The contribution of France to heavy music goes a lot farther than Gojira, and the world should have noticed now. Landmvrks are quite an example of what I’m saying. The band started in Marseille around 2014 and gained a certain popularity thanks to their unquestionable skills and very uncommonly variegated music. Albums like Hollow and Lost In The Waves became metalcore masterpieces, but it’s now time for a new baby.
The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been, out today via Arising Empire, is the highest synthesis of this band’s expression. What we have here is a concept album that explores the abyss of human discomfort through the downward spiral that leads to our inner self, the place where the root causes of this condition often lie.
The track list also seems structured like Dante’s Inferno: The title track is a clear declaration of intents; then we go through “Sulfur” to meet “The Great Unknown” and finally end up walking “Deep Inferno,” “Requiem,” and “Funeral.” Very evocative choice.
The same way, the artwork reflects the message of the project, and for those out there that want to deep dive into the graphic part of the record, there’s a very interesting Behind The Art video on YouTube.
If the melodic parts on “Lost In The Waves” sounded more pop-oriented and fancy; here we have more solid and convincing lines. Speaking about singing, the work of Florent Salfati is probably one of his most brilliant ever. This guy does literally everything—from rap to gutturals—terrifically. He’s also mixing English and French singing wonderfully to obtain a unique feature that’s peculiar of Landmvrks.
“A Line In The Dust” features Mat Welsh from While She Sleeps, probably number-one on my recent heavy rotation, but my favorite on the record is “La Valse Du Temps,” where literally all the skills of this band are mixed together in an anthemic yet ferocious tune.
Songs like “Sombre 16” or “The Great Unknown” have a great nu metal vibe that will take you back to the old Linkin Park’s Hybrid Theory years (Bennington-like singing included, no joke).
In conclusion, we’re in front of a “genre defining” record here, meaning this album is really about to set the standard for metalcore to come the same way that Architects did back in the days. I’d choose Landmvrks over BMTH as new metalcore heroes with no hesitation.
First entry of my 2025 records of the year list, well deserved.
Get the album and merch here.
