{{Short description|2025 studio album by The Midnight}} {{Infobox album | name = Syndicate | type = studio | artist = The Midnight | cover = Syndicate (The Midnight album).png | alt = | released = {{start date|2025|10|03}} | recorded = 2023–2025 | studio = * Honeymoon Suite (Los Angeles) * Gatos Trails (Yucca Valley) * The Secret Lair (Atlanta) * Varsity Blue Studios (Los Angeles) * Penny's Palace (Los Angeles) * Hawkes Studios (North Hollywood) | genre = Synthwave | length = 85:07 | label = Ultra | producer = Tim McEwan | prev_title = Heroes | prev_year = 2022 | next_title = | next_year = | misc = {{Singles | name = Syndicate | type = studio | single1 = Chariot | single1date = September 6, 2024 | single2 = Love Is an Ocean | single2date = February 21, 2025 | single3 = Digital Dreams | single3date = May 30, 2025 | single4 = Shadowverse | single4date = August 1, 2025 | single5 = Summer's Ending Soon | single5date = August 29, 2025 | single6 = Runaways | single6date = September 17, 2025 }} {{Extra album cover | header = Syndicate (Deluxe) | type = Album | cover = Syndicate_(Deluxe_album)_Cover.jpg | caption = Deluxe edition cover | border = yes | alt = }} {{Singles | name = Syndicate (Deluxe) | type = studio | single1 = Love Is an Ocean (Chromeo Remix) | single1date = April 24, 2026 }} }}

'''''Syndicate''''' is the sixth studio album by synthwave band The Midnight. The album was released through Ultra Records on October 3, 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/syndicate-mw0004590850|title=The Midnight – Syndicate|website=AllMusic}}</ref> Tim McEwan and Tyler Lyle co-wrote all of the songs on the album with Tim also handling production.

Six singles were released ahead of the album's debut; "Chariot", "Love Is an Ocean", "Digital Dreams", "Shadowverse", "Summer's Ending Soon", and "Runaways" featuring Bonnie McKee. The Midnight have promoted the album with their Fall 2025 EU/UK supporting tour and 2026 Time Machines tour.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://themidnightofficial.com/#LIVE|title=The Midnight Live|access-date=October 4, 2025|website=The Midnight Official}}</ref> A deluxe edition of the album released on May 15, 2026 featuring six additional songs including unreleased demos and remixes such as their latest single "Love Is an Ocean (Chromeo Remix)".

==Background == The Midnight made their Ultra Records debut with the single, "Chariot" in September 2024. The band followed with their second single, "Love is an Ocean" in February 2025. Third single "Digital Dreams" released on May 30, 2025. "Chariot" was featured on the soundtrack for the Codemasters racing video game ''F1 25'' which also released the same day.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 October 2025 |title=The Midnight – Syndicate |url=https://www.iamtunedup.com/the-midnight-syndicate/ }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/jamie-xx-alfie-templeman-the-dare-and-more-for-f1-2025-soundtrack-3862612|title=Jamie xx, Alfie Templeman, The Dare and more for ‘F1 2025’ soundtrack|website=NME}}</ref>

Fourth single "Shadowverse" released on August 1 along with the reveal of ''Syndicate's'' tracklist and October 3, 2025 release date.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://store-us.themidnightofficial.com/collections/syndicate|title=The Midnight – Syndicate Collection Shop|website=The Midnight Official}}</ref> Fifth single "Summer's Ending Soon" released on August 29. Sixth single "Runaways" featuring Bonnie McKee released on September 17.

During the first show of their Fall 2025 EU/UK tour, The Midnight live debuted five tracks from the album including performances of three of the singles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-midnight/2025/kulttuuritalo-helsinki-finland-4b5b9316.html|title=The Midnight Setlist at Kulttuuritalo, Helsinki, Finland |website=setlist.fm}}</ref>

In an interview with ''Daily Express'', McEwan called ''Syndicate'' "our version of an apocalypse record" which had gone through a rework after the band and label mutually agreed the first version wasn't there yet. Lyle called ''Syndicate'' "the album that we just couldn't help ourselves from making" with both Lyle and McEwan going through personal trauma during the writing process. Lyle calls the album the denouement of the ''Kids'' / ''Monsters'' / ''Heroes'' trilogy, signaling the closing of a chapter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/2115414/the-midnight-interview-syndicate-album|title=The Midnight: 'Syndicate signals the closing of a chapter'|website=Daily Express}}</ref>

