Label Name
Prophecy Productions
Record Label
Label Description
Prophecy Productions is an international record label, founded in Germany by Martin Koller in 1996. It proclaims promoting "transcendental captivating music", which roughly comprises artists with a dark rock, black metal, or neofolk background, yet with a unique and unconventional approach to music.
History
Since 1993, Martin Koller used the moniker Prophecy for his small, self-operated mail-order business. According to him, the actual birth of Prophecy Productions as a label was the release of the album A Wintersunset... by Empyrium. While this record was intended to be the sole release under the name of Prophecy, the success of it encouraged Koller to continue the label.
Even in the early days, it was obvious that Prophecy took interest in single musicians' entire work and that some of the label's artists felt attached the label. In 1998, for example, Autumnblaze were signed, a new band with musicians from Paragon of Beauty, as well as Sun of the Sleepless, the side project of Markus Stock from Empyrium. Throughout Prophecy's history, there are many more collaborations of that kind between the label and new projects or bands.
Also in 1998, the place of business was moved from Wittlich to nearby Zeltingen-Rachtig, and a long-term cooperation was decided on with Markus Stock and his recording studio Klangschmiede Studio E to ensure a continuous high standard for Prophecy's music productions. In the same year, Prophecy put out Hallavedet, the first official release by progressive Folk band Tenhi. The Finnish group quickly became one of the most popular artists on Prophecy and is currently (as of December 2014) still signed to the label.
In 1999, Prophecy announced contracts with the established and renowned bands In the Woods... and Bethlehem. Those were two A&r-coups which put significantly more attention on the label and heightened its status.
The next groundbreaking signing was that of Dornenreich in 2000, whose label-debut Her von welken Nächten (2001) ranks amongst the most successful releases in Prophecy's history. Likewise, Dornenreich have stayed loyal ever since and belong to the label's figureheads.
The year 2002 saw Prophecy emerge as a book publisher as well, the first release being the German translation of the book Lords of Chaos by Michael Moynihan and Didrik Søderlind. In 2005, they released the book Looking for Europe, a history of Apocalyptic Folk by Andreas Diesel and Dieter Gerten. In the meantime, Index Verlag continues the book-publishing business.
In 2003, The Vision Bleak were signed, who have played a major role in the label's history. For their debut The Deathship Has a New Captain, Prophecy succeeded in convincing renowned German actor and voice actor Otto Mellies of a collaboration. The band's second album Carpathia - A Dramatic Poem became one of the biggest sellers for the label. With their third record The Wolves Go Hunt Their Prey, the group entered German Media Control charts for the first time. The following albums Set Sail to Mystery and Witching Hour did this as well.
In 2007, Alcest were signed, who developed into Prophecy's most successful band as years went by. Alcest's ambitious fourth album Shelter was recorded on Iceland with Sigur Rós' producer Birgir Jón Birgisson and features Neil Halstead, leader of Shoegazing-veterans Slowdive, as guest musician. Shelter marked the so-far highest chart entry of a Prophecy-artist (#28), surpassed to years later by Kodama. Amongst multiple entries in Germany, USA, Finland and Norway, Alcest are the only band on the label who not only tour Europe and North America, but also South America, Asia and Australia. Alcest belong to the most prominent representers of Shoegaze metal. Due to their ongoing work with Alcest and groups such as Les Discrets or Lantlôs, Prophecy play a crucial role in this scene.
2010 saw the release of the compilation Whom the Moon a Nightsong Sings on Prophecy's sublabel Auerbach Tonträger as a double album putting together many established and new artists from the field of nature-related Folk music with exclusive songs. This sampler also announced the reunion of Empyrium, who were on temporary hiatus, in the shape of the track The Days Before the Fall.
Eventually, Empyrium put Prophecy into public awareness for the first time due to the label's economic success: In 2011, it was awarded with the so-called Silver Award by European independent label association IMPALA for the first three Empyrium-albums, meaning that they have sold 20.000 copies within Europe each. One year later, Prophecy also received Impala Silver Awards for albums by Dornenreich, The Vision Bleak, Alcest and Sol Invictus.
2014 was the first time Prophecy were featured with two releases simultaneously in the Media Control charts: Empyrium's The Turn of the Tides and 1994 – 2014, a vinyl boxset.
In 2017, founder Martin Koller adopted Los Angeles as his second home and today uses the City of Angels as the epicenter for Prophecy's foray into America. Metal industry veteran Rayshele Teige, who is based in L.A., works alongside Koller in California.
In 2020, Summerland by Dutch rock band Dool marked the first top-ten entry of a Prophecy act in Germany at #9 and #5 (vinyl).
in 2021, Prophecy started its 25th anniversary celebration by collaborating with Venus Principle, Magma and Arthur Brown (in collaboration with Magnetic Eye Records) as well as several other acts while further cultivating its roster.
Concept
On their admission, it is Prophecy's underlying idea to release "wayside atmospheric music which defies categorization." Furthermore, the label is grounded on the three pillars constancy (long term collaborations with its artists, close relations to clients and fans), quality (lush editions with special production, layout and design) and community (multiple cooperations among Prophecy-artists, intimate relationship with fans).
Due to their eye on musical talent and business ethos relying on constancy, Prophecy accompany many of their artists from their first records on and release the musicians' entire work.
