"Monsters of Legend" wins BEST CD in 12th annual Rondo Awards

Midnight Syndicate's Monsters of Legend CD has won the category for BEST CD in the 12th annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards.   The Rondo Awards are a great honor in the horror industry and we appreciate everyone who voted!  "Our goal with Monsters of Legend was to transport the listener into the world of classic horror," said Edward Douglas. "So to be recognized both by horror fans and an organization like the Rondos which is heavily rooted in classic horror movies, means a lot."  "We really enjoyed being able to draw upon the classic horror scores, themes, and characters to create something uniquely our own," added Gavin Goszka. This award marks the second win for Midnight Syndicate.   The first came in 2011 when they won the BEST CD category for Carnival Arcane.

"Goons & Greasepaint" invade YouTube

Not for coulrophobics. The Goons & Greasepaint video has been unleashed on YouTube!  Over 100 clowns from some of the most suspect carnivals around the globe would love to meet you...  "This music video montage is a tribute to Midnight Syndicate's fans," said Edward Douglas.  "We asked them to send in their best clown photos and they obliged..."  The video was produced by director Michael Raisch (whose works also appears on The Dead Matter DVD bonus features).   "Mike had a challenge," added Douglas.  "We asked to include as many of the entries as possible.  The problem is the song is only 3 minutes long.  As always though, Mike found a creative way of incorporating these images in a fun, over-the-top, carnival-style."   The video is set to the song Goons & Greasepaint from the award-winning Carnival Arcane CD and features over a hundred clown images sent in by fans.

Play a character from "Carnival Arcane" at GenCon Indy 2012

Play a character from the Carnival Arcane CD! Figments of Your Imagination has created a LARP (Live Action Roleplaying) adventure based on their take of Carnival Arcane that they will be debuting at Gen Con Indy next weekend!

From Figments of Your Imagination:

Figments of Your Imagination(FYI), a creative team of authors from Chicago, announces the first official Live-Action Role Playing (LARP) scenario set in the haunting world of Midnight Syndicate. The action takes place in 1928 on the grounds of the famous Lancaster Rigby Carnival, which is rumored to offer what no other carnival can. It is a time when the whole nation is drunk on prosperity, but darkness waits in the shadows to drown men in sorrow. The tents are up, the lights are strung, and the barker is ready to show you in…

The 'Carnival Arcane LARP' will debut at GenCon 2012 in two exclusive events on Thursday and Friday evening. Both events sold out quickly, but rumor has it that one or two extra characters are available for extremely dedicated and fortunate Midnight Syndicate fans… No LARP experience needed.

A printer-friendly GenCon preview CD that contains all the characters, plots, rules, GM notes, and other material needed to run the scenario will be on sale at Midnight Syndicate's booth (#1631) in the GenCon Exhibitor Hall. After GenCon, the LARP will be available for sale online.

For more information, please visit the FYI website.

"Carnival Arcane" nominated for 2012 ENnie Award

Midnight Syndicate's Carnival Arcane has been nominated for Best RPG-Related Product in the ENnie Awards. Michael Tresca, of the RPG Examiner posted a write up on the nomination here. Now in their 12th year, the ENnies recognize excellence in roleplaying game design and related products in the industry. The award show is held every year at GenCon Indy. From now till July 29, YOU CAN VOTE for Midnight Syndicate and your favorite gaming products from 2012 at - 2012 ENnie Awards Voting.

"Freakshow" finalist in the 2012 Great American Song Contest

Edward Douglas' song Freakshow from Carnival Arcane was chosen as a finalist in the Instrumental category of the 2012 Great American Song Contest. The contest, now in it's fourteenth year, is sponsored by the Songwriters Resource Network.

Midnight Syndicate and "The Dead Matter" featured in top German horror publication, Virus Magazine

The latest issue of Germany's premiere horror publication, Virus Magazine, features an in-depth interview with Edward Douglas as well as tremendous review of Carnival Arcane and The Dead Matter. Visit them on Facebook. The publication is in German.

Virus Magazine on Carnival Arcane... "A new classic! 10/10 - MONSTER OF THE MONTH!"

Virus Magazine on The Dead Matter... "a stylish, atmospheric, cool, 'creepy-flick' with a f---ng awesome soundtrack... Strictly recommended!"

Vote for Midnight Syndicate in the Rondo Awards!

