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). Benard Van Isacker, "Reviews: Out of the Darkness, Side-Line Music Magazine (Bruxelles, Belgium), Issue 56, Pg. 57
Album information and release In March 2006, Midnight Syndicate announced that Born of the Night and Realm of Shadows were out of print. and explained in an interview that they would no longer be available for sale. 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." Composer, Edward Douglas referred to the Out of the Darkness material as "what we consider our best horror-genre material from the early years."Jennifer McKevitt, "Art of Darkness", The News Herald (Ohio) (Mentor, OH), October 29, 2006, Pg. E1-2 The album artwork was created by fantasy artist, Rob Alexander, who also created a number of works for Magic: the Gathering games.Artist website of Rob Alexander
The album was released through Entity Productions and self-distributed through Halloween retailers like Spencer Gifts, costume shops, and hobby shops.Carl E. Feather, "A little night music", Star Beacon (Ashtabula, OH), October 30, 2006, Sec. B, Pg. B1.
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." 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."Carolee "Music Review: Out of the Darkness", Gothic Beauty, (Portland, OR) Issue 23, Pg. 66
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!. 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."50 Essential Horror Albums - Discs That Created, Evolved, or Defined Genre Music Through the Decades", Rue Morgue Magazine, Issue 160, Pg. 28-36
Track listing
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
References