Angine de Poitrine
Angine de Poitrine in 2026
Angine de Poitrine in 2026
Background information
Origin Saguenay, Quebec, Canada
Genres
  • Math rock
  • experimental rock
  • progressive rock
Years active 2019 (2019)–present
Labels
  • Les Cassettes Magiques
  • Spectacles Bonzaï
  • ATO
Award GAMIQ Artist of the Year 2025
Members
  • Khn de Poitrine
  • Klek de Poitrine
Website anginedepoitrine.com

Angine de Poitrine ( Canadian French: [ãʒɪn də pwatʁɪn] ⓘ[1][a]) is a Canadian rock duo formed in Saguenay, Quebec, in 2019. It is composed of two anonymous musicians performing under pseudonyms as guitarist Khn de Poitrine and drummer Klek de Poitrine. They are known for complex, microtonal compositions in the style of math rock and experimental rock, and an absurdist public image, featuring oversized papier-mâché masks and black-and-white polka-dotted costumes.

Conceived initially as a disguise to retain audiences across back-to-back sets at a local venue, the project became the duo's primary focus. Following their debut album, Vol. 1 (2024), the band gained traction on the Quebec festival circuit, culminating in an Artist of the Year win at the 2025 GAMIQ awards. They achieved viral recognition in February 2026 when a live session recorded for US radio station KEXP accumulated millions of views. This preceded the release of their second album, Vol. II (2026), and supporting international tours.

History

Origins (2019–2023)

Klek de Poitrine in concert in 2026

Angine de Poitrine formed in the Chicoutimi borough of Saguenay, Quebec, in 2019.[2][3] The group's name is the French term for angina pectoris ("angina [lit. strangling] of the chest"), and was initially suggested as a joke; this later became a reflection of the band's sound, characterized by the members as "dissonance-induced cardiac malfunction", and conveying a "sense of urgency" in their music.[4][5] The duo performs anonymously as guitarist Khn de Poitrine and drummer Klek de Poitrine;[6] the two are from La Baie borough[7][8] and have been musical collaborators for two decades, having performed together in various projects since the age of 13.[3][9]

The project began as a gag after the pair were booked to perform twice in one week at the same local Saguenay venue; concerned that audiences would not attend the second show, they decided to play the latter set as anonymous, costumed performers under a different name.[3][10] To complete what the duo later likened to an "Andy Kaufman-esque joke", they constructed oversized papier-mâché masks with giant noses and full-body black-and-white polka-dotted costumes.[3][5] During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, with live opportunities limited, the members took up construction jobs.[3]

Vol. 1, breakthrough and Vol. II (2024–present)

Khn de Poitrine in concert in April 2026

On 14 June 2024, Angine de Poitrine released their debut album, Vol. 1.[11] Throughout 2025, the duo attracted increasing attention on the Quebec festival circuit, including appearances at Le Festif!, M for Montreal, the Montreal Jazz Festival and Pop Montreal.[9][12][13] In December 2025, the duo won "Artist of the Year" at the 20th annual GAMIQ awards.[14] That same month, they performed at Trans Musicales in Rennes, France; footage from the set was later released by Seattle radio station KEXP on 5 February 2026.[9][12] The video became an immediate viral success, accumulating over two million views within its first week of release.[13] By April 2026, the video's view count had increased to over nine million.[15] The band released their second studio album, Vol. II, on 3 April 2026.[16]

In March 2026, Angine de Poitrine made an appearance on the popular Quebec talk show Tout le monde en parle, which has an average viewership of nearly one million people.[13][17] During an interview for the Logan Sounds Off podcast, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl praised the band, saying they "absolutely blew [his] mind" and describing them as "completely bonkers."[18][19] Sean Lennon commented on them via his X account, stating: "I have never seen a weird instrumental band go viral like Angine de Poitrine. I've never seen anything like it. It's totally wild. For the last three months, everyone I know has sent me their video at least once."[20]

Following the viral success of their KEXP session, Angine de Poitrine embarked on an international tour in support of the album. The 2026 tour began on 28 March at the Tremor Festival in the Azores, Portugal, preceding a sold-out April and May leg across Quebec.[6][21] In April, the duo secured physical media distribution rights outside of Quebec, with ATO Records releasing their music in the United States, F>A>B in the rest of Canada, and Republic of Music in Europe.[22] In May, the band is scheduled for a European tour encompassing the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Germany and Ireland.[23] The tour is additionally scheduled to include the band's first performances in the United States in September.[24]

Artistry

Angine de Poitrine's musical style has been described as math rock[6][24] and experimental rock,[10][25] with additional influences from microtonal music[5][9] and progressive rock.[26][27] The group describes itself as a "mantra-rock Dada Pythago-Cubist orchestra" composed of "space-time voyagers", reflecting their fusion of technical complexity, hypnotic repetition, and absurdist aesthetics.[4][5][26] The band has cited a wide range of musical influences, with individual artists including King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard,[3][28] Frank Zappa,[28] Leo Brouwer,[28] John Scofield,[28] and Gentle Giant.[29]

Ha! Ha! Pyramid in Saguenay, Quebec

The band employs complex rhythms, and largely instrumental compositions. Their live performances feature the musicians performing in oversized papier-mâché masks with proboscis monkey-like noses alongside black and white polka dot stylized costumes and staging.[30][16][2] The idea for using papier-mâché came from the duo's previous band, which would use the material to make large structures designed to be destroyed by the audience "like a huge-ass piñata", according to Klek.[31] The band's music includes vocals only sparsely, and the ones that are there are distorted and difficult to understand. In between songs during live performances they do not speak to the audience. Instead, they perform gestures to themselves in a ritualistic manner – most notably forming a triangle shape with their hands, which the audience will often do in tandem.[16] The use of triangles and pyramids in their imagery may be inspired by the Ha! Ha! Pyramid in their home city of Saguenay, Quebec.[32][33]