Carnival Arcane has been nominated for BEST SOUNDTRACK OR HORROR CD in this year's Rondo Awards and we need your support! To vote for the CD simply follow this link. You do NOT have to vote in every category. The Rondo Awards are a great honor in the horror community and we appreciate your taking time to support Midnight Syndicate!

More "Carnival Arcane" reviews from the Lancaster-Rigby press box

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The Lancaster-Rigby press department is pleased to share with you these great new reviews of the Carnival Arcane show from Horror Addicts, writer Scott Sandridge, Blackgate, Cleveland Scene, and Movie Crpyt.

Horror Addicts - "Old fans of Midnight Syndicate will not be disappointed as their trademark epic instrumental soundtrack feel is here in abundance, and you can see also that they have grown in their musical storytelling."

Scott Sandridge (SpecMusicMuse) - "Midnight Syndicate outdo themselves with 'Carnival Arcane' – one of, if not the best music CD they’ve yet produced."

Blackgate - "Each one of the twenty-five tracks is a self-contained gem of a storyline that will strike a nerve with anyone who believes there’s something more disturbing at traveling carnivals than employees without good dental plans."

Cleveland Scene - "...somehow, after 14 years and just as many albums, the Chardon duo still manages to give us nightmares every time."

Movie Crypt - "...another moody masterpiece"

Keep the clowns coming!

In an effort to allow people to share images of their haunts from this season, we have EXTENDED the DEADLINE for the Goons and Greasepaint music video contest to NOVEMBER 10th. If you have a cool clown or dark circus picture that you'd like to have featured on Midnight Syndicate's upcoming Goons and Greasepaint video, send it to us and win free stuff! More details on the contest here! Photo courtesy of Devid Helfrey/Ben Mund of FrightTown.

Chat live with Edward Douglas and Gavin Goszka Tonight

Join Edward Douglas and Gavin Goszka in the Back Room Chat Room, an old school text-only chat on the Beautiful Brains Books & Games website. The chat room opens around 8:45pm Eastern on September 29th, with Edward and Gavin joining in at 9:00pm. The room closes around 10:00pm Eastern.

Killer Reviews asks "Is Midnight Syndicate Horror's Best Kept Secret?" in smashing review of "Carnival Arcane"

Read more of what Killer Reviews' Xander Kane had to say about the album and Midnight Syndicate here.

Killer Reviews - "...this time it is flat out perfection... they take their craft to another level with no looking back... a unique listening experience that is rarely seen in much of music today."

Live Interview Tonight on Dead Air Paranormal Talk Radio

Join Midnight Syndicate's Gavin Goszka and Edward Douglas tonight on WBGU-FM Dead Air Paranormal Talk Radio. This live interview starts at 8:30pm Eastern. Click here to listen live. Call-ins are welcome at 888.792.4836 (888-7-WBGU FM). Tune in to catch up on the most recent Midnight Syndicate news as well as the latest on the new Carnival Arcane CD.

Send us your clowns...

We are putting together a special music video for the song Goons and Greasepaint from the new Carnival Arcane disc and need your help! From now through October 15th, send us your creepy clown pictures, short video clips (less than 30 sec.), OR images of your haunt, acting troupe, or home haunt display. We will be selecting as many as we can to be a part of this special video highlighting some of the best fans in the world. If your picture or clip is used, you will automatically be entered in a random drawing to win a FREE Carnival Arcane t-shirt! To enter, simply send your photos to contests@midnightsyndicate.com. Be sure to include YOUR NAME, and a PHOTO CREDIT!

"Carnival Arcane" receives accolades from the horror press

Midnight Syndicate's new Carnival Arcane has been getting incredible reviews from fans and press alike. Below are some new ones from the horror press. For a complete list of reviews, visit the Carnival Arcane REVIEWS section.

Apex Publishing - "...might be a high point in the band's already stellar and legendary career... What they have produced is a memorable album that blends historical realism with the recognizable fantastic elements that has helped make Midnight Syndicate one of the most popular instrumental-only groups in the world."

Darkest Radio - "...a triumph for Midnight Syndicate... up there with my favorites... 5 out of 5! Every carnival has a duality to it... Midnight Syndicate captures that duality perfectly. They harness the fantasy, the mystery, the sinister darkness, and weave it into a tapestry of unnatural phantasmagoria."

Bastards of Horror - "...beautiful but downright horrifying great music that is a must buy. 4 out of 4 stars."

