Christmas: A Ghostly Gathering

Last updated
Christmas: A Ghostly Gathering
ChristmasAGhostlyGathering MS.jpg
Studio album by
Midnight Syndicate
ReleasedSeptember 10, 2015 (September 10, 2015)
Genre Christmas music, gothic, neoclassical dark wave
Label Entity Productions
Producer Edward Douglas, Gavin Goszka
Midnight Syndicate chronology
Axe Giant: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
(2013)		Christmas: A Ghostly Gathering
(2015)		Zombies!!! Official Board Game Soundtrack
(2016)

Christmas: A Ghostly Gathering is the eighteenth album by the gothic horror instrumental band, Midnight Syndicate. [1] The album features a mix of re-imagined Christmas carols and original compositions in a style similar to the band's other gothic, paranormal, and Halloween-themed releases. [2] [3] Midnight Syndicate founder and composer, Edward Douglas, said it's one of his favorite albums they've ever created. [4]

Contents

Background and album information

In an interview with InPark Magazine a year after the album's release, composer, Edward Douglas said this:

A Christmas album with a Midnight Syndicate twist is something we’d wanted to do for years. The traditions of Christmas as celebrated around the world are seeped in the supernatural and in folk tales passed down from generation to generation. Those stories and traditions were a tremendous source of inspiration for the music on this album. Additionally, the haunting quality to some of the older carols lent themselves well to what we wanted to do. It was extremely important to both Gavin and myself that we be very respectful of the music and the traditions of holidays. I like to think of this album as hauntingly beautiful as opposed to very dark. We have some fun taking a few uptempo tracks down a creepier path but it’s all done carefully so as not to go too far. I think that is one of the reasons this album has appealed to so many different people. [4]

In an interview with Gothic Beauty , Gavin Goszka said the band wanted to do more than take Christmas songs and "redo them in minor keys", adding many of the songs were completely re-imagined and that the band's musical palette had never been more varied. [5]

The album included four original tracks: Night of the Krampus, Little Helpers, Winter Storm, and Christmas at Midnight. The track, Little Helpers featured vocal artist, Dennis Carter Jr., who previously portrayed, Laughing Denny in the band's Carnival Arcane album. [1] [6] The album artwork was created by French illustrator and matte painter, Pascal Casolari. [7]

Reception

Aaron Von Lupton of the horror magazine, Rue Morgue , called the album's darkness "more subtle and genuine" than he typically saw when horror was mixed with a Christmas setting, adding that the holiday music was "redone with Midnight Syndicate's unique stamp, reflecting beauty, fantasy, and the supernatural." [3] On his America's Most Haunted website, Blogcritics founder, Eric Olsen praised the album's roots in the Victorian era tradition of telling ghost stories during Christmas. [8] Justin Dark of the horror website, Dread Central called the album "a creepy and dark tribute to (Christmas)" and a "masterful collection of holiday spooky," while lamenting that some of the original songs got lost in their new "comprehensive" rearrangements. [2] Several horror blog sites like Mr. Fright's and Gross Movie Reviews as well as haunted house-related YouTuber page, DEAD with Dave, praised the album's appeal to fans of horror [9] [10] [11] while Sue Granquist of the fantasy and role-playing game-related online publication, Black Gate Magazine , called the album "charmingly haunting." [12] While giving the album a "7 out of 10," Outburn Music Magazine's Kevin Stewart-Panko added "if you want to put a dampened pallor on holiday cheer, here's some ammunition." [13]

Other appearances

In 2017, Edward Douglas' version of Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy was featured in the SyFy television series, Happy! in the episode When Christmas Was Christmas. [14]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)ArrangementLength
1."Christmas Overture"VariousEdward Douglas2:18
2."Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Edward Douglas3:38
3."Carol of the Bells" Mykola Leontovych Gavin Goszka2:54
4."Night of the Krampus"Edward DouglasEdward Douglas3:51
5."Angels We Have Heard on High"18th century FrenchGavin Goszka3:40
6."Greensleeves"16th century EnglishEdward Douglas3:12
7."Up on the Housetop" Benjamin Hanby Gavin Goszka2:38
8."God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen"16th century EnglishEdward Douglas4:00
9."Coventry Carol"16th century EnglishGavin Goszka2:34
10."Little Helpers"Edward DouglasEdward Douglas2:15
11."Sing We Now of Christmas"15th century FrenchGavin Goszka3:04
12."Winter Storm"Gavin GoszkaGavin Goszka3:14
13."Into the Stillness"19th century AustrianGavin Goszka1:46
14."The Parade of the Tin Soldiers" Leon Jessel Gavin Goszka3:47
15."Everywhere, Everywhere, Christmas Tonight"Philips Brooks, Lewis Redner Edward Douglas1:47
16."Christmas at Midnight"Edward DouglasEdward Douglas3:33

Personnel

Production

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midnight Syndicate</span> American musical duo

Midnight Syndicate is an American musical duo that has been working primarily in the genre of neoclassical dark ambient music since 1997 and is based in Chardon, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland.

