Adrian Hates was originally a classically trained guitarist and pianist, and subsequently bassist of Garden of Delight. He initiated the Diary of Dreams project in the late 1980s, taking the name from one of his early classical guitar compositions, 'Tagebuch der Träume'. The first album, 'Cholymelan', appeared in 1994 on the Dion Fortune label.
Encouraged by this success, Adrian formed his own label Accession and released a string of albums over the following years, building a loyal fanbase each step of the way. The second album 'End of Flowers' was released in 1996, expanding on the darkwave sound of the debut. 'Bird Without Wings' followed a year later, whilst the more experimental work 'Psychoma?' arrived in 1998.
The first sign of consolidation came in 1999, when a compilation album 'Moments of Bloom' appeared, containing two reworked tracks from each album. The next two albums 'One of 18 Angels' and 'Freak Perfume' (plus its companion EP 'PaniK Manifesto') made greater use of electronic rhythms, resulting in greater club play and wider recognition for the band.
Their 2004 'Nigredo' (a concept album inspired by a mythology the band designed themselves) saw a move back towards the more subtle, sparse concepts of old, but still featuring bursts of their more recent, dance-oriented sound. Songs from the Nigredo tour were later released on the live CD 'aLive' and the companion DVD 'Nine In Numbers'. The next Diary of Dreams album 'Nekrolog 43' was released in 2007, offering a greater variety of moods and concepts than previous works. Adrian Hates claims to be influenced, both lyric wise and artwork wise, by the German 1909-1935 expressionism and the "beauty of ugliness" in the course of his work.
The ninth album entitled "(if)" was released on March 13, 2009.
Discography
Albums
* Cholymelan (1994) – re-released in 1999 with four bonus tracks
* End of Flowers (1996)
* Bird Without Wings (1997)
* Psychoma (1998)
* Moments of Bloom (1999)
* One of 18 Angels (2000)
* Freak perfume (2002)
* Dream Collector (2003) (originally a limited South African compilation - later given wider release)
* Nigredo (2004)
* Alive (2005) – live album
* Nekrolog 43 (2007)
* (if) (2009)
* Ego:X (2011)
* Dream Collector II (2012)
* the Anatomy of Silence (2012) - acoustic album
* Elegies in Darkness (2014)
* Grau im Licht (2015)
* reLive (2016)
* hell in Eden (2017)
Singles and EPs
* O' Brother Sleep (2001)
* AmoK (2002)
* PaniK Manifesto (2002) – EP/mini-album
* Giftraum (2004)
* Menschfeind (2005) – EP/mini-album
* The Plague (2007)
* King of Nowhere (2009)
DVDs
* Nine in Numbers (2006)
End
Diary of Dreams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Das Leben verbirgt sich hinter seinen abertausenden Gesichtern
im Schatten dessen
was es selbst zu bewirken vermag
Unbändbare Kraft verborgen in unheilbarer Sucht
nach mehr Gefühl
In blendendem Licht zu einer anonymen Masse verschmolzen
deren Ästhetik einzig und allein
in ihrem imaginär allem überlegenen Intellekt liegt
Utopie oder Fanatismus, wer weiß das schon...
Ich bin entgiftet, total entgiftet
Und dennoch schöpfen wir immer wieder neues Vertrauen
und rufen es hinaus in die Leere
wartend auf ein sanftes Echo
das sich anschmiegsam wie eine zweite Hülle um Dich wickelt
Dir Trost spendet und Dir für eine Weile
Deine müden Augen einfühlsam zu schließen versteht
Vorbehaltlos verringerst Du Deine Erwartungen auf ein Minimum
Eine Hand gefroren im Eis
die andere im lodernden Feuer
so erstarrst Du...
Vergib mir, mein Freund,
Du scheinst nicht zu verstehen
aber wer weiß das schon?
Legenden werden geboren
und in kleinen gepolsterten Zimmern aufbewahrt
Einsam lernst Du das zu lieben
was Du nie berühren wirst
The lyrics to "End" by Diary of Dreams are complex and abstract, dealing with themes of addiction, disillusionment, and self-discovery. The opening lines suggest that life is multifaceted and elusive, hiding behind countless faces and shadows. The craving for intense emotions and feelings seems to be the driving force behind this elusive existence, but the search for such intensity can lead to dangerous and addictive behaviors.
