2009-10-10
The Gothic horror soundscape genre and redefined the hallowen music industry
Ordering here:
Over the past eight years, Midnight Syndicate has defined the gothic/horror soundscape genre and redefined the Halloween music industry. Their unique blend of dark orchestral movie-style instrumental music and carefully crafted sound effects make their "soundtracks for the imagination" truly interactive listening experiences, earning them a diverse worldwide following in the gothic music, Halloween, horror music, haunted attraction, and gaming industries.
CEMETERY GATES starts out a little differently than most of Midnight Syndicate's previous releases
Ordering here:
It has been 3 years since Midnight Syndicate's last CD of all new material (not counting the soundtrack to THE RAGE released earlier this year). One might ask after such a long "hiatus" if the band has still got it. With CEMETERY GATES, the answer is a resounding YES!!!
CEMETERY GATES starts out a little differently than most of Midnight Syndicate's previous releases. Whereas many of them begin with a "prelude" of sorts, a kind of creepy, drone-like intro that builds to a climax, CEMETERY GATES' opening track ("Cathedral Ruins") is quite the opposite and comes out swinging. For me, it conjured up images of a chase through a cemetery, past the catacombs, tombstones... hiding behind a mausoleum. Somebody else might envision something completely different, which is the beauty of a Midnight Syndicate album.
From there, Midnight Syndicate supplies the listener with the usual roller coaster ride of emotions throughout the CD. The title track sounds like a distant relative of "Eclipse" (from REALM OF SHADOWS/OUT OF THE DARKNESS). The bonus tracks offer up something a little different than previous CDs have... songs with actual lyrics. Apparently, these are songs that are actually featured in the movie THE DEAD MATTER. I'm not really a big fan of remixes, but the A.B.T. Remix of "Theme to 'The Dead Matter'" has really grown on me.
After listening to a new CD (by ANY artist), I often put in some of their previous CDs to compare the new material to the old stuff. This time, however, CEMETERY GATES has yet to leave my CD player. After listening to this album for the umpteenth time, I asked myself the following question... after 10 releases, how does Midnight Syndicate keep coming up with such great music? I may never know the answer, but as long as they keep making it, I'll keep listening.
CEMETERY GATES starts out a little differently than most of Midnight Syndicate's previous releases. Whereas many of them begin with a "prelude" of sorts, a kind of creepy, drone-like intro that builds to a climax, CEMETERY GATES' opening track ("Cathedral Ruins") is quite the opposite and comes out swinging. For me, it conjured up images of a chase through a cemetery, past the catacombs, tombstones... hiding behind a mausoleum. Somebody else might envision something completely different, which is the beauty of a Midnight Syndicate album.
From there, Midnight Syndicate supplies the listener with the usual roller coaster ride of emotions throughout the CD. The title track sounds like a distant relative of "Eclipse" (from REALM OF SHADOWS/OUT OF THE DARKNESS). The bonus tracks offer up something a little different than previous CDs have... songs with actual lyrics. Apparently, these are songs that are actually featured in the movie THE DEAD MATTER. I'm not really a big fan of remixes, but the A.B.T. Remix of "Theme to 'The Dead Matter'" has really grown on me.
After listening to a new CD (by ANY artist), I often put in some of their previous CDs to compare the new material to the old stuff. This time, however, CEMETERY GATES has yet to leave my CD player. After listening to this album for the umpteenth time, I asked myself the following question... after 10 releases, how does Midnight Syndicate keep coming up with such great music? I may never know the answer, but as long as they keep making it, I'll keep listening.
Midnight Syndicate creates the greatest horror music in the universe
Ordering here:
Over the past eight years, Midnight Syndicate has defined the gothic/horror soundscape genre and redefined the Halloween music industry. Their unique blend of dark orchestral movie-style instrumental music and carefully crafted sound effects make their "soundtracks for the imagination" truly interactive listening experiences, earning them a diverse worldwide following in the gothic music, Halloween, horror music, haunted attraction, and gaming industries.
The largely unsurprising soundtrack to Rob Zombie's "re-imagining" of John Carpenter's genre-defining Halloween rests on two major building blocks
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The largely unsurprising soundtrack to Rob Zombie's "re-imagining" of John Carpenter's genre-defining Halloween rests on two major building blocks: snippets of dialogue from the new movie and classic 1970s rock track. Nothing surprising among the latter, which includes arena-rock classics such as Blue Oyster Cult’s "Don't Fear the Reaper, " Alice Cooper's "Only Women Bleed," and Kiss's "God of Thunder." The songs still sound great, of course; whether you need to hear them yet again is another matter. Too bad there aren't more left-field picks like the Misfits' "Halloween II" and Nan Vernon's new sweet/spooky cover of "Mr. Sandman." Good mood-setting interstitials are provided by brief lines delivered by the film's stars, such as Malcolm McDowell (in the Donald Pleasance role) and Scout Taylor-Compton (in the Jamie Lee Curtis role). There are only two cues from Tyler Bates' score. One is an update of the original movie's famously minimalist theme (penned by Carpenter himself); the other, "The Shape Stalks Laurie," is understated but very efficient, at times using dense sonic textures that verge on industrial. --Elisabeth Vincentelli From acclaimed musician and filmmaker Rob Zombie (THE DEVIL’S REJECTS, HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES) comes an entirely new take on the highly successful and terrifying Halloween legacy that began in 1978. While revealing a new chapter in the established Michael Myers saga, the film will surprise both classic and modern horror fans with a departure from prior films in the Halloween franchise. Audiences should brace themselves for unprecedented fear as Zombie turns back time to uncover the making of a pathologically disturbed, even cursed child named Michael Myers. Written and directed by Rob Zombie, The Weinstein Company opens Halloween on over 2000 screens on August 31st.
The best Music For The midnight 'hallowen' party
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Leave it to Rhino Records to come up with the best party music for Halloween rave-ups. In contrast to New Wave Halloween, this set of 10 tunes is aimed squarely at the family listening environment. "Monster Mash," sung by Bobby Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers, is a hoot decades after its origin. And Screamin' Jay Hawkins's "I Put a Spell on You" is aptly eerie, if not a tad funny in this setting--considering that "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" comes after and the Addams Family theme comes before. And lest you think this set of tunes is mired in the depths of Halloween tunes from generations ago, it also has "Ghostbusters"--which reeks of datedness anywhere but here. --Andrew Bartlett
1. Monster Mash - Bobby "Boris" Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers
2. Haunted House - Jumpin' Gene Simmons
3. Blob - The Five Blobs
4. Ghostbusters - Ray Parker, Jr.
5. Twilight Zone - Neil Norman
6. Purple People Eater - Sheb Wooley
7. Addams Family (Main Title) - Victor Mizzy
8. I Put a Spell on You - Screamin' Jay Hawkins
9. Attack of the Killer Tomatoes - Lewis Lee
10. Martian Hop - The Ran-Dells
1. Monster Mash - Bobby "Boris" Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers
2. Haunted House - Jumpin' Gene Simmons
3. Blob - The Five Blobs
4. Ghostbusters - Ray Parker, Jr.
5. Twilight Zone - Neil Norman
6. Purple People Eater - Sheb Wooley
7. Addams Family (Main Title) - Victor Mizzy
8. I Put a Spell on You - Screamin' Jay Hawkins
9. Attack of the Killer Tomatoes - Lewis Lee
10. Martian Hop - The Ran-Dells
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