Nox Arcana is the American neoclassical dark wave, dark ambient musical project of Joseph Vargo. It was founded in 2003 as a duo with William Piotrowski, who left in 2008 to pursue a career in film score composing but still acts as its studio engineer whereas Vargo continued on as a solo act under the name. According to the Nox Arcana biography, the name is derived from two Latin words that roughly translate to "mysteries of the night."

<i>Dungeons & Dragons</i> (album) 2003 soundtrack album by Midnight Syndicate

Dungeons & Dragons is a studio album by the American musical group Midnight Syndicate, released August 12, 2003, by Entity Productions. The album is designed as a soundtrack to the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and was produced by Midnight Syndicate at the request of Wizards of the Coast, the company that owns the rights to the Dungeons & Dragons franchise. Midnight Syndicate was approached by game designers at a gaming convention where they had set up stall, and they agreed to produce the album.

<i>The 13th Hour</i> 2005 studio album by Midnight Syndicate

The 13th Hour is the sixth studio album by Midnight Syndicate, released June 7, 2005, by Entity Productions. The album took listeners on a journey through a haunted Victorian mansion through the blend of symphonic gothic horror instrumental music and horror-inspired soundscape the band had become known for. Since its release, it has become one of the band's most popular titles, winning awards in the gaming industry and inspiring the prequel-themed album, Bloodlines, in 2021.

<i>Out of the Darkness (Retrospective: 1994–1999)</i> 2006 compilation album by Midnight Syndicate

Out of the Darkness is a retrospective album by Midnight Syndicate, released July 4, 2006, by Entity Productions. The album features re-recorded and re-mastered tracks from the band's early years (1994-1999). The 24 tracks on the album include 4 previously unreleased songs.

<i>Vampyre</i> (album) 2002 studio album by Midnight Syndicate

Vampyre: Symphonies from the Crypt is the fifth studio album by Midnight Syndicate, released August 13, 2002 by Entity Productions. Centering on themes surrounding vampire lore, gothic literature, and classic horror films, the album featured the band's "symphonic horror" blend of dark, synth-created orchestral music and soundscape. The album features cover art by fantasy artist, Keith Parkinson.

<i>Realm of Shadows</i> 2000 studio album by Midnight Syndicate

Realm of Shadows is the third studio album by American band Midnight Syndicate, released March 6, 2000 by Entity Productions. 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.

<i>The Rage: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack</i> 2008 soundtrack album by Midnight Syndicate

The Rage: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was both the ninth album and first movie soundtrack by the band Midnight Syndicate, released February 26, 2008. The album features the score to the 2007 horror film, The Rage, composed by Edward Douglas.

<i>The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates</i> 2008 studio album by Midnight Syndicate

The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates is the tenth album of the band Midnight Syndicate, released in 2008. The album consists of original music in band's orchestral, gothic, horror soundtrack-style inspired by the themes in the horror film, The Dead Matter.

<i>Halloween Music Collection</i> 2010 compilation album by Midnight Syndicate

Halloween Music Collection is a best of album by the gothic, horror instrumental band, Midnight Syndicate, released on July 30, 2010. Featuring a selection of tracks made popular through the music's exposure in the Halloween, haunted attraction, horror music, and role-playing game industries.

<i>Gates of Delirium</i> 2001 studio album by Midnight Syndicate

Gates of Delirium is the fourth studio album by Midnight Syndicate, released March 3, 2001, by Entity Productions. The album is set in the fictitious haunted Haverghast Asylum and features the blend of horror-inspired symphonic music and sound design the band had become known for.

<i>The Dead Matter: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack</i> 2010 soundtrack album by Midnight Syndicate

The Dead Matter: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was both the twelfth album, and second movie soundtrack by the band, Midnight Syndicate, released July 30, 2010. The album features the original score to the supernatural horror film, The Dead Matter (2010), composed by Edward Douglas, as well as other gothic rock and heavy metal songs from the film. The album also contained several remixes of previously released Midnight Syndicate material including one performed by related act, Destini Beard.

<i>The Dark Masquerade</i> 2010 remix album by Midnight Syndicate with Destini Beard

The Dark Masquerade is a collaborative remix EP by vocalist, Destini Beard and Midnight Syndicate. The EP blends Destini's original lyrics and vocals with previously released songs from Midnight Syndicate's albums. A previously unreleased gothic rock remix of Troubled Times was used in the title track, Dark Masquerade.

