The success of Lost In The Waves, released on March 19, 2021, saw a commercial and critical hit and marked a turning point in the band’s career. Landmvrks began slowly releasing tracks from their new album, The Darkest Place I Ever Been, earlier this year. To be honest, when Creature was shared, I was already obsessed.
Landmvrks – The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been
Released Date: Out Now
Words: Carol Giannattasio
Creature talks about inner fears and how they appear metaphorically through the figure of “the creature,” which represents repressed emotions that, if not faced, can take control of our lives. The track stands out for its bold mix of styles. The intro features a hip-hop beat with frontman Florent Salfati rapping in French, before exploding into powerful Metalcore with sharp riffs and heavy breakdowns.
The music video for Creature, directed by Pavel Trebukhin in collaboration with Le Turk, offers a strong, cinematic experience. With an atmosphere that reminds us of Stranger Things, the video blends horror and surreal elements to visually represent the inner struggle described in the lyrics.
Creature marks an important evolution for Landmvrks, both musically and thematically, and fans are already calling it one of the best Landmvrks songs so far. “Creature is the foundation for this storytelling,” says Rudy Purkat. “In the video, we see Flo having a nightmare, where he meets his childhood self and the creature,” Rudy told ALTVIBES.
“As the video continues, we see Flo having hallucinations, and that’s what in psychology we call the split, where we start to see two realities coexisting. In the end, when the Creature catches him, he becomes it. This is another process in psychology called subjectivation. It means that the trauma becomes part of your identity, and you end up becoming the very creature you were afraid of turning into.”
Sulfur and Sombre 16 were released as a double single, continuing the story started with “Creature”. Both tracks were released with a music video shot in Riga, Latvia. Sulfur follows the band’s Metalcore roots, with aggressive riffs, powerful breakdowns, and emotional melodies. The song explores themes of pain and inner transformation, reflecting the main character’s journey through a personal hell.
Sombre 16, on the other hand, shows a more experimental side of Landmvrks. It includes hip-hop elements and French rap, highlighting the band’s versatility and their willingness to explore new musical directions. Both tracks dive deeper into the album’s concept, following a character going through a metaphorical descent into hell, physically and mentally. This journey carries deep meaning, touching on inner struggles and personal battles that many listeners can relate to.
The music video, once again directed by Pavel Trebukhin and Le Turk, connects the two songs into one coherent story. It guides the viewer through the emotional layers of both tracks. The video’s dark and symbolic imagery reflects the central theme of the album: a descent into personal hell and the fight with one’s inner demons.
Rudy also talked about the continuation of this journey in Sulfur. We see all the band members slowly becoming “contaminated” by the Creature. This represents how the people around someone struggling with mental health can also suffer and be affected.
He also mentions A Line In The Dust, where a little girl appears. She represents the idea of outside help, the support that can be offered to someone going through these kinds of issues.
“In fact, we continue this throughout the clips, from a visual point of view, and in the lyrics too,” he said. “You can feel this inner struggle with your demons, this crossing of the desert where you feel isolated or misunderstood. And then there’s also a strong sense of time, the feeling of not being able to live in the present, being stuck in your past, or anxious about the future.”
I absolutely loved how Rudy managed to explain the whole meaning of the album in just a few words. Released in January, A Line in the Dust saw a collaboration with Mat Welsh from While She Sleeps.
The vocals move along simple but striking lines, shifting between tense verses and a chorus that instantly sticks in your head. My favourite part of the song? When Mat Welsh comes in during the second verse, adding depth and intensity to the track. He never takes over but instead enhances the chemistry. Simply put together, they create a fusion of emotion, making the song even more powerful.
The bridge avoids the usual formula and dives into a strong breakdown, backed by raw, emotional vocals, before leading into a final section that feels made to be shouted out loud by a live crowd.
In the official video, once again by Pavel Trebukhin and Le Turk, the main character finds himself trapped in a desert or possibly another dimension, symbolising the inner struggle and the feeling of being stuck in your own world.
Blood Red stands out for its dark and reflective atmosphere, which builds into an emotional crescendo. Salfati switches between rapped verses in French and melodic choruses in English. The song explores themes of pain, regret, and the search for redemption, with lyrics about blood coloured tears and deep emotional wounds. This mix of hip-hop and Metalcore gives the track a unique feel in today’s music scene.
Blood Red continues the story of the main character, who is now trapped in a dark and desolate world. The video stands out for how it visually captures the song’s core themes: pain, loneliness, and the hope for salvation. Florent Salfati’s emotional performance adds to the immersive experience, making the impact of the track even stronger.
