A Sea Major Playlist

A specter is haunting Europe—the specter of killer whales. Since 2020, pods of orcas have been attacking ships and yachts in European waters. As of about a month ago, more than 500 yachts had been attacked off the Iberian Peninsula alone. This summer, other aquatically-inclined mammals have joined their orca comrades (orca-mrades?), with reports from California of both sea lions and otters attacking surfers. Which: Good for her.  

There are plenty of works in classical music about the ocean that show the sea as dazzlingly beautiful, calm, and serene. This list does not include any of them. Instead, we’re taking a look at sea-inspired works in which the ocean fights back, takes no prisoners, and fucks humans up. While many experts in orca studies argue that these last few years of attacks are not a Melville-inspired revenge-plot against man, humanity has never let science get in the way of a good story.