Edward Douglas, Goblin's Guarini, and Mark Korven ("The Witch") together for horror film scoring panel at Rue Morgue's Dark Carnival Expo.

Edward Douglas will be at Rue Morgue's first Rue Morgue Dark Carnival Expo in Hamilton, Ontario July 9-10. In addition to a guest list that includes Guillermo Del Toro and George Romero, Edward will be joining Goblin's Maurizio Guarini, and The Witch composer Mark Korven in a panel on the process behind creating a horror film score, favorite soundtracks, what makes and effective horror score, and trends in film scoring today. For more on the Dark Carnival Expo, check out this video on YouTube.

Midnight Syndicate to create Zombies!!!-themed soundtrack album

Almost 13 years after releasing the first official roleplaying soundtrack to Dungeons & Dragons® game, Midnight Syndicate has teamed up with premier horror game designer Twilight Creations to produce a soundtrack album for the zombie apocalypse-themed Zombies!!! board game. The dark instrumental album, which will feature new and previously recorded material blended with movie-style sound design, is designed to heighten the game play experience. The musical theme will center around the Zombies!!! board game and its 15 expansion sets that pay homage to classic zombie films, especially those of directors George Romero and Sam Raimi.

“I’m a big fan of Zombies!!!,” said Edward Douglas. “With the game celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2016, it seemed like the perfect time to undertake this project. We’re working closely with the Twilight team to create something that really enhances their players’ gaming experience. I think album will also resonate with our fans in the Halloween and haunted house industries."

“Musically, it will be interesting to work in a modern setting,” added Gavin Goszka. “Most of our albums have been set in the Victorian and early 20th century, so this will definitely be something different and exciting for us and our fans.”

“Words cannot express how excited I am to have Midnight Syndicate doing a soundtrack for Zombies!!!,” said Twilight Creations co-founder Kerry Breitenstein. “For many of our players, Midnight Syndicate’s music has already been the unofficial soundtrack to their gaming sessions over the years. To have them working with us to create something specifically for our universe is incredible.”

The soundtrack is tentatively scheduled for release in September in coordination with the release of the Zombies!!! Ultimate Collector Set and Zombies!!! Ultimate Upgrade Kit. To be among the first to hear preview tracks, be sure to SUBSCRIBE to Midnight Syndicate on YouTube!

Midnight Syndicate interview featured in latest issue of Gothic Beauty Magazine

The latest issue of Gothic Beauty Magazine (#48) features a brand new interview with Midnight Syndicate. Print and digital versions are available at the Gothic Beauty Shop. Gothic Beauty has been steadfastly reporting on gothic culture and music since 2000. Great magazine!

The reviews are in..."Christmas: A Ghostly Gathering" is a hit!

Response to Midnight Syndicate's Yuletide monsterpiece, Christmas A Ghostly Gathering from both fans and the media has been amazing.  Many people are calling it one of Midnight Syndicate's greatest albums ever!  See what the media is saying below or listen for yourself via our Christmas A Ghostly Gathering Playlist on YouTube, where you can preview ten tracks from the album set to some of the imagery that inspired the music.  The album can be purchased here, or on Amazon, iTunes, and CDBaby!

Dread Central – “The masters of All Hallow’s Eve have found another holiday to conquer... Midnight Syndicate have become iconic.  You can count on every release to represent a specific sound that they have mastered, and that’s what we have here... a haunted Christmas wonderland...  If you enjoy Christmas as well as the spookier side of life, this will be an excellent addition to your collection.”

Mortis Media – “A Christmas miracle... It is the ability to weave the fine line between the light and dark sides of the holidays musically, that makes ‘Christmas: A Ghostly Gathering’ one of the best albums, holiday or not, that this author has heard in recent memory.”    

Rue Morgue Magazine – Featured Album of the Month (December, 2015) – “...holiday music redone with Midnight Syndicate’s unique stamp reflecting beauty, fantasy, and the supernatural.  Imagine Danny Elfman and Pyotr Tchaikovsky scoring a Tim Burton version of ‘Christmas Carol’ and you’re not far off.  Ideal for horror fans wishing to add a touch of crimson and black as they gather ‘round the tree this year.”

Games Gazette (UK) – “This CD has transformed Christmas from the light and lyrical frolic it has become to the exciting holiday it was when we were kids.   Instantly recognisable classic tunes played in a manner only Midnight Syndicate can offer and some classics in the making.  The best sounds you will hear this Yule.”

Dead With Dave – “The same Midnight Syndicate that set the standard for the entire Halloween music genre are doing Christmas. I'll admit, I had my doubts... until I listened to it..... I will say without a doubt in my mind that this is officially my new favorite Christmas album. I absolutely love it!

Horror Talk - "The beauty of Midnight Syndicate's work is they're not making it obnoxiously or stereotypically bleak... they are subtle with their darkness. Midnight Syndicate constantly amazes me on one-upping their prior release, and damn if they haven't done it again here. If you are a horror fan, there is no excuse not to have 'Christmas: A Ghostly Gathering' on your shelf."

