Klone

The lengthy, evolving discography of Klone is, at heart, progressive metal, yet the French ensemble continues to evolve in unexpected ways, weaving psychedelic and electronic flourishes throughout albums including Here Comes the Sun (2015), Le Grand Voyage (2019), and The Unseen (2024).
Klone began life under another name in Poitiers, France. Singer David Ledoux, guitarist Guillaume Bernard, bassist Julien Comte, and drummer Laurent Thomas joined forces in 1995 under the name Sowat and released the album Korzeam in 1997. Two years later, they re-formed as Klone, adding another guitarist, Mika Moreau, new bassist Hugues Andriot, and Matthieu Metzger on keyboards. Early works, including debut Duplicate (2003) and the EP High Blood Pressure (2004), split a unique balance between aggressive rock and hints of the introspective, experimental songcraft the band would embrace in years to come.
The group’s sound changed further when Ledoux departed in 2004 and was replaced with Yann Ligner. A new rhythm section would follow: Jean-Etienne Maillard replaced Andriot on bass in 2006 and Florent Marcadent sat at the drum kit following Thomas' departure a year later. The first works of this new line-up challenged audiences even further: 2008’s All Seeing Eye incorporated saxophone and samples by Metzger, harp, Chinese flute, and a vocal cameo from Joe Duplantier of Gojira on the title track. (Klone would subsequently tour with Gojira.) Their next album, Black Days, was released in 2010 and featured a striking cover of Björk's “Army of Me” among its originals. An EP, The Eye of Needle, was released a year later.
With the departure of guitarist Moreau in 2012 and subsequent hiring of Aldrick Guadagnino as his replacement, Klone's sound evolved further on a pair of 2015 albums, The Dreamer’s Hideaway and Here Comes the Sun, drawing comparisons in places to the most mainstream work of Pink Floyd. After rearranging their catalog even further on the live album Unplugged (2017), Klone signed to a new label, the British imprint Kscope, for 2019’s Le Grand Voyage. Maillard would depart after its recording, and Enzo Alfano became his replacement. (One last personnel change would occur in 2022, when Marcadent vacated the drummer’s stool; Morgan Berthet replaced him.) Klone's sonic adventures continued on the albums Meanwhile (2023) and The Unseen (2024), featuring the group’s prog-metal style spiraling out into ambient and even pop-leaning directions. ~ Mike Duquette