Out of the Darkness (Retrospective: 1994–1999)
| Out of the Darkness (Retrospective: 1994–1999) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | July 4, 2006 | |||
| Recorded | 2006 | |||
| Genre | Gothic, dark ambient, neoclassical dark wave, darkwave | |||
| Length | 66:57 | |||
| Label | Entity Productions | |||
| Midnight Syndicate chronology | ||||
| ||||
Out of the Darkness (Retrospective: 1994–1999) is a compilation album by Midnight Syndicate, released July 4, 2006, by Entity Productions. The album features re-recorded and re-mastered tracks from Born of the Night and Realm of Shadows along with four previously unreleased songs the band's early years (1994-1999). [1]
Album information and release
In March 2006, Midnight Syndicate announced that Born of the Night and Realm of Shadows were out of print.[2] and explained in an interview that they would no longer be available for sale.[3] In July of that same year Out of the Darkness (Retrospective: 1994–1999) was released featuring re-recorded versions of tracks from the Midnight Syndicate (1997), Born of the Night (1998), and Realm of Shadows (2000) albums and tracks from Edward Douglas' early scores for his films Journey into Dementia (1994) and The Dead Matter (1996) and a previously unreleased track by Gavin entitled, Prisoner of Time.
In a 2006 interview, composer, Gavin Goszka said, "It's been over seven years since we originally recorded most of those songs, and our technology and technique have improved... This gives us an opportunity to reissue the songs closer to what we originally envisioned."[3] Composer, Edward Douglas referred to the Out of the Darkness material as "what we consider our best horror-genre material from the early years."[4] The album artwork was created by fantasy artist, Rob Alexander, who also created a number of works for Magic: the Gathering games.[5]
The album was released through Entity Productions and self-distributed through Halloween retailers like Spencer Gifts, costume shops, and hobby shops.[6]
Style
Side-Line Magazine described the album as remaining in the band's universe of "imaginary horror films"-style calling it a "fusion of orchestral arrangements and dark horror-like impressions."[1] Gothic Beauty noted the album featured fewer "scary" sound tricks than previous albums adding that although it was "made-for-Halloween theatrics" several tracks were too grandiose to be "horror camp."[7]
Post-release
In 2013, the track Into The Abyss was featured as outro music following track 14, Saturday Night on the Misfits live album, Dead Alive!.[8] In 2015, Rue Morgue Magazine included Out of the Darkness in its list of 50 Essential Horror Albums - Discs That Created, Evolved, or Defined Genre Music Through the Decades citing the band's influence in the haunted attraction industry and "entrenchment" in the celebration of the Halloween season as reasons for its inclusion.[9]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Originally released on | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Realm of Shadows" | Douglas | Realm of Shadows | 2:54 |
| 2. | "Darkness Descends" | Douglas | Born of the Night | 2:06 |
| 3. | "Born of the Night" | Douglas | Born of the Night | 3:07 |
| 4. | "Return of the Apparition" (Previously released as "The Apparition" on Born of the Night.) | Goszka | Born of the Night [10][11] | 1:06 |
| 5. | "Legions of the Night" | Douglas | Realm of Shadows | 2:45 |
| 6. | "Eye of the Storm" | Douglas | Realm of Shadows | 2:40 |
| 7. | "Solemn Reflections" | Goszka | Born of the Night | 2:51 |
| 8. | "Nightstalker" | Douglas | Born of the Night | 2:40 |
| 9. | "Noctem Aeternus" | Douglas | Realm of Shadows | 2:33 |
| 10. | "Haunted Nursery" | Douglas | Born of the Night [10][11] | 1:31 |
| 11. | "Sanctuary" | Goszka | Realm of Shadows | 2:33 |
| 12. | "Into the Abyss" | Goszka | Realm of Shadows | 4:50 |
| 13. | "The Night Beckons" | Douglas | Realm of Shadows | 2:25 |
| 14. | "Masque of Sorrow" | Goszka | Born of the Night | 2:05 |
| 15. | "Forbidden Crypts" | Douglas | Born of the Night | 2:13 |
| 16. | "Theme to The Dead Matter (Vampire's Kiss)" (previously appeared as "Theme to The Dead Matter" in 1996 film and on Midnight Syndicate in 1997. Re-released as "Vampire's Kiss" (Theme to The Dead Matter) on Born of the Night in 1998.) | Douglas | Midnight Syndicate , Born of the Night [10] | 2:17 |
| 17. | "Darkfolk (Shadows)" (Released as "Dark Folk" on Midnight Syndicate, then as "Shadows (Darkfolk)" on Born of the Night in 1998.) | Douglas | Midnight Syndicate, Born of the Night [10] | 3:06 |
| 18. | "Soliloquy" | Douglas | Realm of Shadows | 3:04 |
| 19. | "Beyond the Gates" | Douglas | Realm of Shadows | 2:14 |
| 20. | "Eclipse" | Douglas | Realm of Shadows | 3:25 |
| 21. | "Scenes from The Dead Matter" | Douglas | The Dead Matter (1996 film)[11] | 1:57 |
| 22. | "Prisoner of Time" | Goszka | (Previously unreleased) | 4:43 |
| 23. | "Theme to Journey Into Dementia" (Journey Into Dementia was a short film in 1994. The first audio release was a techno mix on Midnight Syndicate in 1997.) | Douglas | Journey Into Dementia (1994 short), Midnight Syndicate[11][3] | 2:36 |
| 24. | "Druids" | Angus, Douglas | Midnight Syndicate | 5:16[11][10] |
Personnel
- Edward Douglas – Music Written, Performed, and Produced by
- Gavin Goszka – Music Written, Performed, and Produced by
- Greg Zydyk - Engineered and Mixed by
- Scott Angus and Edward Douglas - Druids written by
- Christopher Robichaud and Jami Douglas - Additional voices on Druids
- Scott Angus - Drums and Keyboards on Druids
- Mark Rakocy - Photography by
- Rob Alexander - Cover art by
- Brainstorm Studios - Design and layout by[12]
References
- ^ a b Benard Van Isacker, "Reviews: Out of the Darkness, Side-Line Music Magazine (Bruxelles, Belgium), Issue 56, Pg. 57
- ^ Midnight Syndicate announces "out of print" albums in 2006 at the Wayback Machine (archived 2006-03-28)
- ^ a b c Leonard Pickel (May 31, 2006). "Midnight Syndicate: Setting the Mood for an Industry". Charlotte, NC: Haunted Attraction Magazine. p. 24-28, 38-41. Archived from the original on October 30, 2006.
Earlier this year Midnight Syndicate announced that Born of the Night and Realm of Shadows would no longer be available for sale due to a third party who owned certain non-musical elements on those particular discs. All about turning hardship into triumph, the band's eighth CD will be out in July. Out of the Darkness is a retrospective disc spanning the band's early years from 1994-1999 and will feature both band favorites and fan favorite songs from Born of the Night, Realm of Shadows, and Midnight Syndicate, re-recorded and re-mastered on new equipment.
- ^ Jennifer McKevitt, "Art of Darkness", The News Herald (Ohio) (Mentor, OH), October 29, 2006, Pg. E1-2
- ^ Artist website of Rob Alexander
- ^ Carl E. Feather, "A little night music", Star Beacon (Ashtabula, OH), October 30, 2006, Sec. B, Pg. B1.
- ^ Carolee "Music Review: Out of the Darkness", Gothic Beauty, (Portland, OR) Issue 23, Pg. 66
- ^ DEA.D. Alive (vinyl jacket). Misfits. Radio City Station, NY: Misfits Records. 2013. MRLP 01550.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "50 Essential Horror Albums - Discs That Created, Evolved, or Defined Genre Music Through the Decades", Rue Morgue Magazine, Issue 160, Pg. 28-36
- ^ a b c d e Midnight Syndicate tracklist and booklet, Born of the Night tracklist and booklet, Out of the Darkness tracklistand booklet
- ^ a b c d e Out of the Darkness: Retrospective: 1994-1999 (booklet). Midnight Syndicate. Chardon, OH: Linfaldia Records. 2006. p. 4. MS1006-CD.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Out of the Darkness: Retrospective: 1994-1999 (booklet). Midnight Syndicate. Chardon, OH: Linfaldia Records. 2006. p. 2. MS1006-CD.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)