Midnight Syndicate - Out of the Darkness Retrospective 19941999 (24 tracks) +Album Reviews +Used CD available for Swap

This is Halloween

K. Martin | Kissimmee, FL | 01/14/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I grew up with Halloween albums filled with screeching cats, laughing witches, rattling chains and howling wind. Those were great, but if you're hosting a haunted house or are looking to set a darker mood, this is the best Halloween music out there.

Sophisticated, varied and truly dark, Midnight Syndicate has the corner on the market as far as I'm concerned. I've had people ask me what music was playing and how where they could find it. If you're a Halloween afficianado or are simply looking for a gothic sound, I can't recommend Midnight Syndicate highly enough."

Wonderful

Darkness | 01/15/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I really enjoy this CD. I have been a fan of Midnight Syndicate for several years, and I look forward to each release. When I heard this CD was going to be a retrospective, I must admit I was a little disappointed as I was hoping for new material. I bought the CD anyway and it has exceeded my expectations.

First of all, there is new material! There are four tracks that were previously unreleased, so that satisfied my need for something I hadn't heard before. Also, there are tracks from Midnight Syndicate's first release, which was self-titled and which I hadn't heard before - so that was new to me, too!

Second, I very much enjoy listening to how the tracks have changed from when they were first released on "Born of the Night" and "Realm of Shadows". They seem to have a bit more depth - to be more finely tuned than they were before, but not changed so much that they're too different to enjoy if you liked them the first time around.

"

An amazing collection, worth getting

Thom | 315, NY | 01/12/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For those of you reading this who have not gotten a chance to purchase any of the older works of The Midnight Syndicate, I completely recomend this album. I know that some of their older work can be difficult to aquire, this album will solve that problem and very importantly it is affordable.

These guys have the Midas touch with their music, everything they compose is like gold. I have written a review for Realm of Shadow (which is on this album in part), so feel free to look into that for more specifics about that album. These guys create perfect music music for the Haunted Attraction industry, horror enthusiasts, and any occasion really. I actually have a lot of friends who play their music while they are tattooing at their shops, oddly enough the midnight syndicate's music relaxes enough first time tattoo shop customers into a sense of comfort, but elements of their music keeps them scared enough to come back for more. So, if youare a haunter, a tattoo artist, a role playing gamer, or just someone who wants to listen to som really good music, the midnight syndicate is your new favorite band.

as for the collection presented in this album, it really is a great collect that spans the career of this fabulous entity of the horror music genre that is the Midnight Syndicate.

i dare you to buy this album and sleep with it on, read books with it on, shower with it playing; make this album as if it were your personal soundtrack to life. you will find their music to be life changing. please check them out."

I CAN'T get ENOUGH of this CD!! Kudos, Ed and Gavin!

Angela Ryer | 07/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Yes, Out of the Darkness is a Retrospective CD of the past works of Midnight Syndicate. The remixes of past efforts of tracks from "Born of the Night" and Realm of Shadows" are notably cleaner and fuller on this CD showing a growth as artists that Edward Douglas and Gavin Goszka truly are. I must admit that my favorite remixes are 'Solemn Reflections' (the Harpsicord at the end is most luscious!)'Into the Abyss' is much stronger than the original as it flows so freely that you can imagine yourself flying with the music over crashing waves! 'Masque of Sorrow' has an extra emotional quality to it that is brought out in the new arrangement as well. There are also some previously un released tracks on this CD worth mentioning. A new piece by Gavin Goszka called "Prisoner of Time' has a forelorn but beautiful sadness to it that is probally my favorite track on this CD. However, the tracks by Edward Douglas, 'Scenes from The Dead Matter' and 'Journey into Dementia' from his previous forays in movie making give me insight as to what we can expect later this year from this Dynamic Duo as they are set to score two new Horror Movies! This, to me, has been a long time coming and is about to come full circle for them and I couldn't be any happier! AS far as the previously mentioned "Born of the Night" and "Realm of Shadows" CDs...seeing how these two are no longer available, "Out of the Darkness" provides the best of these two CDs into one! I have both and in my honest heartfelt opinion, the new arrangements of the tracks (from the first two CDs) upon this Retropective surpass the effectivness from the first two!!

Bravo Gentlemen! You are true Artists to the end! I will always be true BLUE Midnight Syndicate Supporter!! I look forward to ALL your future endeavors...

"

Dark and different

Joker | Michigan | 03/05/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Out Of The Darkness is a finely crafted album by Midnight Syndicate. This album consists of re-recordings of some of the best tracks from their self-titled debut album (1997), Born Of The Night (1998), and Realm Of Shadows (2000). The songs sound a little crisper and clearer than the original recordings, with some minor changes made to the arrangements in some of the songs. If you own and like the original Born Of The Night and Realm Of Shadows albums as I do, then you'll like the material on Out Of The Darkness. It is worth it to purchase this album because there are some new and previously unreleased tracks as well.

The songs have a little more depth, sophistication, energy, and clarity to them compared to the original recordings, especially the songs Eclipse, Forbidden Crypts, Sanctuary, and Born Of The Night. For example, the choral voices on Eclipse are more upbeat compared to the original recording, the bells are louder, and the song overall sounds clearer. Forbidden Crypts is more energized, powerful, and clearer -- a huge improvement over the original. Sanctuary features slightly more upbeat choral voices, a slightly better sounding pipe organ, some added percussion, and louder bells. Born Of The Night is much better than the original because the piano is so much clearer and there is no narration in the beginning of the song. Other noticeable improvements are on the songs Masque Of Sorrow and Into The Abyss. They are livelier. The track Scenes From "The Dead Matter" is outstanding and really has a movie soundtrack sound to it. The previously unreleased track Prisoner Of Time is one of my favorite songs on the album. I kind of get the feeling that this song was originally meant for the Gates Of Delirium album. It sounds like it would fit right in on that album, plus the name of the song has the word PRISONER in it, like an inmate of Haverghast Asylum, which is the setting for the Gates Of Delirium album. Another one of my favorite tracks on the album is Theme to "Journey Into Dementia." It has good organ and a good melody. Another outstanding track that has a movie feel to it. The final track, Druids, is excellent and upbeat and above all, different. It features drums and a lot of thunder and lightning sound effects throughout. I kind of get the feeling that it's a song that has to do with the origins of Halloween thousands of years ago in Ireland. Either that or it's a fantasy song. Neat. It originally appeared on Midnight Syndicate's self-titled debut album (1997).

If you're new to Midnight Syndicate's music, this is a good album to start with, being that it showcases material from several albums and it is not focused on one specific theme. Instead, you get a wide variety of haunting music with a wide variety of subject matter and themes. I highly recommend this album. Play it at Halloween parties, for the trick-or-treaters, or listen to it alone in the dark any time of the year. If you listen to this album or any other album by Midnight Syndicate only during the Halloween season, you're shortchanging yourself.

"

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