The following lines speak to the struggle of blending in with society and losing one's identity in the process. The pursuit of intellectual superiority seems to be a common thread among those who find themselves lost in this anonymous mass. The lyrics suggest that this addiction to intellectualism and the search for meaning can lead to fanaticism and utopianism, though the true nature of these states remains unclear.
The singer of the song claims to have been detoxified or liberated from this lifestyle. However, despite this newfound sense of freedom, the lyrics suggest that the search for trust and understanding continues. The lyrics go on to describe the desire for a comforting echo that can soothe the listener's tired eyes and provide them with the empathy they crave. The chorus then draws back to the struggle and entrapment of addiction, comparing the separation of feeling like one hand is frozen in ice and the other is caught in a blazing fire.
The song continues with the singer apologizing to an unnamed friend who seems to misunderstand his current state of mind. The lyrics end on a rather obscure note, suggesting that the legends we create will inevitably be housed in "small padded rooms." Solitude is then embraced as a method of learning to love that which one can never touch. Overall, the lyrics project feelings of restlessness, dissatisfaction, and isolation.
Line by Line Meaning
Das Leben verbirgt sich hinter seinen abertausenden Gesichtern
Life hides behind its countless faces
im Schatten dessen was es selbst zu bewirken vermag
In the shadow of what it can achieve itself
Unbändbare Kraft verborgen in unheilbarer Sucht
Uncontrollable power hidden in incurable addiction
nach mehr Gefühl nach viel mehr Gefühl...
For more emotions, so much more...
In blendendem Licht zu einer anonymen Masse verschmolzen
Blended into an anonymous mass in blinding light
deren Ästhetik einzig und allein in ihrem imaginär allem überlegenen Intellekt liegt
Whose aesthetics solely lie in their imaginary, superior intellect
Utopie oder Fanatismus, wer weiß das schon...
Utopia or fanaticism, who knows...
Ich bin entgiftet, total entgiftet
I am detoxed, completely detoxed
Und dennoch schöpfen wir immer wieder neues Vertrauen
And yet, we always find new trust
und rufen es hinaus in die Leere
And cry out into the void
wartend auf ein sanftes Echo
Waiting for a gentle echo
das sich anschmiegsam wie eine zweite Hülle um Dich wickelt
That wraps around you like a second skin
Dir Trost spendet und Dir für eine Weile
Giving you comfort for a while
Deine müden Augen einfühlsam zu schließen versteht
Understanding how to gently close your tired eyes
Vorbehaltlos verringerst Du Deine Erwartungen auf ein Minimum
Unconditionally lowering your expectations to a minimum
Eine Hand gefroren im Eis die andere im lodernden Feuer
One hand frozen in ice, the other in blazing fire
so erstarrst Du...
And so you become frozen...
Vergib mir, mein Freund, Du scheinst nicht zu verstehen
Forgive me, my friend, it seems you do not understand
aber wer weiß das schon?
But who really knows?
Legenden werden geboren und in kleinen gepolsterten Zimmern aufbewahrt
Legends are born and kept in small padded rooms
Einsam lernst Du das zu lieben was Du nie berühren wirst
Lonely, you learn to love what you'll never touch
Contributed by Alice B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@katyja8812
Still listening in 2022 🥀🖤🥀
@yanayagory4622
The best sound ever, greatly composed. My favorite album!
@carmelofresco-ge5id
me gusta mucho esta banda 😂😂😂❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤Viva Adrián
@milasuperstar1969DarkDreamTeam
Vielen herzlichen Dank ....🎧🎼🖤🎼🎧
@thewhitecat132
I can't thank you enough for this upload... Thank you, thank you, thank you really much
@itscoming2473
Кайф)
@cocobunitacobuni8738
My first ever Diary of Dreams album.
@user-wp4ns3it5n
Красота!
@abrasionequation4632
This is really good
@TheArrow1987
still my 2nd favourite DoD album after Psychoma, followed by Cholymelan, Bird Without Wings, MenschFeind and Nigredo. Great album perfect for october, after listening to (or before) The Frozen Autumn - Pale Awakening