History
Formation and Something for Nothing (2007–2010)
The band formed in 2007, when Paul Wilson a guitarist wished to experiment with blending influences from pop punk with hardcore punk and heavy metal and invited his friends Bertrand Poncet, Jonathan Donnaes and two others to join the band.[1] Shortly after their formation the other two members left and so they asked Bertrand's brother Éric Poncet and close friend Mathias Rigal who despite having no experience as a bass guitarist joined the band.[1] The band name is taken from the scene in 1985 adventure-comedy film The Goonies,[2][3] in which Chunk and Sloth arrive on the scene to help their friends.[1] Poncet describes the choice of The Goonies as a "good childhood reference" and felt the name reflected who the band members.[4] Shortly after forming, the band recorded an self-titled EP, featuring several tracks, including the song "MILF" which would later be re-recorded for their debut album. The band found it difficult to establish a fanbase in their native country of France as there is, in Poncet opinion, "absolutely no rock scene" so they found solace in playing in other countries of Europe, but in particular North America.[4]On September 2, 2010, the band released their first official single "In Friends We Trust", along with an accompanying music video. On November 1, 2010, the band released their self-produced debut album Something for Nothing.[1]
Signing to Fearless records and second album (2011–present)
After signing to Fearless Records with a global deal in 2011, they re-released their debut album Something For Nothing on 19 July 2011[2][5] The band was confident in their signing with Fearless as they considered them "one of the best labels out there for that kind of music".[6] The re-release featured a brand new album artwork and a different track listing, replacing "MILF" and "Alex Kidd in a Miracle World" with the song "Make Them Believe", which was a Japanese bonus track on the original release.[7] To coincide with the re-release the band released a music video for "Captain Blood", which was overall the second single off the album.[8][9]October 2011 Captain Chunk! joined The Artery Foundation's European "Across the Nation" tour headlined by Miss May I. This is the first time Captain Chunk! has performed in the United Kingdom.[10] The tour was well received including Captain Chunk!'s, said to have featured "a downright bizarre and eclectic lineup".[11] In December the band went back to the United States Fearless Friends Tour, a tour which exclusively features bands from the Fearless Records' roster with Blessthefall, The Word Alive, Motionless In White, and Tonight Alive.[8] In November 2011 the band contributed a cover of Kesha's single We R Who We R on Punk Goes Pop 4 as part of the Punk Goes... cover album series which was released internationally on 21 November 2011.[12]
In 2012 Captain Chunk! tour schedule in the United States expanded rapidly, supporting Attack Attack! in late January and February 2012 as part of their on going This Means War album support.[8] Through-out March and April the band also supported deathcore band Chelsea Grin on their debut headline tour "The Sick Tour".[13] Captain Chunk! also was announced for Vans Warped Tour 2012 line-up, the band toured for the entire festival and played on the Ernie Ball Stage.[14] With their performances as part of the Warped Tour the band contributed the single "In Friends We Trust" to the Warped Tour 2012 Tour Compilation album.[15] During their performances on the Warped Tour the band performed new songs.[16] The band also was the main support for Woe, Is Me on their Talk Your [S]#?! Tour across November and December 2012.[17] Although proud of how strong their fanbase in America grew in the year of touring the band found the language barrier and being a new band difficult,[6] Poncet has said about how all the band members learnt English in school but learnt a great deal while actually touring.[4]
In January 2013 the band started to record their second album with producer Joey Sturgis in Michigan, United States.[18][19] Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! is performing at the Australian 2013 Soundwave festival performing at all 5 dates in: Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth between 23 February and 4 March.[20] The band is also supporting A Day to Remember on the first half of their Right Back At It Again tour also featuring Of Mice & Men.[21] The band saw the opportunity to tour with one of their influences as one that couldn't be refused.[22] This led to the band rescheduling all of their American headline tour dates of their 'Pardon My French Tour' with supporting acts Handguns, State Champs and City Lights between March 19 and April 5.[22]
[edit] Musical Style
Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! is defined by their pop punk sound[3] which is contrasted by their "heavy metal alter ego"[23][24] and their "growling hardcore".[3] The band fuses the up-beat melodies of pop punk with aggressive breakdowns, guitar chugging[25] and lower guitar tunings like Drop Bb to give their music a much heavier sound.[8][26] Singer Bertrand Poncet has stated that despite the band is French they have an American sound and so write English lyrics.[6] The band's debut album Something for Nothing showcases the bands diversity and in band's opinion incorperates elements of pop punk, hardcore, metal, acoustic, indie, and dance music,[1] and shows a diverse blend of singing, death growls and keyboards.[25]Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! has been noted by various critics as fusing pop punk, melodic hardcore[23][24] and metalcore.[11][27] An eclectic blend of styles known as easycore or popcore,[27][28][25] a style which was pioneered by A Day to Remember and Four Year Strong, bands whom reviewers have made stark comparisons with.[11][26][27] But despite the comparison made to bands like A Day to Remember, Four Year Strong, and New Found Glory, the band never intended to sound like these bands and only wanted to apply aggressive musical traits to pop punk.[1]
Members
- Bertrand Poncet - lead vocals (2007–present)
- Paul Wilson- rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2007–present)
- Éric Poncet- lead guitar (2007–present)
- Mathias Rigal - bass (2007–present)
- Jonathan Donnaes - drums (2007–present)
Discography
- Studio Albums
- Something for Nothing (2010)
- Untitled Second Studio Album (2013)
- Extended Plays
- Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! (2008)