Horror News - "...featuring beautifully sonic pieces of terror and mystery, 'Carnival Arcane' manages to haunt with a fun edge oozing evil clowns, sideshows and big top menagerie."

Sandman Cinema - "...Midnight Syndicate sets out to take 'listeners to the Lancaster-Rigby Carnival, a turn-of-the-century traveling circus with more than a few skeletons in its closet.' And they succeeded magnificently... a great story-telling CD that works on multiple levels."

Dr. Gangrene's Tales from the Lab - "I can't stop listening to it!"

Nightmare City Halloween Radio - "Another tour-de-force from Midnight Syndicate! ...their best work ever!"

Midnight Syndicate at DragonCon

Edward Douglas of Midnight Syndicate will be at DragonCon this weekend (Sept. 2-5). Stop on by the Midnight Syndicate table in the Dealer's Room, meet Edward, and check out the new Carnival Arcane CD.

More great reviews for "Carnival Arcane" from Halloween, haunted house, and amusement park press

More awesome reviews for the Carnival Arcane CD are pouring in! This recent group includes one from an amusement park aficianados viewpoint (Behind The Thrills) as well as ones from a haunted house, home haunter, and Halloween historian's perspective!

Behind the Thrills - "a very ambitious album that hits the mark every single time on every single track - keeping you guessing, and leading you down paths in ways you never thought Midnight Syndicate would take you."

Haunt off the Press - "Midnight Syndicate has another masterpiece on their hands with CARNIVAL ARCANE ... it truly is one hell of an adventure."

Terror from Beyond the Daves - "...this is a must-have for your collection! The music at times is genuinely creepy and yet manages to hold on to the charm that only circus music can provide!"

Halloween Alliance - "...an essential album to add to your horror collection and powerful mood music while celebrating Halloween... 'Carnival Arcane' continues their grand, masterful tradition of storytelling with music, but is even more ambitious than all others - both in the depth, grandeur and creepiness of the music, and in the well-researched and accurate representation of what it would be like to visit a slightly shabby, sinister circus from the Victorian era."

Midnight Syndicate at Fan Expo Canada

Edward Douglas of Midnight Syndicate will be at Toronto's Fan Expo Canada (TM) this weekend (Aug.25-28) in the Rue Morgue Festival of Fear section! Stop on by the Midnight Syndicate booth (#1732), meet Edward, and check out the new Carnival Arcane CD.

FEARnet reviews "Carnival Arcane"

Another great and very thorough review of Carnival Arcane has just been posted on FEARnet. Click here to check it out!

"CARNIVAL ARCANE has a real sense of cinema to it, unfolding like a movie in your mind, and that movie is a lights-out chiller on a grand scale!" - Gregory Burkhart

New preview tracks from "Carnival Arcane" posted

Two new previews tracks from Midnight Syndicate's Carnival Arcane CD have been posted on YouTube, Welcome to the Carnival and Dr. Atmore's Elixirs of Good Humour and Fortification.

"Carnival Arcane" earns high praise across the board in first round of reviews

The first six reviews for the new Carnival Arcane CD are in. Thank you also to the fans who have emailed us and/or posted their comments on Facebook!

Rotting Flesh Radio #242 - "...an absolutely tremendous album! 5 out of 5! Midnight Syndicate has maintained their epic signature sound while continuing to grow musically."

Haunted Radio (review starts at 8:00) - "This is a must-have CD. Wow...unbelievable!"

Love-It-Loud - "...arguably their strongest album to date."

Drive-In of the Dead - "Gavin Goszka and Edward Douglas have done it again... a terrific 'soundtrack to an imaginary film' loaded with realistic turn-of-the-century sound effects and seriously sinister atmosphere. To be honest, I had my doubts (the) subject matter would be too narrow... (but) this IS Midnight Syndicate we're talking about. Who else could take a theme like a circus and completely turn it on its head? 'Carnival Arcane' exceeded my expectations."

Video Vault - "a creepy, fascinating take on the Carnival that begs your imagination to run wild... a great listen...already made its way to the top of my playlists ... Only King Diamond's themed albums such as 'Abigail' and 'Them' do as well of a job of telling a horror story through music and Midnight Syndicate does it repeatedly without singing. Quite a feat in my book."

Monsters From The Basement - "I enjoyed every second... From the minute you first put this CD in the player you are transported to another world... a very unique musical experience. Midnight Syndicate hit the nail right on the head."