Syndicate (album)


Syndicate is the sixth studio album by synthwave band The Midnight. The album was released through Ultra Records on October 3, 2025. 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 announced 2026 North American tour dates.

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.
Fourth single "Shadowverse" released on August 1 along with the reveal of Syndicate's tracklist and October 3, 2025 release date. 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.
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.

Composition

Musically, the album has been described as synthwave and retrofuture. 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." 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."

Critical reception

Joe Edwards of Boolin Tunes called Syndicate "a record crafted with letting those who enjoy The Midnight fully embrace their sound, and some more." Writing for New Noise Magazine, Nicholas Senior stated, "It’s the best The Midnight album in a long time and maybe ever." 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."

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.
The Midnight
  • Tyler Lyle – vocals
  • Tim McEwan – production, mixing
Additional Personnel
  • Lelia Broussard – vocals, backing vocals
  • Thomas Edinger – saxophone
  • J3PO – synth pads
  • Justin Klunk – saxophone
  • Oliver McEwan – synth bass, synths
  • Bonnie McKee – vocals
  • Jacob Scesney – saxophone
  • Royce Whittaker – guitar, synths, backing vocals
Production
  • Carpenter Brut – production, mixing
  • Kevin Grainger – mastering
  • Stephan Hawkes – guitar engineer, vocal engineer
  • Cass Irvine – mastering
  • NEST Acoustics – additional production
Visuals
  • Alex Hooker – album artwork
  • Isiaiah "ZAY" Clayborne III – layout
Locations