Associated Artists
Prophecy Productions is an international record label, founded in Germany by Martin Koller in 1996. It proclaims promoting "transcendental captivating music", which roughly comprises artists with a dark rock, black metal, or neofolk background, yet with a unique and unconventional approach to music.
History
Since 1993, Martin Koller used the moniker Prophecy for his small, self-operated mail-order business. According to him, the actual birth of Prophecy Productions as a label was the release of the album A Wintersunset... by Empyrium. While this record was intended to be the sole release under the name of Prophecy, the success of it encouraged Koller to continue the label.
Even in the early days, it was obvious that Prophecy took interest in single musicians' entire work and that some of the label's artists felt attached the label. In 1998, for example, Autumnblaze were signed, a new band with musicians from Paragon of Beauty, as well as Sun of the Sleepless, the side project of Markus Stock from Empyrium. Throughout Prophecy's history, there are many more collaborations of that kind between the label and new projects or bands.
Also in 1998, the place of business was moved from Wittlich to nearby Zeltingen-Rachtig, and a long-term cooperation was decided on with Markus Stock and his recording studio Klangschmiede Studio E to ensure a continuous high standard for Prophecy's music productions. In the same year, Prophecy put out Hallavedet, the first official release by progressive Folk band Tenhi. The Finnish group quickly became one of the most popular artists on Prophecy and is currently (as of December 2014) still signed to the label.
In 1999, Prophecy announced contracts with the established and renowned bands In the Woods... and Bethlehem. Those were two A&r-coups which put significantly more attention on the label and heightened its status.
The next groundbreaking signing was that of Dornenreich in 2000, whose label-debut Her von welken Nächten (2001) ranks amongst the most successful releases in Prophecy's history. Likewise, Dornenreich have stayed loyal ever since and belong to the label's figureheads.
The year 2002 saw Prophecy emerge as a book publisher as well, the first release being the German translation of the book Lords of Chaos by Michael Moynihan and Didrik Søderlind. In 2005, they released the book Looking for Europe, a history of Apocalyptic Folk by Andreas Diesel and Dieter Gerten. In the meantime, Index Verlag continues the book-publishing business.
In 2003, The Vision Bleak were signed, who have played a major role in the label's history. For their debut The Deathship Has a New Captain, Prophecy succeeded in convincing renowned German actor and voice actor Otto Mellies of a collaboration. The band's second album Carpathia - A Dramatic Poem became one of the biggest sellers for the label. With their third record The Wolves Go Hunt Their Prey, the group entered German Media Control charts for the first time. The following albums Set Sail to Mystery and Witching Hour did this as well.
In 2007, Alcest were signed, who developed into Prophecy's most successful band as years went by. Alcest's ambitious fourth album Shelter was recorded on Iceland with Sigur Rós' producer Birgir Jón Birgisson and features Neil Halstead, leader of Shoegazing-veterans Slowdive, as guest musician. Shelter marked the so-far highest chart entry of a Prophecy-artist (#28), surpassed to years later by Kodama. Amongst multiple entries in Germany, USA, Finland and Norway, Alcest are the only band on the label who not only tour Europe and North America, but also South America, Asia and Australia. Alcest belong to the most prominent representers of Shoegaze metal. Due to their ongoing work with Alcest and groups such as Les Discrets or Lantlôs, Prophecy play a crucial role in this scene.
2010 saw the release of the compilation Whom the Moon a Nightsong Sings on Prophecy's sublabel Auerbach Tonträger as a double album putting together many established and new artists from the field of nature-related Folk music with exclusive songs. This sampler also announced the reunion of Empyrium, who were on temporary hiatus, in the shape of the track The Days Before the Fall.
Eventually, Empyrium put Prophecy into public awareness for the first time due to the label's economic success: In 2011, it was awarded with the so-called Silver Award by European independent label association IMPALA for the first three Empyrium-albums, meaning that they have sold 20.000 copies within Europe each. One year later, Prophecy also received Impala Silver Awards for albums by Dornenreich, The Vision Bleak, Alcest and Sol Invictus.
2014 was the first time Prophecy were featured with two releases simultaneously in the Media Control charts: Empyrium's The Turn of the Tides and 1994 – 2014, a vinyl boxset.
In 2017, founder Martin Koller adopted Los Angeles as his second home and today uses the City of Angels as the epicenter for Prophecy's foray into America. Metal industry veteran Rayshele Teige, who is based in L.A., works alongside Koller in California.
In 2020, Summerland by Dutch rock band Dool marked the first top-ten entry of a Prophecy act in Germany at #9 and #5 (vinyl).
in 2021, Prophecy started its 25th anniversary celebration by collaborating with Venus Principle, Magma and Arthur Brown (in collaboration with Magnetic Eye Records) as well as several other acts while further cultivating its roster.
Concept
On their admission, it is Prophecy's underlying idea to release "wayside atmospheric music which defies categorization." Furthermore, the label is grounded on the three pillars constancy (long term collaborations with its artists, close relations to clients and fans), quality (lush editions with special production, layout and design) and community (multiple cooperations among Prophecy-artists, intimate relationship with fans).
Due to their eye on musical talent and business ethos relying on constancy, Prophecy accompany many of their artists from their first records on and release the musicians' entire work.
Associated Artists
Country
DE
Main Genre
---
Formed
1996
Status
unlockedData Complete
90%
