Realm of Shadows
{{more citations needed|date=January 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Realm of Shadows
| type = Studio
| artist = Midnight Syndicate
| cover = MidnightSyndicatecd3.jpg
| alt =
| released = March 6, 2000
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Gothic, dark ambient, neoclassical dark wave
| length = 52:01
| label = Entity Productions
| producer =
| prev_title = Born of the Night
| prev_year = 1998
| next_title = Gates of Delirium
| next_year = 2001
| misc = {{Extra album cover
| header = Alternate cover
| type = studio
| cover = Ravens_Hollow_Realm_of_Shadows_Reissue_Midnight_Syndicate_CD_cover.jpg
| border =
| alt =
| caption = "Raven's Hollow: Realm of Shadows Reissue" album cover (2016)
}}
}}
Realm of Shadows is the third studio album by American band Midnight Syndicate, released March 6, 2000 by Entity Productions.[https://www.discogs.com/Midnight-Syndicate-Realm-Of-Shadows/release/1079610 Discogs Realm of Shadows] Musically keeping with the band's blend of dark instrumental music and horror-influenced soundscape, the theme of the album centers around a cursed and abandoned village.Julie E. Washington, "Haunting tunes are Goth band's specialty", The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, OH ), October 30, 2000, Pg. 1-EGregorious Chant, "Audio Drome: Realm of Shadows", Rue Morgue Magazine (Toronto, ON), September, 2000, Pg.72
Album release
The album was self-distributed in United States, selling nationally in the United States through chains like Spencer Gifts, Hot Topic, Border Book Stores. The album was also sold in amusement park gift stores at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and in other retailers of Halloween-related products, such as Mr Fun's, a chain of costume shops based in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
Reception
Realm of Shadows, along with their previous release, Born of the Night, helped establish the band's reputation in the haunted attraction and gothic music industries.Jeff Niesel, "Soundbites", Cleveland Scene (Cleveland, OH), October 12, 2000, Pg.52Linda Feagler, "Tracks of Terror", Cleveland Magazine (Cleveland, OH), October 2000, Pg. 20.Mike Ventarola, "Music Reviews: Realm of Shadows", Newgrave Magazine (Hollywood, CA), Issue 2, Pg.49 In an October 2000 interview in The Plain Dealer, band founder, Edward Douglas estimated that about 400 haunted houses and amusement parks were using the music including Cedar Point and Busch Gardens Tampa. In an article in Cleveland Magazine Adrian LePeltier, Director of Show Development at Universal Florida, called the music "the most horrifying he'd ever heard," convincing him to use it in the park's Halloween Horror Nights event. Daniel Hinds of Outburn Magazine said the album "took the band's brand of symphonic horror to a new level," commenting on that the ambient, synth-based instrumentals were a more subtle type of "terror."Daniel Hinds "Music Reviews: Realm of Shadows", Outburn (Thousand Oaks, CA), Issue 12 Side-Line Music Magazine praised the dark tone of album's music created and effectiveness of the artwork."Music Reviews: Realm of Shadows, Side-Line Magazine (Brussels, Belgium), April 2000, pg.51 Realm of Shadows, along with Born of the Night, was used as pre-show music for King Diamond's tour in 2000.
Reissue
The album was reissued under the title, Raven's Hollow: Realm of Shadows Reissue on August 25, 2016. In addition to alternate cover art and packaging, the reissue included the previously unreleased tracks: Darkened Shores and Serenade. The track, Prophecy does not appear on the reissue.
Track listing
{{track listing
|title1 = Prophecy
|length1= 1:49
|writer1= Edward Douglas, Joseph Vargo
|note1= narration performed by Joseph Vargo
|title2= Into the Abyss
|length2= 5:00
|writer2= Gavin Goszka
|title3= Noctem Aeternus
|length3= 2:32
|writer3= Edward Douglas
|title4= Tempest
|length4= 1:19
|writer4= Edward Douglas
|title5= Eye of the Storm
|length5= 2:35
|writer5= Edward Douglas
|title6= Sanctuary
|length6= 2:32
|writer6= Gavin Goszka
|title7= Among the Ruins
|length7= 1:47
|writer7= Tim Blue
|title8= Realm of Shadows
|length8= 2:57
|writer8= Edward Douglas
|title9= Raven's Hollow
|length9= 1:11
|writer9= Edward Douglas
|title10= Beyond the Gates
|length10= 2:02
|writer10= Edward Douglas
|title11= The Summoning
|length11= 3:13
|writer11= Gavin Goszka
|title12= Spectral Mist
|length12= 2:13
|writer12= Edward Douglas
|title13= Soliloquy
|length13= 3:04
|writer13= Gavin Goszka
|title14= Twilight
|length14= 2:43
|writer14= Gavin Goszka
|title15= Serpent's Lair
|length15= 0:59
|writer15= Gavin Goszka
|title16= Black Woods
|length16= 2:48
|writer16= Gavin Goszka
|title17= The Night Beckons
|length17= 2:25
|writer17= Edward Douglas
|title18= Legions of the Dead
|length18= 2:45
|writer18= Edward Douglas
|title19= Witching Hour
|length19= 2:50
|writer19= Edward Douglas
|title20= Harbored Souls
|length20= 1:44
|writer20= Edward Douglas
|title21= Eclipse
|length21= 3:25
|writer21= Gavin Goszka
}}
Personnel
Production
- Mixed and Engineered by Tim Blue (assisted by Edward Douglas and Gavin Goszka)
- Artwork by Joseph Vargo for Monolith Graphics
- Photography and Design by Christine Filipak
- Additional Photography by Colleen Douglas
- Financial Consultant: Edward P. Douglas
- Mixed at Mandala Studios
- Mastered at Beachwood Studios