| Phantoms of the High Seas | |
| Type: | Studio album |
| Artist: | Nox Arcana |
| Cover: | Phantoms_of_the_High_Seas.jpg |
| Released: | October 13, 2008 |
| Genre: | Gothic, Neoclassical dark wave, Dark Ambient, New Age |
| Label: | Monolith Graphics |
| Prev Title: | Grimm Tales |
| Prev Year: | 2008 |
| Next Title: | Blackthorn Asylum |
| Next Year: | 2009 |
Phantoms of the High Seas is the tenth album by dark ambient duo Nox Arcana. The theme of the album is pirate lore and stories of ghost ships. Instrumentation includes deep bass horns, pounding drums, string instruments, and narration by Joseph Vargo telling the tale of a doomed pirate vessel called The Tempest. The instrumentals are accompanied by sound effects that include a howling wind and the snap of sails, the sound of creaking as of a wooden boat left derelict at sea, an eerie yet alluring chorus like that of a siren calling sailors to their doom, male voices of the ship's crew as they call out to the beat of a dirge while rowing, and thunderous sounds of cannon fire.
In the spirit of Nox Arcana's ongoing quest to incorporate puzzles into their cd packaging, the album artwork contains a treasure map and several ciphers.
From the liner notes: "Hearken ye pirates and black-hearted sea dogs... Nox Arcana beckons ye to set sail upon the haunted seas where ghost ships prowl the misty dead of night and ancient treasure lies buried far below the endless waves. This epic soundscape explores the mysteries of the deep with dynamic orchestrations, ghostly melodies, pirate anthems and gothic choirs. Set a course for high adventure!"
The release date for this album coincides with Columbus Day.