Before diving into the rest of the album, I want to take a moment to talk about the cover of The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been. In my opinion, it’s one of the best covers ever made by a Metalcore band. Huge credit goes to Guy Mishima—the artist named Guillaume—who was once a tattoo artist and now focuses exclusively on painting and working with music artists.
Guy shared that Florent’s lyrics often deal with deep inner thoughts and reflections that can haunt him. The cover, both in its imagery and colour choices, is a visual summary of what Guy felt when he listened to the album. They drew inspiration from the river Styx, the mythical river that souls must cross to reach the underworld. That reference adds a powerful layer to the artwork, matching the dark journey the album takes us on.
“It’s not something infernal, it’s just a place where the dead are laid to rest.” That’s how Guy Mishima describes it. The artwork represents the split between two worlds, which is why they placed a large ‘V’ in the centre, creating a false symmetry.
The two figures shown represent smugglers, one on each side. They guide the souls who enter and then transcend, once they’ve been taken across. On the right side, there’s the image of a desert. This reflects how, when we’re closed off within ourselves, it often feels like crossing endless, dry, emotional wastelands. On the left, there’s a town built from all the things we fear: our anxiety, our hidden truths.
Mishima worked heavily with statues and engravings in the artwork, saying: “What can actually remain engraved inside you?”
The two worlds are separated by a broken bridge. The only connection between them is made through statues. One of them releases small figures—representing people—who rise upward, gradually growing taller until they reach the sky, beyond either side of the world.
Mishima also shared that what he finds most interesting about Landmvrks’ lyrics is how Flo is deeply haunted by his own thoughts. He’s someone constantly fighting his demons, but despite the darkness, the music still carries a message of hope.
Both Landmvrks and Guy Mishima are from Marseille, so they also made sure to reflect the colours of their hometown in the artwork.
And one last thing: if you’ve already got your copy of The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been and you’ve got some free time, have fun looking for the easter eggs hidden in the cover. Mishima revealed that there are small details, like a horse’s head carved into the engravings—a nod to Fantasy, Landmvrks second album released in 2018. If you look closely, you’ll even find visual elements from the music videos. A whole universe was built around this album.
Something Mishima said really stayed with me, and I couldn’t agree more: “The title is not very positive, the artwork balances that out. But the darkest place you can go is the lyrics.”
The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been is the opening track. It dives deep into the theme of inner imprisonment and the struggle with personal demons. The lyrics talk about a “cage made of fears” that the main character has built for himself — a powerful image of emotional self-isolation. Lines like “I’ve been trapped in this cage for so many years” highlight a strong sense of despair.
As the first track, it sets the mood for the whole album, taking listeners into the dark and introspective journey of the main character. It’s a strong opener, blending intense lyrics with dynamic music to create a deep and captivating experience.
If you’ve been following Landmvrks for a while and watched a few of their interviews, you’ve probably heard them mention that one of their biggest influences is Linkin Park. And as soon as The Great Unknown started playing on my vinyl record, my first thought was, this really reminds me of Linkin Park. There’s a small resemblance to Guilty All The Same and Given Up. And by the way, I’ve always said—and I’ll keep saying it—Florent’s voice has something that reminds me of Chester Bennington.
The Great Unknown stands out for its dynamic structure, switching between aggressive and melodic sections. The guitar riffs are sharp and well-crafted, supported by a powerful rhythm section that gives the track intense energy. Florent’s voice moves effortlessly between deep growls and clean vocals, showing great range and emotional strength.
Lyrically, The Great Unknown deals with themes of uncertainty, loss, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world. The lyrics express a sense of confusion and a longing to find direction, mirroring the inner struggles faced by many. It’s a track that highlights Landmvrks’ artistic growth, showing their ability to blend sonic power with emotional depth.
La Valse du Temps is one of those songs from the album that I just can’t get out of my head. It also stands out for its use of French and for its more atmospheric approach compared to other tracks on the record. This song breaks away from Landmvrks’ usual aggressive Metalcore sound, offering a more melodic and reflective experience.
Singing in French adds a sense of authenticity and emotional depth, allowing the band to express more intimate and personal feelings. The guitars take on a more ethereal role, creating a dreamy atmosphere that takes the listener on an introspective journey.
The title, La Valse du Temps (The Waltz Of Time), suggests a reflection on the passing of time and the cyclical nature of life. The song explores themes of nostalgia, change, and the inner struggle of facing time’s relentless flow.
