Monsters of Legend
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Monsters of Legend
| type = Studio
| artist = Midnight Syndicate
| cover = Monsters-of-legend-album-cover.jpg
| alt =
| released = July 19, 2013
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Gothic, dark ambient, neoclassical dark wave
| length =
| label = Entity Productions
| producer = Edward Douglas, Gavin Goszka
| prev_title = Carnival Arcane
| prev_year = 2011
| next_title = Axe Giant: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
| next_year = 2013
}}
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.[http://www.side-line.com/reviews_comments.php?id=50346_0_17_0_C Music Review: Monsters of Legend] Side-Line Magazine, October 2013 The album featured the blend of dark orchestral music, sound effects, and audio storytelling that the band had become known for.[https://web.archive.org/web/20130819165217/http://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/monsters-legend-cd CD Review: Monsters of Legend] Justin Dark, Dread Central, August 18, 2013[http://www.fearnet.com/news/review/midnight-syndicate-monsters-legend-%E2%80%93-cd-review Monsters of Legend CD review], FEARnet, August 19, 2013[https://www.discogs.com/Midnight-Syndicate-Monsters-Of-Legend/release/4902993 Monsters of Legend] - Midnight Syndicate (2013, CD) on Discogs
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.Dr. Gangrene, "The Doctor Is In-Sane - with Ed Douglas of Midnight Syndicate", Scary Monsters Magazine, (Highwood, IL), Issue 89, Pg. 51-53
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.[https://www.discogs.com/Midnight-Syndicate-Carnival-Arcane/release/3200413 Gates of Delirium] - Midnight Syndicate (2011, CD) on Discogs
Reception
Monsters of Legend received favorable reviews from many horror film bloggers like Theofantastique and Mr. Frights,[http://mrfrights.com/game-review/review-monsters-of-legend/ Mr. Frights - Monsters of Legend], Mr. Frights, July 30, 2013[http://www.theofantastique.com/2013/07/19/midnight-syndicates-latest-album-available-monsters-of-legend/ "Midnight Syndicate's Latest, Monsters of Legend], John W. Morehead Theofantastique, July 19, 2013 role-playing game-related publications like Black Gate and Games Gazette,[https://www.blackgate.com/2013/08/08/goth-chick-news-music-from-where-it-all-began/ "Music From Where It All Began"], Sue Granquist, Black Gate, August 8, 2013[https://web.archive.org/web/20130915134701/http://www.gamesgazette.co.uk/gg/main.php "Special: Monsters of Legend by Midnight Syndicate"], Chris Bayliss, Games Gazette (Essex, UK) August 18, 2013 and amusement park sites like, Behind the Thrills.[https://behindthethrills.com/2013/07/midnight-syndicates-monsters-of-legend-brings-the-classics-back-to-life-alive-its-alive/ "Midnight Syndicate's Monsters of Legend brings the classics back to life"] Erik Yates, Behind the Thrills, July 22, 2013 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." Aaron Von Lupton of Rue Morgue Magazine it "mood music for horror fans."Aaron Von Lupton, "Listen To My Nightmare featuring Midnight Syndicate", Rue Morgue Magazine, (Toronto, ON), Issue 136, August 2013, Pg. 61 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.[https://web.archive.org/web/20131105003204/http://www.side-line.com/reviews_comments.php?id=50346_0_17_0_C "Midnight Syndicate - Monsters of Legend] Elise Din, Side-Line Music Magazine, (Bruxelles, Belgium), October 30, 2013[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np1erx0yPrk "DEAD with Dave - Midnight Syndicate review"] Dave Danyankin, DEAD with Dave, Episode 34, September 2, 2013 FEARnet included the album in its Best of 2013: Top 13 Horror-Friendly albums of 2013.[http://www.fearnet.com/news/list/best-2013-years-top-13-horror-friendly-albums FEARnet's Top 13 Horror Friendly Albums of 2013], FEARnet, December 19, 2013
In May 2014, Monsters of Legend won the Best Horror CD category in the 12th annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards.[http://rondoaward.com/rondoaward.com/blog/?p=32 2014 Rondo Award Winners], David Colton, May 13, 2014 The album was nominated for Best RPG Related Product in the 2014 ENnie Awards in the role-playing game industry.[http://www.ennie-awards.com/blog/about-us/2014-ennie-awards-nominees/ 2014 ENnie Award Winners]
Track listing
{{track listing
|title1 = Return to Arcacia
|length1= 3:31
|writer1= Edward Douglas
|title2= Into the Valley of Shadows
|length2= 3:30
|writer2= Gavin Goszka
|title3= A Watchful Gathering
|length3= 2:19
|writer3= Edward Douglas
|title4= Inn of the Weeping Sparrow
|length4= 3:52
|writer4= Edward Douglas
|title5= Unwanted Visitor
|length5= 2:54
|writer5= Gavin Goszka
|title6= Requiem
|length6= 3:52
|writer6= Gavin Goszka
|note6= new arrangement and material by Edward Douglas
|title7= Witching Hour
|length7= 2:57
|writer7= Edward Douglas
|note7= new arrangement and material by Edward Douglas
|title8= Unexpected Cargo
|length8= 2:01
|writer8= Edward Douglas
|title9= Black Woods
|length9= 3:00
|writer9= Gavin Goszka
|note9= new arrangement and material by Edward Douglas
|title10= Twilight
|length10= 2:48
|writer10= Gavin Goszka
|note10= new arrangement and material by Edward Douglas
|title11= Carriage Ride
|length11= 3:30
|writer11= Edward Douglas
|title12= Stone Guardians
|length12= 3:47
|writer12= Edward Douglas
|title13= Ancient Portal
|length13= 0:25
|writer13= Edward Douglas
|title14= Dark Tower
|length14= 4:04
|writer14= Edward Douglas
|note14= New Arrangement and Material by Edward Douglas
|title15= Building the Monster
|length15= 4:38
|writer15= Gavin Goszka
|title16= Lord of the Realm
|length16= 3:19
|writer16= Edward Douglas
|title17= Forgotten Alcoves
|length17= 0:45
|writer17= Edward Douglas
|title18= A Terror Unleashed
|length18= 4:16
|writer18= Gavin Goszka
|title19= Cloistered Cemetery
|length19= 2:41
|writer19= Edward Douglas
|title20= It Lives!
|length20= 1:55
|writer20= Gavin Goszka
|title21= Beyond the Veil of Time
|length21= 4:20
|writer21= Edward Douglas
}}
Personnel
- Edward Douglas – composer
- Gavin Goszka – composer
- Dick Terhune – voice actor on Requiem, Unwanted Visitor
Production
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)[https://www.discogs.com/Midnight-Syndicate-Monsters-Of-Legend/release/5551759 Monsters of Legend - Midnight Syndicate (2013, LP) on Discogs]
References
{{Midnight Syndicate}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Midnight Syndicate albums