<i>Carnival Arcane</i> 2011 studio album by Midnight Syndicate

Carnival Arcane is the 14th album by dark ambient band Midnight Syndicate, released in 2011. Featuring the blend of dark, orchestral, instrumental music and horror-inspired soundscape the band had become known for, the "dark carnival" theme of the album centers on a fictional, early-20th century traveling circus called The Lancaster Rigby Carnival.

<i>Monsters of Legend</i> 2013 studio album by Midnight Syndicate

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. The album featured the blend of dark orchestral music, sound effects, and audio storytelling that the band had become known for.

<i>Axe Giant: The Wrath of Paul Bunyan</i> (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 2013 soundtrack album by Midnight Syndicate

Axe Giant: The Wrath of Paul Bunyan is both the seventeenth album and third movie soundtrack by the gothic horror instrumental band, Midnight Syndicate. The album features Edward Douglas' score to the 2013 horror film Axe Giant: The Wrath of Paul Bunyan and the song The Ballad of Paul Bunyan, performed by Hick'ry Hawkins.

<i>A Time Forgotten</i> 2012 studio album by Destini Beard with Midnight Syndicate

A Time Forgotten is the second collaborative remix album by vocalist Destini Beard and Midnight Syndicate, the first being the 2010 EP, The Dark Masquerade. The album blends Destini's original lyrics and vocals with previously released songs from Midnight Syndicate's albums. The theme of A Time Forgotten centers around a once-thriving Victorian-era hotel that has suffered a fire and is now haunted by its past residents. The album also included an original song written and performed by Destini entitled, My Last Goodbye, and an electro dance remix of Farewell Forever from The Dark Masquerade EP by Pat Berdysz of Encoder.

<i>Bloodlines</i> (Midnight Syndicate album) 2021 studio album by Midnight Syndicate

Bloodlines is the fourteenth studio album by Midnight Syndicate, released August 20, 2021. It is a prequel to Midnight Syndicate's popular 2005 haunted mansion-themed album, The 13th Hour providing an additional backstory to the cursed Haverghast family and the occurrences that happen before The 13th Hour's narrative begins. Bloodlines is a "cinema of the mind" or "faux soundtrack" album similar to its predecessor, where the track list is a scene guide to a movie that must be imagined while listening.

<i>Live Shadows</i> 2021 live album by Midnight Syndicate

Live Shadows is the first live album by Midnight Syndicate. Released on June 11, 2021, it features performances from the band's multimedia Midnight Syndicate Live! shows recorded from 2014 through 2019 at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio during their annual HalloWeekends event.

<i>The Brimstone Club</i> 2023 studio album by Midnight Syndicate

The Brimstone Club is the fifteenth studio album by Midnight Syndicate, released August 18, 2023. With a "shadowy theatre" theme inspired by the Parisian Cabaret de L'Enfer, the album blends orchestral music and sound effects to create a "soundtrack to an imaginary film" in a style similar to the band's other releases.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Christmas: A Ghostly Gathering - Midnight Syndicate (2015, CD) on Discogs
  2. 1 2 "Midnight Syndicate: Christmas A Ghostly Gathering", Justin Dark, Dread Central , Sept. 30, 2015
  3. 1 2 Aaron Von Lupton, "We Scary Gentlemen", Rue Morgue Magazine (Toronto, ON), Issue 162, p. 59
  4. 1 2 "Holiday Cheer... and Fear" Martin Palicki, InPark Magazine, December 1, 2016
  5. ↑ Emily Bielby, "Midnight Syndicate" (featured interview), Gothic Beauty Magazine (Portland, OR), Issue 48, pp. 48–54
  6. ↑ Carnival Arcane - Midnight Syndicate (2011, CD)
  7. ↑ Pascal Casolari official site (English version)
  8. ↑ "Midnight Syndicate Brings Spooky Sensibility to Christmas: A Ghostly Gathering" Eric Olsen, America's Most Haunted, December 2, 2015
  9. ↑ "Review: Christmas: A Ghostly Gathering" Justin Lewis, Mr. Frights, September 27, 2015
  10. ↑ "Midnight Syndicate Gets a Jump on the Holiday Season with their New Creepy Soundtrack" Tim Gross, Gross Movie Reviews, September 27, 2015
  11. ↑ "Review of Midnight Syndicate's Christmas: A Ghostly Gathering" Dave Danyankin, DEAD with Dave, December 13, 2015
  12. ↑ "Christmas at Beetlejuice's House - Midnight Syndicate Does It Again Sue Granquist, Black Gate Magazine, October 8, 2015
  13. ↑ Keven-Steward Panko, "Music Review: Midnight Syndicate Christmas A Ghostly Gathering", Outburn, Issue 82, Pg. 63
  14. ↑ When Christmas Was Christmas - Happy! on IMDb
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.