Reviews list for Klone - Meanwhile (2023)

Klone are yet another band I have been blissfully unaware of until now. Meanwhile is the latest of the band's eight albums and is quite a nice album of progressive alternative metal. The band are very accomplished musicians, obviously, and their sound is highly polished, as is their songwriting, for me a little too polished. At first this sounded great, but as the album proceeded it felt so controlled that it came over like it was lacking in character and more than once I wished that the band would just let rip and let themselves go. Although it sounds quite proggy it doesn't really contain any extended instrumental sections, in the vein of a band like Riverside, which would make the whole a lot more interesting. As it is, it just sounds like an exceedingly professional collection of songs that pass by without me being able to make any emotional connection with, other than in a chin-stroking admiration for their musical adroitness, but that isn't enough for me to return to a record. Although I do genuinely admire the band's skill, I am unable to engage with Meanwhile on an emotional level, so no, it isn't really for me I'm afraid.

I had a really good time listening to the new Klone album Meanwhile. Having no experience with this band prior, I went in with very little expectations and came out with a fine display of progressive meets alternative metal. These two styles rarely meet as they do tend to be counterintuitive to one another, but Klone have found a way to write some very catchy pieces of music in the Katatonia vein, while still providing a more than vast display of variety and power through the compositions and songwriting. I'm really enjoying vocalist Yann Ligner's style and delivery here as is an obvious standout to set Klone apart from their influences. This record has the feeling of a record such as Retribution by Nightingale, but so much more than that. 

Besides that, everything else leans into this bands favour for me; length of songs not outstaying their welcome, number of songs, length of the album, it all forms together into a neat, well performed package. One of 2023's first great records.

Best Songs: Blink of an Eye, Scarcity, Apnea, Night and Day