The Midnight announced a deluxe version of ''Syndicate'' with six additional songs was releasing on May 15, 2026. The expanded album features new songs, unreleased demos, and remixes including their latest single "Love Is an Ocean (Chromeo Remix)".<ref name="deluxe">{{cite web|url=https://forms.sonymusicfans.com/campaign/the-midnight-syndicate-deluxe/|title=The Midnight - Syndicate (Deluxe) Album Pre-Save}}</ref>

==Composition== Musically, the album has been described as synthwave<ref name="BoolinTunes">{{Cite web|url=https://boolintunes.com/reviews/album-review-the-midnight-syndicate/|title=Album Review: The Midnight – Syndicate |date=September 30, 2025|access-date=October 2, 2025|via=''Boolin Tunes''}}</ref><ref name="NewNoiseMagazine">{{Cite web|url=https://newnoisemagazine.com/reviews/album-review-the-midnight-syndicate/|title=Album Review: The Midnight – Syndicate |date=October 3, 2025|access-date=October 3, 2025|via=''New Noise Magazine''}}</ref> and retrofuture.<ref name="BoolinTunes" /> Nicholas Senior of ''New Noise Magazine'' calls ''Syndicate'' "a darker record in sound and symbolism" due to personal trauma for the band, stating it "feels like them hitting the reset button after jumping around with labels and experimenting a bit over their past couple releases."<ref name="NewNoiseMagazine" /> Aaron Vehling of ''Vehlinggo'' said "this new album holds on dearly to some of the 1980s or retro nostalgia that’s always colored their compositions, but this is pretty clearly a release much more interested in the electronic and pop music of now and the future."<ref name="Vehlinggo">{{cite web |title=''Syndicate'' Brings The Midnight Into Fuller View |work=Vehlinggo |date=October 7, 2025 |url=https://vehlinggo.com/2025/10/07/midnight-syndicate-review/ | access-date=December 4, 2025 |last=Vehling |first = Aaron }}</ref>

==Critical reception== {{Music ratings | rev1 = ''Boolin Tunes'' | rev1score = 7/10<ref name="BoolinTunes" /> | rev2 = ''New Noise Magazine'' | rev2score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="NewNoiseMagazine" /> | rev3 = ''Vehlinggo'' | rev3score = –<ref name="Vehlinggo" /> }}

Joe Edwards of ''Boolin Tunes'' called ''Syndicate'' "a record crafted with letting those who enjoy The Midnight fully embrace their sound, and some more."<ref name=BoolinTunes /> Writing for ''New Noise Magazine'', Nicholas Senior stated, "It’s the best The Midnight album in a long time and maybe ever."<ref name=NewNoiseMagazine /> Aaron Vehling of ''Vehlinggo'' said "in true McEwan-Lyle fashion, they put everything into their art and so they still they ended up creating one of their best albums."<ref name=Vehlinggo /> {{-}} ==Track listing== {{Track listing | headline = ''Syndicate'' track listing | all_writing = Tim McEwan and Tyler Lyle, alongside additional writers, as noted | title1 = Syndicate | note1 = Intro | length1 = 2:27 | writer1 = {{hlist|J3PO}} | title2 = Shadowverse | length2 = 4:56 | writer2 = {{hlist|Ben Thompson|Dan the Automator}} | title3 = Runaways | note3 = featuring Bonnie McKee | length3 = 5:07 | writer3 = {{hlist|Bonnie McKee}} | title4 = Friction | length4 = 3:56 | writer4 = {{hlist|Lelia Broussard|Royce Whittaker|Dan the Automator}} | title5 = The Right Way | length5 = 4:52 | writer5 = {{hlist|Jonathan Capeci|Nicholas Sainato|Joseph Beretta}} | title6 = Afterglow pt. 1 | length6 = 5:28 | title7 = Digital Dreams | length7 = 6:06 | title8 = Sentinels | length8 = 4:59 | writer8 = {{hlist|Broussard}} | title9 = Chariot | length9 = 4:25 | writer9 = {{hlist|Matt Baum}} | title10 = First Night in Paris | note10 = featuring Carpenter Brut | length10 = 2:57 | writer10 = {{hlist|Carpenter Brut}} | title11 = Afterglow pt. 2 | length11 = 4:11 | title12 = Fatal Obsession | note12 = featuring Jupiter Winter | length12 = 5:39 | writer12 = {{hlist|Broussard|Justin Klunk|Edward Gamper}} | title13 = Quiet Earth | length13 = 5:49 | title14 = Long Island | length14 = 5:08 | writer14 = {{hlist|Derek Mount|Riley Friesen}} | title15 = Love Is an Ocean | writer15 = {{hlist|MNDR}} | length15 = 5:22 | title16 = Sanctuary | length16 = 6:54 | title17 = Summer's Ending Soon | length17 = 6:51 | writer17 = {{hlist|Broussard|Whittaker|Oliver McEwan}} | total_length = 85:07 }} {{Track listing | headline = Deluxe edition<ref name="deluxe" /> | title18 = Love Is An Ocean (Chromeo Remix) | writer18 = MNDR | length18 = 3:27 | title19 = Runaways (Driver405 Remix) | note19 = featuring Bonnie McKee | length19 = 6:03 | writer19 = {{hlist|Bonnie McKee}} | title20 = Last Night In Paris | note20 = featuring Carpenter Brut | writer20 = {{hlist|Carpenter Brut}} | length20 = 2:57 | title21 = Infinite | note21 = Demo | writer21 = | length21 = 3:40 | title22 = Against the Dark | note22 = Demo | writer22 = | length22 = 3:38 | title23 = 'Til the Stars Come Out | note23 = Demo | writer23 = | length23 = 4:00 | total_length = 108:52 }}

