Monsters of Legend

Monsters of Legend is the sixteenth studio album by the gothic horror instrumental band, Midnight Syndicate. Advertised as a tribute to the Golden Age of Horror, the packaging featured images from Universal Classic Monster films Bride of Frankenstein, Werewolf of London, and Dracula.[1] The album featured the blend of dark orchestral music, sound effects, and audio storytelling that the band had become known for.[2][3][4]

Monsters of Legend
Studio album by
Midnight Syndicate
ReleasedJuly 19, 2013
GenreGothic, Dark Ambient, Neoclassical Dark Wave
LabelEntity Productions
ProducerEdward Douglas, Gavin Goszka
Midnight Syndicate chronology
Carnival Arcane
(2011)		 Monsters of Legend
(2013)		 Axe Giant: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
(2013)

Background and album information

In a 2013, interview with Scary Monsters Magazine, composer, Edward Douglas said this about the album:

Monsters of Legend is Midnight Syndicate's tribute to the classic horror films (especially those of Universal and Hammer) that shaped horror cinema. When you listen to the album, we want you to feel like you are a character in one of those classic horror films exploring a place where mysterious townsfolk, a foreboding castle up the cliffs, and any one of the iconic monsters could be lurking right around the corner. The music (which has a very Hammeresque and Herrmannesque feel to it) is blended with sound effects to make you feel like you are right there... especially with headphones (on) or in a quiet room.[5]

In addition to the sixteen new tracks on the album, were five previously released tracks that were given new arrangements and additional material by Edward Douglas. The most notable additions to the old tracks were voice actor, Dick Terhune performing on a new arrangement of the song, Requiem and vocalist Amber Foth (also featured on Carnival Arcane) performing on a new version of Twilight.[4][6]

Reception

Monsters of Legend received favorable reviews from many horror film bloggers like Theofantastique and Mr. Frights,[7][8] role-playing game-related publications like Black Gate and Games Gazette,[9][10] and amusement park sites like, Behind the Thrills.[11] Mr. Dark of the horror website, Dread Central, wrote that: "This is what Midnight Syndicate does best: dark, goth instrumental orchestrations that fit a general theme and provide an excellent mental backdrop to all things horror."[2] Aaron Von Lupton of Rue Morgue Magazine it "mood music for horror fans."[12] Music reviewer, Elise Din, of Side-Line Music Magazine and Halloween and home haunt YouTuber Dave Dankanyin called it the band's best work yet.[13][14] FEARnet included the album in its Best of 2013: Top 13 Horror-Friendly albums of 2013.[15]

In May 2014, Monsters of Legend won the Best Horror CD category in the 12th annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards.[16] The album was nominated for Best RPG Related Product in the 2014 ENnie Awards in the role-playing game industry.[17]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Return to Arcacia"Edward Douglas3:31
2."Into the Valley of Shadows"Gavin Goszka3:30
3."A Watchful Gathering"Edward Douglas2:19
4."Inn of the Weeping Sparrow"Edward Douglas3:52
5."Unwanted Visitor"Gavin Goszka2:54
6."Requiem" (new arrangement and material by Edward Douglas)Gavin Goszka3:52
7."Witching Hour" (new arrangement and material by Edward Douglas)Edward Douglas2:57
8."Unexpected Cargo"Edward Douglas2:01
9."Black Woods" (new arrangement and material by Edward Douglas)Gavin Goszka3:00
10."Twilight" (new arrangement and material by Edward Douglas)Gavin Goszka2:48
11."Carriage Ride"Edward Douglas3:30
12."Stone Guardians"Edward Douglas3:47
13."Ancient Portal"Edward Douglas0:25
14."Dark Tower" (New Arrangement and Material by Edward Douglas)Edward Douglas4:04
15."Building the Monster"Gavin Goszka4:38
16."Lord of the Realm"Edward Douglas3:19
17."Forgotten Alcoves"Edward Douglas0:45
18."A Terror Unleashed"Gavin Goszka4:16
19."Cloistered Cemetery"Edward Douglas2:41
20."It Lives!"Gavin Goszka1:55
21."Beyond the Veil of Time"Edward Douglas4:20

Personnel

Production
  • Producers – Edward Douglas, Gavin Goszka
  • Mastering – Gavin Goszka
  • Cover art and Design - Brainstorm Design Group
  • Band Photography - Beki Ingram, David Henson Greathouse
  • Band Photography Design - Topher Adam
  • Arcacia Photography - Mark Rakocy[4]

Release History
  • Entity Productions MS1016-CD (July 19, 2013): First CD issue
  • Entity Productions MS1016-LP (July 19, 2013): First Vinyl issue (250, limited edition, hand-numbered)[18]

References
  1. Music Review: Monsters of Legend Side-Line Magazine, October 2013
  2. CD Review: Monsters of Legend Justin Dark, Dread Central, August 18, 2013
  3. Monsters of Legend CD review, FEARnet, August 19, 2013
  4. Monsters of Legend - Midnight Syndicate (2013, CD) on Discogs
  5. Dr. Gangrene, "The Doctor Is In-Sane - with Ed Douglas of Midnight Syndicate", Scary Monsters Magazine, (Highwood, IL), Issue 89, Pg. 51-53
  6. Gates of Delirium - Midnight Syndicate (2011, CD) on Discogs
  7. Mr. Frights - Monsters of Legend, Mr. Frights, July 30, 2013
  8. "Midnight Syndicate's Latest, Monsters of Legend, John W. Morehead Theofantastique, July 19, 2013
  9. "Music From Where It All Began", Sue Granquist, Black Gate, August 8, 2013
  10. "Special: Monsters of Legend by Midnight Syndicate", Chris Bayliss, Games Gazette (Essex, UK) August 18, 2013
  11. "Midnight Syndicate's Monsters of Legend brings the classics back to life" Erik Yates, Behind the Thrills, July 22, 2013
  12. Aaron Von Lupton, "Listen To My Nightmare featuring Midnight Syndicate", Rue Morgue Magazine, (Toronto, ON), Issue 136, August 2013, Pg. 61
  13. "Midnight Syndicate - Monsters of Legend Elise Din, Side-Line Music Magazine, (Bruxelles, Belgium), October 30, 2013
  14. "DEAD with Dave - Midnight Syndicate review" Dave Danyankin, DEAD with Dave, Episode 34, September 2, 2013
  15. FEARnet's Top 13 Horror Friendly Albums of 2013, FEARnet, December 19, 2013
  16. 2014 Rondo Award Winners, David Colton, May 13, 2014
  17. 2014 ENnie Award Winners
  18. Monsters of Legend - Midnight Syndicate (2013, LP) on Discogs
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