Checkmate “Immanence” Album Review (metal/hardcore)
Checkmate
Immanence
Klonosphere Records
Julien Lebon – Vocals
Fabien Gagniere – Guitar/Vocals
Franklin Dumas – Guitar
Simon Cotier- Bass
Available Now!!!
review by Denise Borders
I have never in my life heard of this band, which can make me either really eager to listen to an album or make me dread it. As soon as I started playing the first track, I was like FUCK YEAH. This shit isn’t bad! It’s a little metal mixed with like the thrashy scream shit that seems to be so popular with the kids now a days.
Days Slip By starts off the album and I am feeling like fans of Job For a Coyboy, As I Lay Dying and bands like that would be totally into this. Fake Golden Kingdom continues but then has a little more singing in it, which may not be the band’s strong suit. It sounds like they got like four people to sing to maybe mask that the singer doesn’t have a melodic voice? I don’t know because what the fuck do I know? I’m just a woman.
Invictus might be my favorite of the few tracks I’ve heard so far just because the weirdo start up into the vocals. I can imagine they put on a good live show and the guitar players do flips and shit, and if they don’t then I will be purely disappointed. Now look, I don’t normally like that screamo bullshit but sometimes if you haven’t heard a band before or seen what they look like, you can really listen to the music with a less bias tone and that’s how I’m trying to take this band. If they look like Black Veil Brides or something I am going to be very angry.
I’ve moved onto IMA which has a much less original intro but OH WELL. I’m getting even a little Killswitch Engage vibe at this point. If you’re a fan of KWE and that makes you angry, you can eat shit because it’s undeniable that they sound alike.
At this point I really would like to point out that my iTunes has this album listed as blues. What in the hell?
Anyway, I’m going to skip ahead to Blank Page, which has a pretty bad ass into. This shit will definitely cause headbanging to turn into a circle pit in less than 60 seconds. Also, it took me this far into the record to go back into my email and search for the original promo sent to me, and I’m sorry this is so late, it definitely came out in early June. I’m also seeing they’re a French band which means I bet they get laid like fucking crazy when they tour the US because chicks fucking love dudes in bands and they love dudes with accents, especially that French twang. Good job, dudes!
I think that you won’t be disappointed with this album. You can tell these are some talented musicians and while they aren’t necessarily doing anything new, they are doing it right. They’re officially on my radar so, that’s more than I can say about a lot of new bands I hear.
About the Author
Denise Borders 39, Los Angeles. Denise founded PWV in 2008 and remains the primary manager and photographer/videographer. She is not secretly obsessed with Joey Cape.
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