The Swiss-based pianist and composer Tom Lardat will release a new EP, “Récits de l’ombre,” on 12 March 2026, continuing his exploration of the meeting point between Classical Piano Music and Progressive Metal.
Lardat began his musical training with private piano lessons before entering François Chaplin’s class at the Conservatoire de Versailles in 2009. He later completed his studies at the Haute École de Musique in Lausanne, graduating with a Master’s degree in 2019. He has since performed solo recitals at venues including Steinway Hall Suisse Romande in Lausanne, the Swiss Foundation for Young Musicians, and the Racinotes Festival in Cerneux-Péquignot. His classical influences include Bach, Schumann, Chopin, Rameau and Rachmaninov.
Alongside his academic training, Lardat has maintained a long-standing interest in progressive metal, citing bands such as Dream Theater, Opeth, Symphony X and Adagio. He has played keyboards in several bands, including Dark Milk and Conscience, before turning his focus increasingly towards original composition.
Since 2023, Lardat has been composing piano works that combine elements of romantic-era harmony, baroque formal gestures, and the rhythmic complexity of Progressive Metal. These pieces make extensive use of the piano’s percussive, melodic and polyphonic possibilities, often moving from structured introductions into freer, irregular forms.
“Récits de l’ombre” follows the release of his debut EP, “Revenir au rêve” (2025), which was performed live at the Aubes Musicales Festival in Geneva. The new EP comprises four interconnected pieces — “Ouverture,” “Jour de pluie,” “Sortilèges,” and “Regrets” — with a total duration of approximately 20 minutes, conceived to be heard as a continuous whole.
Speaking about the project, Lardat said:
This second project consists of four pieces — Ouverture, Jour de pluie, Sortilèges and Regrets — forming a cohesive whole designed to be listened to from beginning to end, both in terms of key relationships and audio sequencing.
The romantic aesthetic is far more present than in my previous project, with themes more strongly inspired by the nineteenth century. The structures remain complex but are intended to be more narrative and freer in form.
The project as a whole explores dark themes and imagery.
The final piece, “Regrets,” will be released online on Thursday, 5 February, ahead of the full EP.
Stream the official teaser for “Regrets” here: https://youtu.be/8HmEFXoiYXk
Watch the official video for “Regrets” on February 05, 2026 via the YouTube player below:
Pre-Order “Récits de l’ombre” on Bandcamp: https://tomlardat.bandcamp.com/album/r-cits-de-lombre
Tracklist:
01. Ouverture
02. Jour de pluie
03. Sortilèges
04. Regrets