It’s funny because we hear a lot of weird band names, but I had never come across one like Angine de Poitrine before. It’s a condition that causes chest pain when the heart doesn’t get enough blood and oxygen. In a way, it fits perfectly: their music feels intense, physical, almost like your body is being asked to react to it. The Quebec duo plays high-energy math rock and has been playing together for over twenty years. The band consists of “brothers” Khn de Poitrine, who plays double-neck guitar and bass, and Klek de Poitrine on drums. Those names actually came from alter egos they used in a ten-minute free jazz project. They both claim to be into electronic music (house and acid techno), and they share a guilty pleasure they don’t feel guilty about: Calvin Harris.
When I first saw them, Daft Punk immediately came to my mind. Not musically, but visually: two duos, both hiding their identity. Angine de Poitrine wear papier-mâché masks and full polka-dot costumes: no skin is visible, they have big noses, painted hands and feet, you can’t even see their eyes. It almost doesn’t feel like there are real people underneath. It all started as a joke. They wanted to play twice in the same venue in one week, and since you can’t really do that as the same band, they decided to hide their faces. What began as humour turned into a full concept. Now it allows them to separate their private lives from their stage persona and keep that sense of mystery. They describe themselves as dadaists, rejecting artistic conventions through absurdity. If you were hoping interviews might clarify things, forget it. They stay in character, making sounds in a fun invented language, so even if you got the chance to talk to them, you probably wouldn’t understand much.
Their breakout moment came through KEXP, where they played songs like Sarniezz and Mata Zyklek, going viral and hitting millions of views. Musically, they play microtonal rock, using intervals smaller than the semitone we’re used to in Western music. It sounds technical, but it feels physical, repetitive, hypnotic, and almost impossible not to move to. They claim to play an easier version of traditional rock, but to everyone else it sounds like controlled chaos. Their music isn’t something you listen to passively; it forces a reaction (in the best way possible). Heads move, pulses rise, and bodies sway.
Their debut album, Vol. 1, set the tone: chaotic, experimental, and playful. Tracks are almost six minutes long, mutating and looping rather than following traditional structures. It was nominated for Rock Album of the Year at the GAMIQ, and in 2025 they won Artist of the Year at the same awards. Released in April 2026, Vol. II still sticks to six tracks but feels more intentional. The first half, Fabienk, Mata Zyklek, and Sarniezz, has hypnotic grooves and is rhythm-driven, while the second half leans more into repetition, minimalism, and plainness. If you listen carefully, Sarniezz feels like a twin of Sahardnieh; they have similar rhythms but with their own distinct character. Earlier this year they dropped Fabienk as a single, a track that feels like every part of it is different, even pausing halfway through before everything kicks back in.
They’re starting their European tour on May 10th, passing through the UK, France, Italy, and more, with many dates already sold out. That’s not surprising, as it feels like a one-of-a-kind concert, a band you need to experience live. And most importantly, one where you’ll end up making the Illuminati symbol with your hands, just like they do.
