A look at Gothic horror musicians, Edward Douglas and Gavin Goszka, also known as Midnight Syndicate.
By Scott Haire
I was lucky to meet these gentlemen in 2009 on a popular radio show just before Halloween. Back then, I wasn’t big into Halloween due to events in past years but this duo brought my Halloween heart back 10-fold not unlike the famed Grinch of the Dr. Seuss book himself.
Their Gothic-inspired soundtracks can take your mind to places only fools dare trespass, from the haunted house of Haverghast to the asylum where the Gates of Delirium will always open for one more guest.
Maybe the carnival is a little more your speed. I’m sure the experience on the carousel will be a heart-stopping unforgettable one for you, if you live to tell about it. As darkness falls across the land, I guarantee somewhere along your travels you will hear the duo I am speaking of.
If you know them, well then, I bid hello to the Legions of the Night, but if you don’t, let me have the honor to introduce you to the duo of Edward Douglas and Gavin Goszka collectively known as Midnight Syndicate.
Midnight Syndicate’s formation began in the mid-90’s with an idea Edward Douglas had to form a band that would create “soundtracks to imaginary films.” After releasing the self-titled debut CD in 1997 (which was more of a solo project for Douglas), Edward sought out a writing partner for the 2nd Midnight Syndicate disc.
Enter longtime friend Gavin Goszka, “I wanted another musical mind and a writing partner going forward after that first disc,” said Edward in a phone interview I had with he and Gavin last month. “I saw a lot of common ground between us,” Gavin stated as he reflected back on the meeting of the two minds, and it wasn’t long until the duo brought their creative minds together successfully and created a monster the likes they didn’t even comprehend as of yet.
The first steps to the trademark Midnight Syndicate sound came with the July 1997 release of “Midnight Syndicate.” The album saw many styles of music from rap to new age, but it was the darker tracks that set the tone for their September 1998 follow-up.
“Born of the Night” was released in time for Halloween that year and established their trademark sound and concept. The duo became an instant success and realized they may be on the verge of something special, “We did a trade show in Chicago and were getting a lot of great feedback about the CD,” Gavin commented. With the reaction and success of “Born of the Night” the band knew that the bar had to be raised even higher in future projects and Ed and Gavin wouldn’t fail on this challenge.
After the band’s 2000 release “Realm of Shadows” came in this writer’s mind two of the best examples of what Midnight Syndicate are about, the 2001 release “Gates of Delirium” and in 2005 “The 13th Hour”. These two works take you through the story of the Haverghast family.
First, “Gates” takes you through the vast and intimidating Haverghast Asylum where the patients of the present and the past wait to welcome you to your new home. The 2005 release “The 13th Hour” continues the tour as you, through the music, explore the dark and desolate corners of the doctor’s old Victorian Mansion in the mist with an equally sinister past.
The 13th Hour is the most successful release for the duo and it became the first album in history to receive both The Origins Award and the ENnie Award for Best Game Accessory; the industries two highest possible awards to receive.
The band has also tapped into the worlds of gaming and film. In 2003, the group collaborated on the industry’s first soundtrack to the classic “Dungeons and Dragons” role playing game. They also have licensed their work for other online games and various X-Box video games like “Baldur’s Gate 2.” The band has also had the opportunity to align with Universal Studios in the creation of the music for Halloween Horror Nights XVIII, and developed the soundtrack for Robert Kurtzman’s (Producer of From Dusk till Dawn) film, “The Rage”.
In 1995, with a budget of $2000.00 Ed Douglas directed, scored, and produced his first movie titled “The Dead Matter.” The movie tells the story of a girl named Gretchen whose ambition to reunite with her dead brother finds her exploring the realms of the undead and the world of the vampires.
Ed’s goal was to remake the movie someday with an actual budget. In 2010, Ed was able to realize that dream when he teamed with movie producers Robert Kurtzman and Gary Jones (“Xena,” “Hercules”) and formed Midnight Syndicate Films.
The 2010 remake of “The Dead Matter” is a major motion picture starring Andrew Divoff (“Lost”), Jason Carter (“Babylon 5”), and Tom Savini (“Dawn of the Dead,” “Friday the 13th”). The band performed the soundtrack to the film and released a second CD of music inspired by the film entitled “The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates” (released in 2008).
The film has been well received by many in the media and by fans alike, and has also won many awards including Best Film and Best Director (Edward Douglas) at Nashville’s 2011 Full Moon Horror Fest and Best Soundtrack by the indie-movie award team at the Golden Cobs. The film is currently being played in many festivals around the world, and looks to be a fan favorite for many years to come.
In the same year, the duo performed together for the first time on camera in their first music video for a song entitled “Dark Legacy” from the “Cemetery Gates” album. It was the first time Ed and Gavin had performed live and as the characters seen in the liner notes of albums like Gates of Delirium and The 13th Hour.
