Danse Macabre Records ist ein Musiklabel in Potsdam. Bekanntheit erlangte es mit seinen Veröffentlichungen vor allem Anfang der 1990er Jahre, zu einer Zeit, in der die deutsche Dark-Wave-Bewegung einen deutlichen Aufschwung erfuhr. Das Label Danse Macabre wurde 1989 in Bayreuth gegründet. Zu den Gründungsmitgliedern gehörten Bruno Kramm (Das Ich) und Norbert Juhas, als weitere Mitarbeiter traten Horst Braun, Oswald Henke (Goethes Erben), Regina Mayer, Stefan Pickl, Stefan Ackermann (Das Ich) und Gesine Finder hinzu. Produziert wurden auf dem Label schwerpunktmäßig Dark-Wave– und Elektro-Bands wie Relatives Menschsein, Placebo Effect, yelworC, Goethes Erben, Printed at Bismarck’s Death. Seit 2009 ist Oberer Totpunkt. bei dem Label und veröffentlichte das 2. Album Erde ruft. Das Debüt 10 Grad vor OT, das in Eigenregie produziert wurde, wurde nochmal neu aufgelegt. Mit „Stiller Zoo“ (2010), „Desiderat“ (2014), „Neurosen blühen“ (2017) und „Totentanz“ (2022) wurden bisher sechs Alben bei Danse Macabre Records veröffentlicht.
The Danse Macabre label was founded in Bayreuth in 1990. The founding members included Bruno Kramm (Das Ich) and Norbert Juhas, while Horst Braun, Oswald Henke (Goethe’s heirs), Regina Mayer, Stefan Pickl, Stefan Ackermann (Das Ich) and Gesine Finder joined the team. The label mainly produced dark wave and electro bands such as Relatives Mensch sein, Placebo Effect, yelworC, Goethes Erben, Printed at Bismarck’s Death or Das Ich, Kramm’s own band. Oberer Totpunkt was signed 2009. on the label and released the 2nd album Erde Ruft. The debut 10 Grad vor OT, which was self-produced, was reissued again. With „Stiller Zoo“ (2010), „Desiderat“ (2014), „Neurosen bloom“ (2017) and „Totentanz“ (2022) six albums have been released by Danse Macabre Records.
What was noticeable for the label was the number of artists whose main focus was on setting German-language texts to music. The genre that emerged from this was defined by Horst Braun and the music journalist Svenjoy as the New German Art of Death and quickly received in the press, especially by the independent magazine Zillo.
Danse Macabre was founded by Bruno Kramm in Bayreuth as a classical music cassette label. From the beginning, the affiliated recording studio was the creative nucleus of the label. The label’s bands were able to experiment and produce in the studio, which after moving to the premises on Jean Paul Strasse in Bayreuth comprised several recording rooms and a separate mastering studio. The studio was also for many record companies such as Massacre Records, Dependent, Trisol and many others. active.
After moving to the premises of Cottenau Castle in the Franconian Forest, the catalog was greatly expanded and the online sales and media marketing business area was opened up by the in-house magazine NEGAtief. After an early phase at the digital aggregator Kontor New Media, Danse Macabre moved to the leading international aggregator Believe Digital.
Bruno Kramm reactivated the label in 2005. Since then, it has also been dedicated to futurepop or Hellektro or groups from the metal and alternative rock environment. Bands currently working with the label are (besides Das Ich) Faith and the Muse , Christ vs. Warhol, Devil-M, Shadow Minds, Compulsory Skin, Geist, Metallspürhunde, Rozencrantz, Seelenzorn, Soul in Sadness, Treibhaus, Sanity Obscure, Oberer Totpunkt, Concrete/Rage, Nova-Spes, Logic & Olivia, Schwarzer Schnee and The Snatcher. Biohazzard Records is one of the Sublabels of Danse Macabre (with TS-Musix und afmusic).
Today, branches such as the studio and the promotion are located in the outskirts of Potsdam (Wublitzsee) and the central warehouse at Cottenau Castle.
Distribution partner:
Deutschland: Alive AG
BeNeLux: Sonic Rendezvous
Finnland: Supersounds
Schweden, Norwegen, Dänemark: Border Music
Frankreich: Soundworks / Season of Mist
Italien: Audioglobe
Ungarn: Indiego
Bulgarien: Wizard
UK: Plastic Head
Polen, Slowakei, Tschechien: Mystic Productions