==Personnel== Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.<ref name="booklet">{{cite AV media notes|title=Syndicate|author=The Midnight|year=2025|type=booklet|publisher=Ultra Records}}</ref>

{{col-begin}} {{col-2}} '''The Midnight''' * Tyler Lyle – vocals * Tim McEwan – production, mixing

'''Additional Personnel''' * Lelia Broussard – vocals (12), backing vocals (5, 12, 14, 17) * Thomas Edinger – saxophone (3) * J3PO – synth pads (1) * Justin Klunk – saxophone (3, 12) * Oliver McEwan – synth bass (1), synths (17) * Bonnie McKee – vocals (3) * Jacob Scesney – saxophone (15) * Royce Whittaker – guitar (4–5, 14, 17), synths (17), backing vocals (17)

{{col-2}}

'''Production''' * Carpenter Brut – production (10), mixing (10) * Kevin Grainger – mastering (7, 9, 15) * Stephan Hawkes – guitar engineer (4), vocal engineer (5, 12, 14) * Cass Irvine – mastering (1–6, 8, 10–14, 16–17) * NEST Acoustics – additional production (1–8, 11, 13–14, 16–17)

'''Visuals''' * Alex Hooker – album artwork * Isiaiah "ZAY" Clayborne III – layout

'''Locations''' * Recorded at Honeymoon Suite (Los Angeles, CA), Gatos Trails (Yucca Valley, CA), The Secret Lair (Atlanta, GA), Varsity Blue Studios (Los Angeles, CA), Penny's Palace (Los Angeles, CA), Hawkes Studios (North Hollywood, CA) {{col-end}}

==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Chart performance for ''Syndicate'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2025) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 13 October 2025|magazine=The ARIA Report|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|issue=1858|page=6|date=October 13, 2025}}</ref> | 90 |- {{album chart|Scotland|60|date=20251010|rowheader=true|access-date=October 11, 2025}} |- ! scope="row"| Spanish Vinyl Albums (PROMUSICAE)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.elportaldemusica.es/artist/the-midnight|title=The Midnight - EPDM|publisher=Productores de Música de España|access-date=January 14, 2026}}</ref> | 56 |- ! scope="row"| Swedish Physical Albums (Sverigetopplistan)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sverigetopplistan.se/chart/234/?dspy=2025&dspp=41|title=Veckolista Album Fysiskt, vecka 41|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|language=sv|access-date=October 10, 2025}}</ref> | 15 |- ! scope="row"| UK Albums Sales (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-sales-chart/20251010/7511/|title=Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=October 11, 2025}}</ref> | 23 |- {{album chart|BillboardAlbumSales|13|artist=The Midnight|rowheader=true|access-date=October 14, 2025}} |- {{album chart|BillboardDanceElectronic|6|artist=The Midnight|rowheader=true|access-date=October 14, 2025}} |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

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Category:2025 albums Category:The Midnight albums Category:Ultra Records albums