works easiest when handled as a complete, and with lyrics available, as the tale and vocal performances are the highlights, adopted carefully by way of the people and symphonic components, whilst the steel parts are properly finished, however in large part really feel secondary on maximum tracks. Captain Hawk is an excessively amusing venture, and whether or not or no longer it ever will get a sequel or Englezou and Katsionis make a decision to do one thing else in combination, I’m unquestionably satisfied they made this album and gave me one thing I didn’t know I had to listen.
Rankings: 8/10
Written by way of: Travis Inexperienced
My International Thoughts – Personnel Author
Travis Inexperienced is a Canadian primarily based author for My International Thoughts, with a specific pastime for energy steel, in addition to an passion steel in all its bureaucracy.
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