Accession Records

Lore & Background

Accession Records was created in 1996 by Adrian Hates, the frontman of Diary of Dreams. In its early years, the label exclusively released albums by Diary of Dreams. In 1999, Accession Records began signing contracts with other bands and formed connections with overseas partner labels: Canadian Scratched! and American Metropolis Records. The label also operated a sub-label, Succession Records, which recorded some bands until 2012.

Reader's Guide

Accession Records holds significance as a German independent label that provided a platform for artists in Gothic, darkwave, neo-folk, (new) wave, EBM, and industrial genres. Founded by Adrian Hates in 1995, it initially focused on his band Diary of Dreams before expanding its roster in 1999. The label's partnerships with Canadian Scratched! and American Metropolis Records helped extend its reach beyond Europe. Between 2001 and 2006, Accession Records released three sampler albums titled 'Various Artists Volume 1-3', featuring tracks from its contracted bands, including Assemblage 23, Diary of Dreams, Psyche, SITD, and Faderhead. The label's sub-label, Succession Records, operated until 2010. Its legacy lies in supporting niche electronic and dark music scenes through a curated roster of artists.

Did You Know?

• Accession Records was founded in 1996 by Adrian Hates, frontman of Diary of Dreams.
• The label had a sub-label called Succession Records, which recorded bands until 2012.
• Between 2000 and 2006, three sampler albums titled 'Various Artists Volume 1-3' were released.
• Overseas partner labels included Canadian Scratched! and American Metropolis Records.

Founding & Early Years

Accession Records was established in 1995 in Germany as an independent record label, born from the vision of Adrian Hates, the frontman of the electronic project Diary Of Dreams. In its earliest days, the label functioned essentially as a dedicated vehicle for Hates' own creative output, with only Diary Of Dreams albums seeing the light of day on its imprint. This narrow focus gave Accession a distinctly personal character during its formative period, serving as a home for one artist's evolving sound before it ever aspired to broader roster ambitions. The label's German roots and independent status placed it squarely in the tradition of European underground music distribution, where small imprints often begin as extensions of a single creative mind before gradually opening their doors to like-minded collaborators across the continent.

International Expansion & Partnerships

By 1999, Accession Records had moved well beyond its original single-artist scope, signing contracts with additional bands and broadening its catalog considerably. This period of growth also saw the label forge meaningful connections with overseas partner labels, establishing relationships with Canada's Scratched! and America's Metropolis Records. These international partnerships were significant for a small German independent, as they provided distribution channels and audience reach far beyond the domestic European market. The move to sign outside artists and cultivate cross-border label relationships marked a clear evolution from a personal project into a functioning independent label with genuine industry connections. The timing of these developments—roughly four years after the label's founding—suggests a period of consolidation during which Accession had established enough credibility and infrastructure to attract both new artists and foreign distribution partners willing to work alongside it.

Musical Identity & Roster

The bands that Accession Records placed under contract over its lifetime occupied a specific and recognizable corner of the alternative music landscape. The roster was predominantly associated with Gothic, darkwave, neo-folk, (new) wave, EBM, and industrial music—genres that share a common aesthetic of atmospheric, often electronic-driven soundscapes with darker thematic content. Artists who appeared on the label's roster included names such as Assemblage 23, Diorama, Haujobb, SITD, Faderhead, Psyche, Panzer AG, Angels of Venice, Claire Voyant, Coma Alliance, and numerous others, representing a rich cross-section of the European dark electronic scene. This concentration in a particular sonic territory gave Accession a coherent identity as a label, allowing it to cultivate a dedicated audience of listeners who followed the imprint as a reliable source for music within these overlapping and often interpenetrating genres.

Compilations & the Succession Sub-Label

Between 2001 and 2006, Accession Records released three sampler compilations under the banner 'Various Artists Volume 1' through 'Volume 3,' each showcasing hit singles or unreleased tracks from its contracted bands. Volume 1 featured contributions from Assemblage 23 with 'Anthem (Stronghold),' Diary Of Dreams with a 'Bladerunner 2001 instrumental,' and Psyche with 'Unbreakable.' Volume 2 highlighted SITD's 'Locked in syndrome (Aphelion),' while Volume 3 presented Faderhead's 'Bassgod.' These compilations served as both promotional tools and curated introductions to the label's diverse roster for new listeners. Additionally, Accession operated a division known as Succession Records, a sub-label that recorded various bands until 2010. This secondary imprint allowed the parent label to extend its reach and accommodate artists who might fit a slightly different profile within the broader dark electronic spectrum it championed.

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