Parent company Century Media Records Founder Thomas Waber | Founded 1996 (1996) Status Active | |
Distributor(s) Sony Music Entertainment Genre Progressive rock, progressive metal | ||
Inside Out Music is a German independent record label originally based in Kleve, North Rhine-Westphalia, and dedicated to the publication of progressive rock, progressive metal and related styles. In 2009, it formed a partnership with Century Media Records and moved its base of operations to Dortmund, also in North Rhine-Westphalia.
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History
The label was founded in 1996 by Thomas Waber and started its publications re-issuing for Europe the albums of new American prog metal acts like Symphony X and Shadow Gallery and then signing important prog artists like Steve Hackett. Inside Out signed a worldwide distribution contract with the German music company SPV and branched out with the American division InsideOut US, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 2009 SPV had to file for bankruptcy, and Inside Out partnered up with Century Media Records, which had secured a worldwide distribution contract with EMI.
Several important bands of the new school of progressive rock are signed to Inside Out, including The Flower Kings, Spock's Beard, Enchant, Pain of Salvation, Riverside and The Safety Fire. In addition, the label established links to other scene-relevant bands, issuing the solo albums of Dream Theater vocalist James La Brie and Mike Portnoy's side projects.
For some time, Inside Out also published under the sub-label Revisited Records digitally reworked re-releases of albums from the Krautrock era, for example, from the band Kraan.
The surrounding area of the label headquarters has often served as inspiration for the album art. For example, the dispenser of Spock's Beard Octane cover is in Kleve as is the lake on Threshold's Subsurface cover.
A characteristic feature for the labels releases is the lavish publication work. Several albums appear in special editions, containing extensive bonus materials such as bonus tracks, extended artwork and/or multimedia segments.
The label's founder, Thomas Waber, won the "Guiding Light" award at the 2013 Progressive Music Awards.
Revisited Records label
This label specializes in the reissue of selected Krautrock and electronic pioneers, including: