Biography
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Years Active
1998 – present (27 years)
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Members
- Alessandro Mele (1998 – present)
- David Folchitto (2000 – 2011)
Kaledon is an Italian power metal band formed in the latter half of 1998 following the departure of guitarist Alex Mele from the band River of Change. After leaving the group, Mele contacted bassist Paolo Lezziroli and rhythm guitarist Tommaso Nemesio to form a new band. Despite early challenges with line-up stability, Kaledon began performing in large theatres in Rome.
The band's original drummer, Daniele Staccini, was replaced by Dario Sacco due to technical issues. In autumn 1999, Kaledon released its first demo CD, "Spirit of the Dragon", which was produced without keyboards. This release marked the beginning of the band's collaboration with Metal Massacre on Stage Production.
Fabio Bernardi, also formerly of River of Change, joined Kaledon as a guest member for six months. During this period, the band recorded two promotional CDs: a reworked version of "Spirit of the Dragon" featuring keyboards, and another titled "God Says Yes".
On June 16, 2000, Kaledon performed as an opening act for Ronnie James Dio. Following this, drummer Dario Sacco was replaced by David Folchitto, and vocalist Anthony Drago was replaced by Claudio Conti. A new promotional CD was recorded with Conti, featuring the same tracks as the earlier releases but with new vocal recordings. Around this time, Daniele Fuligni, formerly of Ghost Rider, joined as keyboardist.
Kaledon contributed a cover of "Courage" from the album "Louder Than Hell" for an unofficial Manowar tribute album released by Northwind Records. In October 2001, Kaledon signed a recording contract with SteelBorn Records, a division of Northwind Records. Between November 2001 and March 2002, they recorded their debut album, "Legend of the Forgotten Reign". During these sessions, Alex Mele began writing material for the band’s second album alongside Claudio Conti.
On October 20, 2002, Kaledon performed at the Northwind Records Festival in Rome. Around this time, Mele began developing the broader narrative concept for the "Legend of the Forgotten Reign" series.
Recording for the second album, "Chapter 2: The King's Rescue", began on April 7, 2003. At the end of these sessions, the band recorded a cover of "Father Time" for the Stratovarius tribute album "Within Infinity". During this period, Kaledon also found a new manager, Dario Annibali.
In 2004, the band began work on the third chapter of the "Legend of the Forgotten Reign" saga. Drummer David Folchitto announced his departure to focus on other projects but agreed to stay until a replacement was found. Drum tracks for the third album were recorded by Jörg Michael of Stratovarius, with sessions beginning on July 7, 2004, in Inverigo near Como. The remaining parts were recorded between October and December at The Outer Sound Studios in Rome.
During the recording of the third chapter, Folchitto rejoined the band. The album, titled "The Way of the Light", was well-received and considered a significant step forward in the band’s development. It was supported with live performances, promotional efforts, and international media coverage, coordinated with Kick Promotion Agency.
Work soon began on the fourth chapter. At the start of its recording, Kaledon ended its relationship with SteelBorn Records, citing dissatisfaction with the label's handling of their career. Negotiations with another Italian label were unsuccessful, leading the band to sign with Universal Metal Production, which facilitated distribution in the United States.
Kaledon also secured a deal with Hellion Records in Germany for European distribution. The fourth album, titled "Twilight of the Gods", was released in the United States via Universal Metal Production, in Europe through Hellion Records, and in Japan through Hot Rockin.
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