When I asked them what the inspiration was for the characters I was amazed at the response. “Good question Scott we have actually never been asked about that before.” Ed stated laughing. “The characters are a part of us,” he continued, “an amalgamation of our interests and things that inspire us.”
The band also released a second music video produced by 529 Studios for the song “Lost” off the “The Dead Matter: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.” I asked about the inspiration of the “Lost” video as it took a different turn from the previous concept used in “Dark Legacy.” “529 (Studios) came up with the entire concept for that video and produced it Gavin stated, “we really enjoyed how they worked in the Midnight Syndicate references throughout the video and tied things together with the “Dark Legacy” video at the end.”
I asked the guys if there are any future videos in store for the fans; Ed Douglas stated, “We would like to do one for the new CD.” More on the “new” to come soon.
In 2010, the band gave a new feel to their music with a six-song EP entitled “The Dark Masquerade.” In it, vocalist Destini Beard takes tracks the band had previously released and “transforms” them through the addition of new vocal tracks which she performs.
One of the most popular titles off the CD is a dance remix of “Troubled Times” from the “Dungeons and Dragons” CD that Destini chose to make her title track. “We had a great time working with Destini on that CD and the feedback on it has been tremendous” Gavin said. I asked the guys if that meant a new album with Destini,” It’s already underway,” said Douglas. “Destini will be releasing a full-length CD in mid-2012. We just heard some of the early tracks and it’s sounding great!”
Ed and Gavin also have side projects they have worked on for many years. In addition to Ed’s “The Dead Matter” film, Gavin has several other music projects that he has produced. Parlormuse, one of his projects, revisits the music of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.
Parlormuse’s first release titled “It’s Not the Coat That Makes the Gentleman” features popular music from that era with modern day arrangements. Parlormuse’s second release, “A Day For the Feast” takes other songs from the Victorian era and recreates them with historically-accurate interpretations.
Gavin also has a love of Japanese anime music and released an inspired CD titled “Kaleidoscope” in 2010. I asked if we may ever see a gothic Japanese anime Midnight Syndicate project. “These are two separate worlds and I don’t know where there would be commonality out there for the two.” Gavin said laughing. To be fair he did feel inspired when I said it could give us the chance to see Ed in an Anime outfit not unlike the characters they take on with “M.S.” so, you never know folks.
With 2011 comes the latest Midnight Syndicate creation as Ed and Gavin give us “Carnival Arcane” which could be the best title to date. “Carnival Arcane” takes you on a visit to the Lancaster-Rigby Carnival where you learn quickly that not all is happy and joyous within the company of these visitors.
The album pushes the Midnight Syndicate sound to new heights with the introduction of new instruments and their now 14 years experience in the genre aiding as well. “We were really able to study the old carnival attractions and sideshows and I think it really helped when we went to arrange the music.” stated Gavin.
The group also called on many others to do voice over work for the album to help with the atmosphere. Jason Carter, Brain Van Camp and Dennis Carter Jr. from “The Dead Matter Movie” left their mark on raising the bar for the band’s projects.
Listening to the CD does let you enter a world in your mind which will at times make you sit straight up in your chair, but the interesting thing always with their CD’s is, although there is the suspense, you can also have a beneficial escape from the real world for a while which is what I love about the music.
Oh, and a bit of advice, if you are reading this and don’t particularly like clowns, don’t listen to Track 17 on the CD if you want to sleep again.
The guys wanted me to make sure I talked about the fans of the band as they mean the entire world to them. Dubbed by the two as their “Legions of the Night”, the group is very aware that they wouldn’t be as far as they are without the Syndicate support around the world. The group, as a thank you, started a Legions fan page on their site, www.legionsofthenight.com, so their supporters have a place to showcase their works and talents.
The other thing they stated to me as we were talking was how they like to let the listener create their own world as they listen to the music. “We love to let our fans create their own worlds around the tracks on the CD, I think it enhances the whole listening process a great deal for them” stated Edward Douglas.
Midnight Syndicate info, Music and “The Dead Matter” movie can be found and purchased at their website www.midnightsyndicate.com. You can also give them a shout out on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter as well.
Their music can be purchased through amazon.com along with many other retail sites, also if you wish they can be found for purchase on ITunes and ITunes Europe.
You can find them on YouTube if you wish to get a taste of their gothic genius before diving into the deep end of the madness.
When an exploration into the depths of the darkness finds you, remember to look to the Clock tower when Midnight Beckons. Beware though, when you do my friends, there may be no way back when the sun rises next… MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
About the Author:
Scott Haire is the Director of the Central Connecticut Paranormal Society (CCPS) in Connecticut. He is the owner of Haire Raiser Radio at www.haireraiserradio.com and is a Contributor of the radio show Earth Saturday nights 10 PM to Midnight Eastern. You can listen to him live at www.earthradionetwork.com.
