Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!
Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! is a French rock band formed in Paris in 2007 that blends pop punk with elements of metalcore and post-hardcore.
History
Formation and Something for Nothing (2007–2010)
The band was formed in 2007 when Paul Cordebard wanted to experiment with mixing pop punk, hardcore punk, and heavy metal, and he invited friends Bertrand Poncet and Jonathan Donnaes to join. Soon after, they recruited Bertrand’s brother Éric Poncet and close friend Mathias Rigal, who despite no bass experience, completed the lineup. The name was inspired by a scene in the 1985 film The Goonies, which Poncet regards as a fond childhood reference. Despite difficulties establishing a local fanbase in France, they found success playing in Asia and North America.
On September 2, 2010, they released their first official single, “In Friends We Trust,” along with a music video. Their self-produced debut album, Something for Nothing, was then released on November 1, 2010.
Signing to Fearless Records and Pardon My French (2011–2013)
After signing a global deal with Fearless Records in 2011, the band re-released Something for Nothing on July 19 with new artwork and an altered track listing. They supported the re-release with a music video for “Captain Blood.” In October 2011, they joined The Artery Foundation’s European “Across the Nation” tour; marking their first UK performance; and later toured the US on the Fearless Friends Tour alongside bands like Blessthefall and The Word Alive.
In January 2013, they began recording their second album with producer Joey Sturgis in Michigan. During 2013, the band toured extensively in Australia, the US, the UK, and Japan, supporting acts such as All Time Low, Polar Bear Club, and A Day to Remember. On April 30, 2013, their second album, Pardon My French, was released, with “Restart” as its lead single.
Get Lost, Find Yourself, and Hiatus (2014–2019)
Following Warped Tour appearances, drummer Jonathan Donnaes left the band in August 2014. On March 11, 2015, they announced their third album, Get Lost, Find Yourself, revealing its artwork and track listing. In August 2016, a new song titled “Blame It On This Song” was released by Fearless Records, and after Warped Tour 2016 the band took a hiatus to focus on other projects, planning a return in 2019. They ended the hiatus on December 25, 2019, by announcing a festival date.
Gone Are the Good Days (2020–present)
During Fearless Records’ Fearless at Home event on May 9, 2020, the band revealed they were working on new music, which they later confirmed would be released in 2021. On May 14, 2021, they dropped the single “Bitter” and announced the new album Gone Are the Good Days, which was released on July 30, 2021.
Musical Style
Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! fuses the upbeat melodies of pop punk with aggressive breakdowns, guitar chugging, and lower tunings such as Drop Bb to add a heavier edge. Their debut album incorporated diverse elements ranging from hardcore and metal to acoustic and dance music. With later releases, the band explored themes of bipolarity, pairing catchy choruses with intense breakdowns, a style sometimes labeled as “easycore” or “popcore.”
Members
Current Members
- Bertrand “Bert” Poncet – lead vocals, keyboards (2007–present)
- Éric Poncet – lead guitar, backing vocals (2007–present)
- Paul “Wilson” Cordebard – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2007–present)
- Mathias Rigal – bass (2007–present)
- Bastien Lafaye – drums, percussion (2014–present)
Former Members
- Jonathan Donnaes – drums, percussion (2007–2014)
- Vincent Dahmer – bass (2007)
Discography
Studio Albums
- Something for Nothing (Released: November 1, 2010; Label: InVogue, Fearless)
- Pardon My French (Released: April 29, 2013; Label: Fearless) – US Alt: 72, US Indie: 15, US Rock: 20
- Get Lost, Find Yourself (Released: May 19, 2015; Label: Fearless) – US Alt: 113, US Indie: 13, US Rock: 19
- Gone Are the Good Days (Released: July 30, 2021; Label: Fearless)
Extended Plays
- Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! (2008)
Compilation Appearances
- “We R Who We R” (Ke$ha cover) – Punk Goes Pop 4 (2011; Label: Fearless)
- “In Friends We Trust” – Warped Tour 2012 Tour Compilation (2012; Label: SideOneDummy)
- “All Star” (Smash Mouth cover) – Punk Goes 90’s 2 (2014; Label: Fearless)
- “Restart” – Warped Tour 2014 Compilation (2014; Label: SideOneDummy)
- “City Of Light” – Warped Tour 2016 Compilation (2016; Label: SideOneDummy)
- “Disenchanted” (My Chemical Romance cover) – Rock Sound Presents: The Black Parade (Label: Rock Sound)
