[1] 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.

In a 2011 interview with FEARnet, composer, Edward Douglas said: We've definitely put together something different for us (Midnight Syndicate), but we still maintain our identity.

[5] Fangoria, Dread Central, FEARnet, and Outburn Magazine all praised the band's execution of their "cinema of the mind" concept through the use of instrumental music and sound design.

[2][6][7][8] Mike Beardsall of Rue Morgue complimented the album's "immersive" qualities, adding that "coulrophobics, however, should probably skip this ride.

[10] The album was also nominated for Best RPG Related Product in the 2012 ENnie Awards in the role-playing game industry[11]