Not dark and creepy at all to me. Romanticize pirates for sure, haha:))
I felt his music has been influenzed by Dmitri Shostakovich and Igor Stravinsky, both were considered provocative, bold and even outrageous by some in their times. If i ever have a chance, i'd like to ask him in person.
Dmitri Shostakovich:
Igor Stravinsky: