Search - Midnight Syndicate :: Out of the Darkness (Retrospective: 1994-1999)

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...



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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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