Diary of Dreams

Diary of Dreams is the brainchild of Adrian Hates, also founder
and owner of the European label Accession Records. Adrian is also
well known for his vocal work for the German gothic rock act Garden
of Delight’s earlier releases. The idea for Diary of Dreams
originally came about in 1989, but it wasn t until 1994, when Adrian
teamed up with guitarist Alistair Kane, that their first album,
Cholymelan, was released. This CD received praise from both fans
and the underground media, but it wasn t until the second album,
End of Flowers, that things really took off for the band.

This record, the first release on Accession Records, gave the
band a permanent place on the goth/darkwave scene, and several
tracks were featured on compilations. The combination of orchestral
compositions and intimate piano parts, layered with emotional vocals
and metaphorical lyrics, struck a chord with many listeners and the
group’s fanbase rapidly increased. Adrian and Alistair continued
working on new material, and within a year their third CD, Bird
Without Wings, was released. More praise followed, combined with
major European appearances. The album allowed Diary of Dreams to
achieve a cult status around the world.

Also see:
The Diary
of Dreams Official Website

In 1998, Olaf Schaning and Christian Berghoff were added to the
band, creating a steady base for the band’s live performances, as
well as introducing new ideas and visions to Diary of Dreams. Their
fourth album, entitled Psychoma, featured a greater sonic
complexity than their earlier work.

In 1999, Diary of Dreams came on board with Metropolis Records,
North America’s premier goth/industrial label, and released
Moments of Bloom. Not really a compilation, Moments of Bloom
reworked two songs from each of the band’s previous four records and
added four new tracks. Each older song was completely reinterpreted,
and all of the vocals were rerecorded, offering new interpretations
and visions of some of the Diary’s greatest moments.

2000 marked the release of Diary of Dreams fifth album and the
return to it as a solo project for Adrian, entitled One of 18
Angels. The release will proved to be darker than any previous
release, and marked a return to the sound of earlier releases such
as Cholymelan and End of Flowers.

Three years after the release of One of 18 Angels, Diary
of Dreams delivered Freak Perfume. While being more mature,
the energy and power prevalent in their first albums was combined
brilliantly with elegant production to create a strikingly
melancholic and poetic atmosphere. Filled with club smashers and
ballads alike, Freak Perfume was the most extensive and
diverse album that Diary of Dreams ever created.

No longer a solo project in 2004, Diary of Dreams produced
Nigredo and set the benchmark higher for other bands to aspire
to. Incorporating the energy and qualities of their former works
without relying on well-trodden paths, Nigredo was a special
kind of concept album that demonstrated the incredible musical power
of the band – and the maturity the unit around mastermind Adrian
Hates has reached. The band researched for two years in libraries
and antiquarian bookshops to create a mythology that is half real
and half fiction where legends and dreams become reality. With great
a love of detail, Diary of Dreams had created a homogenous album
that thrilled and fascinated listeners in clubs as well as in their
homes.

As a follow-up to Nigredo , Diary of Dreams presents the
mini-album MenschFeind for 2005. More than just an ordinary
sequel, MenschFeind is a pun that refers to the hatred of man
by combining the terms “man” and “foe.” The mini-album required a
set of strong nerves, musically as well as visually for Diary of
Dreams to combine the melancholy and darkness the band is famous for
with a closeness that embraces the unsuspecting listener almost
uncomfortably and will refuse to let go! MenschFeind is not
quiet or peaceful or even mystical, it is the outcry of revolution.
Fans will quickly discover that the new oeuvre is no second rate
Nigredo material! All of the tracks are brand new and exclusive
to MenschFeind. True to their usual detail loving nature,
Diary of Dreams has created a dark and apocalyptic vision that
follows-up Nigredo beautifully.

Also see:
The Diary of
Dreams Official Website

(Duvy’s note: Diary of Dreams are one of my all time favorites. I
don’t hear much about panik manifesto but that is a great CD. I’m
listening to it right now.)

 Freak Perfume

 Menschfeind