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.[1][2][3]
| The Brimstone Club | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 18, 2023 | |||
| Recorded | 2023 | |||
| Studio | Apothecary Nine The Dungeon | |||
| Genre | Gothic, classical crossover, dark ambient, neoclassical dark wave, darkwave | |||
| Length | 34:43 | |||
| Label | Entity Productions | |||
| Producer | Edward Douglas Gavin Goszka | |||
| Midnight Syndicate chronology | ||||
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Background and album information
editIn an August 2023 interview with WKYC, composer Edward Douglas mentioned that the album was inspired by pictures and stories of the hell-themed Parisian Cabaret de L'Enfer which he described as the first themed restaurant and a forerunner to the modern day haunted attraction. He added that there was "just enough" information about the club to "get the imagination going" but it was what was not known about the club that really served as much of the further inspiration.[4]
Release
editThe Brimstone Club was released and distributed by Entity Productions, debuting at #2 on Billboard's Classical Crossover charts on September 2, 2023.[5] The album's packaging included a paper ticket to the imaginary club.[6] French artist, Pascal Casolari created the album artwork.
In support of the album, the band produced a show with the Ohio amusement park, Cedar Point called Echoes of the Brimstone Club. The show began its run at the park's HalloWeekends event on September 15, 2023.[7] With set design inspired by the album's cover art, the show featured music from the album, various cirque-type specialty acts, and pyrotechnics.[8][9]
Reception
editSue Granquist of Black Gate Magazine called the album her favorite album from the band adding that the music made it easy imagine "Parisians at the small cabaret tables, some in bowler hats to hide their horns and others with dark glasses to mask their black, iris-less eyes."[10] Jeff Szpirglas of Rue Morgue Magazine mentioned that while "the sixteen tracks moved swiftly over the albums brief 33 minutes," there was fun to be had piecing together the environment through the cues and their titles adding that the album made good use of the band's talents given their aptitude for scoring theme park horror events.[6]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Brimstone Club" | Edward Douglas | 3:25 |
| 2. | "Fellowship of the House" | Gavin Goszka | 2:23 |
| 3. | "Saturnalia" | Gavin Goszka | 3:07 |
| 4. | "Vodou" | Edward Douglas | 1:14 |
| 5. | "Glamoury" | Gavin Goszka | 3:09 |
| 6. | "Fortune's Folly" | Gavin Goszka | 2:40 |
| 7. | "Amber & Oak" | Gavin Goszka | 2:18 |
| 8. | "The Incomparable Mr. Jingles" | Edward Douglas | 1:29 |
| 9. | "Behind the Curtain" | Edward Douglas | 2:29 |
| 10. | "Ghost Light" | Edward Douglas | 1:39 |
| 11. | "Green Room" | Edward Douglas | 2:05 |
| 12. | "Lacricia" | Edward Douglas | 1:18 |
| 13. | "Descending" | Edward Douglas | 2:38 |
| 14. | "Ritual" | Edward Douglas | 1:09 |
| 15. | "Underbelly" | Gavin Goszka | 2:04 |
| 16. | "The Chosen" | Edward Douglas | 1:22 |
Personnel
editProduction
edit- Producer – Edward Douglas, Gavin Goszka
- Mastering – Gavin Goszka
- Cover art – Pascal Casolari
- Graphic design – Brainstorm Design Group
References
edit- ^ Rick Davis, "The Brimstone Club", Dark Times (Vienna, OH), Vol.24 Issue 3, September 2023, Pg.3.
- ^ Cleveland's Midnight Syndicate Releases 15th Studio Album Cleveland Scene, Jeff Niesel, August 18, 2023
- ^ Midnight Syndicate New Studio Album The Brimstone Club Rue Morgue Magazine, (Toronto, ON), William Wright, October 3, 2023
- ^ Midnight Syndicate reveals haunting plans for new live show at Cedar Point's HalloWeekends amid release of new 'Brimstone Club' album WKYC, Ryan Haidet, August 18, 2023
- ^ Classical Crossover Chart, Sept 2 2023 Billboard Magazine, September 2, 2023
- ^ a b Jeff Szpirglas, "The Brimstone Club", Rue Morgue Magazine (Toronto, ON), November 2023, Pg. 57.
- ^ Midnight Syndicate Releases New Studio Album and New Show at Cedar Point Coaster Nation, August 18, 2023
- ^ 5 Things to Know about HalloWeekends Akron Beacon Journal, Craig Webb, September 5, 2023
- ^ It's Time to Check Out Midnight Syndicate Sandusky Register, Justin Dietz, September 25, 2023
- ^ This is Your Invitation to the Brimstone Club Black Gate Magazine, Sue Granquist, August 24, 2023
This article needs additional or more specific categories. (December 2023) |