Clan of Xymox have been in the unfortunate position of always being compared to other bands since their inception. Whether it's The Cure or Joy Division, Clan of Xymox have never been able to shake off the similarities to their influences. Nevertheless, the group has produced an impressive body of work that consistently absorbed new sounds while remaining faithful to the '80s rock menu.

Clan of Xymox were formed in Nijmegen, Netherlands, in 1983 by Ronny Moorings (vocals, guitar) and Anka Wolbert (bass, vocals). A year later, moorings and Wolbert moved to Amsterdam, releasing the LP Subsequent Pleasures as Xymox. (The album was limited to 500 copies.) Xymox then became the opening act for Dead Can Dance in England. The band's presence on Dead Can Dance's U.K. tour caught the interest of 4AD Records, and the label eventually signed them. A year later, Xymox lengthened their name to Clan of Xymox and recorded a self-titled album in 1985, followed by Medusa the next year. In 1987, the group shortened its appellation to Xymox once again, contributing another version of "Muscoviet Mosquito," originally on Subsequent Pleasures, to the 4AD compilation Lonely Is an Eyesore. After the release of the single "Blind Hearts," Xymox left 4AD and joined Polygram/Wing.

In 1989, Xymox released Twist Of Shadows, their most commercially successful LP, selling 300,000 copies. The infectious and uncharacteristically upbeat "Phoenix of My Heart" landed on the modern rock charts in 1991. However, the full-length Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix didn't do as well as Twist Of Shadows. Wolbert departed from the band that year, replaced by bassist Mojca Zugna. In 1992, Xymox left Polygram/Wing for ZOK Records. Xymox record two albums for ZOK Records -- 1992's Metamorphosis and 1993's Headclouds -- before switching to Tess Records in 1997 for the album Hidden Faces. Moreover, moorings called the group Clan of Xymox once again.

In 1999, they signed with the Metropolis label and released Little Creatures, which was followed a year later by the two-CD Official Live : 101 Proof. The 2001 album Notes From Thee Underground was reinterpreted on the double remix CD Remixes From The Underground, which landed in 2002. A Farewell To Kings from 2003 was a themed album with bittersweet goodbyes to lovers and friends the main topics. The 2004 collection The Best of found latter-day highlights next to re-recordings of the band's early material. Two years later, the album Beautiful Disorder was announced by the single "Weak in My Knees." The 2009 effort In Love We Trust was a return to the layered sound of their 4AD years. ~ Michael Sutton, Rovi