One lyric sums it up perfectly: “I’ve always felt torn between the future and the past, but the present never quite felt right.”
The softer sound and use of the band’s native language give this track a unique and authentic character that sets it apart on the album.
Deep Inferno is the ninth track on the album, and it opens with an atmospheric introduction that builds a growing sense of tension. The distorted guitars and relentless drums create a wall of sound that envelops the listener, while Florent’s voice alternates between powerful growls and moments of clean singing, showcasing the frontman’s vocal versatility.
The song’s structure is marked by a shift between aggressive sections and more melodic passages, creating a balance between brutality and introspection. The breakdowns are particularly effective, with tempo changes that keep the energy high and the listener engaged.
The title Deep Inferno suggests a metaphorical descent into the depths of the inner self, personal struggle, and the search for redemption through confronting one’s deepest fears.
This interpretation aligns with the band’s statements about the album, described as a journey through the darker parts of the human experience. As we’ve already seen in tracks like Sulfur and Sombre 16, the album presents a narrative following a protagonist’s descent into hell, and Deep Inferno seems to represent a crucial turning point in this journey.
Requiem is the track that the guys have talked about a lot in interviews, and I couldn’t wait to hear it. They’ve described it as the heaviest song to play live. Created while the band was secluded in a cottage in the French countryside, Requiem comes to life as one of the most intense and significant tracks on the album.
Musically, it stands out for its dynamic and layered structure. The song opens with an atmospheric introduction, featuring a guitar arpeggio that creates a sense of anticipation and emotional tension. As the song progresses, powerful guitar riffs and an urgent rhythm section emerge, typical of Metalcore, but enriched with melodic elements that give the track depth and complexity.
Florent’s vocals are simply amazing, shifting between aggressive screams and clean vocal parts, expressing a wide range of emotions and making Requiem an immersive and cathartic sonic experience.
Requiem suggests a theme of commemoration and reflection on loss. The lyrics explore pain, regret, and the hope for redemption, delving into the complexity of human emotions when faced with suffering and the end of things. The song seems to tell an inner journey through grief and the search for meaning, touching deeply on emotional strings.
Funeral with its piano notes left a mark, almost a void within me. Contrary to what the title might suggest, the track isn’t melancholic or reflective; it’s a direct, raw, and aggressive assault, full of anger and emotional charge.
One of Landmvrks hardest and most straightforward tracks, it does not try to be poetic. It is pointed, brutal, and that’s exactly what makes it effective. The song thrives on release, urgency, and it’s felt more in the body than in the heart. It’s a powerful closure to an album that confronts personal darkness without filter.
“The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been talks about the psychological state we can be in when we are really down,” As Rudy said in an interview. “It’s not to be taken as something truly autobiographical; it’s meant to speak to anyone who has been in that psychological state. Sure, it’s inspired by Florent’s life, but it’s not an autobiography.”
The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been is not just an album. It is a deep journey into the human soul, an experience that explores inner struggles, fears, and the search for redemption. Each track tells a story, and every note reflects a part of that personal battle we can all relate to.
From the aggressive, cathartic moments in Sulfur and Sombre 16, through the introspective reflection in La Valse du Temps, to the power of Funeral, Landmvrks guide us through an emotional odyssey that leaves an impact.
The album shows a mature band skillfully blending Metalcore sounds with melodic elements, adding depth with lyrics inspired by Florent’s life but speaking to anyone who’s faced their own demons. Collaborations with artists like Mat Welsh and Guy Mishima, as well as the visual direction by Pavel Trebukhin and Le Turk, further enrich the project, creating a powerful, cohesive universe.
A heartfelt thank you to Florent Salfati, Nicolas Exposito, Paul C. Wilson, Rudy Purkart, and Kévin D’Agostino — and to everyone who helped bring this masterpiece to life.
The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been is a testament to resilience, how strength can be born from suffering, and how, even in the darkest places, there’s always a spark of hope. It’s an album that leaves a mark, makes you feel, and stays with you long after the last note. If there’s one thing this album teaches, it’s that no hell is too deep to face, and every scar can become a sign of strength.
I should end this deep dive by saying that The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been is a part of me and a part of anyone who has been through something. It’s a silent scream made of music and an incredible story in every lyric.
I cannot deny that every word in every song is truly deep and cutting, and by far, this is one of Landmvrks best albums.
Landmvrks, The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been, is out now via Arising Empire. For more details, visit ArisingEmpire.com/landmvrks.