America’s Most Haunted – “An instant classic. Lovers of Christmas music in general will appreciate their exquisitely produced, alternately lovely, stirring, haunting, and festive holiday reveries.  Midnight Syndicate has made the season their own.”

Gross Movie Reviews – “They have taken soundtracks to a whole new level with every new release and ‘Christmas: A Ghostly Gathering' is no different.  It not only gets the heart pumping for the Halloween season but makes even the darkest, soulless individual excited for the Christmas season.  Beautiful, perfect, mesmerizing... 4 out of 4!”

Mr. Frights – “The perfect companion to any horrorfile’s holiday... Easily my new favorite Christmas album...  fans old and new shouldn’t be without this essential collection of music.  4 out of 4!”

City Blood – “Midnight Syndicate’s take on classic Christmas carols is like nothing I’ve heard before... beautiful yet haunting.”

Black Gate – ‘Midnight Syndicate Does It Again’ – “And once again, the boys deliver – in a wonderfully different and unexpected way – A Christmas album.  Charmingly haunting... I honestly love every track.”

  

Designing The Fear – “Ed and Gavin have brought the chills once again!  From the moment this CD arrived it has been on constant play.  There is no doubt that this will be our soundtrack from now till Christmas.”

The Inscriber Magazine – “This album is a must have ...The music is at times somber and morose, hauntingly beautiful, and even devilishly playful, but it is at all times very entertaining. “

Cryptic Corridor –  “True re-imaginings of the Christmas songs you've heard so many times before.... For a moment I forgot that I was listening to a Midnight Syndicate record and got swept up in the majestic awe captured here.... This album defies the conventions of the Christmas albums that flood the airwaves. Bursting with creativity and imagination... a perfect alternative for anyone looking for a truly unique listening experience this holiday season.”

Horror Addicts –  “Midnight Syndicate have wrought their monsterpiece.”

Ramblings From The Black Lagoon – “What sets this apart from other "dark" Christmas offerings, is that Goszka and Douglas don't try to add a Halloween flavor to Yuletide tunes at all, but instead plumb the rich history of the 19th century Christmas Ghost Story genre. This is a Christmas album, through and through, not a Halloween disc in a Santa suit. There is a purely enchanting, joyous and (dare I say it) merry element that invokes a feeling of mystery, while still warming the soul. It's the musical equivalent of looking out the window onto a cold winter's night, while curled up next to a fireplace.”

Knightmist –  “Christmas A Ghostly Gathering isn’t your normal offering for this time of year...it can be enjoyed at any time due to the way the group worked their musical magic.”

Justine’s Halloween – “I wondered how they would strike that balance of Christmas themes and spooky music.  It can be tricky to do a spooky take on Christmas... This album struck the perfect balance for me! The music is beautiful and strikes an eerie chord while remaining respectful to the Christmas classics.”

  

Indie Chick – “Guaranteed to warm even the coldest blood of your favorite dark soul or Goth this holiday season.  Amazing holiday tracks!”

Two Crows Paranormal – “The album is a perfect mix of original material from the band, blended with their own take on such classics.   The entire album is spectacular.”

Tiffany Apan – “The soundtrack as a whole ranges from dark and sinister to absolutely beautiful and symphonic while painting a picture of a vast wintry landscape with the moon high above and a medieval castle in the distance.  (Midnight Syndicate) continues to not disappoint.”

Black Veil Gothic (UK) – “If you want Christmas music with a dark feel and the cheese removed then this is for you!”

We'd like to wish everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving! If you're looking to unwind with some haunting holiday music this weekend, we've created a playlist of preview tracks from Christmas A Ghostly Gathering on the Midnight Syndicate YouTube Channel.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! Remember... THIS year our favorite season doesn't have to end on November 1st! Pick up our ‪haunting‬ new Yuletide-inspired Christmas A Ghostly Gathering album and keep the ghoul times rolling! Just be sure to leave the fire in your hearth burning for any unexpected guests... We're posting more preview tracks from our dark Christmas music‬ album this week - including some of our favorites! In the meantime, have a happy and safe ‎Halloween‬ weekend!! To listen to preview tracks now visit our YouTube Channel.  To be the first to receive notice when new preview tracks are uploaded, subscribe to the Midnight Syndicate YouTube Channel.

Midnight Syndicate on SiriusXM's Scream Radio

We're very happy to once again be featured on SiriusXM's Scream Radio Halloween Music Channel.  If you have SiriusXM, you can listen in on Channel 18 from now through October 31st.  It's a wonderful mix of everything from Midnight Syndicate, Danny Elfman, and other horror music composer movie soundtrack composers to songs from AC/DC, Monster Mash-era Halloween classics, and short ghost stories.