Khn de Poitrine plays a double-necked hybrid instrument consisting of a Fender-Stratocaster-like guitar and bass, separately wired, and each with additional microtonal frets.[34][10] It was custom-built by a Saguenay-based luthier, which reportedly took over 150 hours of work to complete. The instrument includes oversized, phosphorescent fret markers on the side and top of the necks to compensate for Khn's impaired vision due to the mask. A second backup instrument for upcoming tours is planned.[35]

Members

  • Khn de Poitrine – microtonal guitars, microtonal bass guitar, loop station, vocals
  • Klek de Poitrine – drums, vocals

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
CAN
[36]		 AUS
[37]
Vol. 1
  • Released: 14 June 2024[11]
  • Label: Independent[38]
  • Format: LP, cassette, streaming, digital download
 — —
Vol. II
  • Released: 3 April 2026[6]
  • Label: Spectacles Bonzaï (under exclusive license)[38]
  • Format: LP, streaming, digital download
 11 21

Singles

Title Details
"Sherpa"
  • Released: 1 June 2024[39]
  • Label: self-released
  • Format: streaming, digital download
"Sherpa V. Alt" / "Sarniez V. Beta"
  • Released: February 2025[citation needed]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: LP
"Mata Zyklek"
  • Released: 28 November 2025[40]
  • Label: self-released
  • Format: streaming, digital download
"Fabienk"
  • Released: 5 February 2026[41]
  • Label: self-released
  • Format: streaming, digital download

Music videos

List of music videos, showing year released and director
Title Year Director(s)
"Sherpa" 2024 Fabien Peterson
"Sahardnieh"

Notes

  1. ^ French: [ɑ̃ʒin də pwatʁin]

References

  1. ^ Angine de poitrine (video). Tout le monde en parle (in French). Québec: Télécino Webtélé. 9 March 2026. Event occurs at 56 seconds – via YouTube.
  2. ^ a b Larouche, Andréanne (1 February 2026). "Dans l'univers d'Angine de Poitrine" [Inside the world of Angine de Poitrine]. Ici Radio-Canada (in French). Archived from the original on 2 February 2026. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Gheciu, Alex Nino (13 March 2026). "Quebec's masked band Angine de Poitrine is blowing up. Meet the men behind the noses". The Toronto Star. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on 14 March 2026. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  4. ^ a b Hein, Ethan (30 March 2026). ""They describe themselves as a Mantra-Rock Dada Pythago-Cubist Orchestra, and the band name translates to 'angina of the chest'": The microtonal music theory behind viral math-rockers Angine de Poitrine". MusicRadar. Archived from the original on 31 March 2026. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  5. ^ a b c d Amorosi, A.D. (19 March 2026). "Angine de Poitrine Put the "Big" in Ambiguous". FLOOD Magazine. Archived from the original on 20 March 2026. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  6. ^ a b c d Chelosky, Danielle (17 March 2026). "Masked Microtonal Math Rock Duo Angine de Poitrine Announce New Album And First US Tour". Stereogum. Archived from the original on 18 March 2026. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  7. ^ Snapes, Laura (8 May 2026). "'We're not Lady Gaga and Elton John': unmasking Angine de Poitrine, the year's buzziest, dottiest band". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  8. ^ Swann, Elizabeth (8 May 2026). ""We're not Lady Gaga. We're not Elton John. We're two random dudes." The story behind Angine de Poitrine, the viral masked microtonal duo". Guitar Player. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  9. ^ a b c d Adams, Kelsey (10 March 2026). "Who is Angine de Poitrine? The masked Quebec band is taking the internet by storm". CBC Music. Archived from the original on 10 March 2026. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  10. ^ a b c Laurence, Jean-Christophe (13 November 2025). "Les nouveaux extraterrestres du rock québécois" [The new extraterrestrials of Quebec rock]. La Presse (in French). Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  11. ^ a b "Angine De Poitrine Vol. 1". Bandcamp. 14 June 2024.
  12. ^ a b Rogers, Karlie (6 February 2026). "Angine de Poitrine Are on the Dot in New KEXP Performance". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 7 February 2026. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  13. ^ a b c Eqbal, Amelia (9 February 2026). "Angine de Poitrine: The viral, eclectic Quebec rock duo taking the world by storm". CBC Arts. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  14. ^ Parazelli, Eric (2 December 2025). "GAMIQ 2025 : Angine de Poitrine, Artiste de l'année". SOCAN Magazine. Archived from the original on 3 December 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  15. ^ Weller, Phil (13 April 2026). "Angine de Poitrine, the viral math rock band, reveal that their microtonal approach started as an "inside joke"". Guitar World. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  16. ^ a b c Pareles, Jon (3 April 2026). "With Polka Dots and Microtones, Angine de Poitrine Has Gone Viral". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  17. ^ "Angine de poitrine : musique et costumes du Saguenay" [Angine de Poitrine: music and costumes from Saguenay]. Tout le monde en parle (in French). Ici Radio-Canada Télé. 8 March 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  18. ^ Hudson, Alex (6 April 2026). "Dave Grohl Hops Aboard the Angine de Poitrine Bandwagon". Exclaim!. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  19. ^ Pilley, Max (3 April 2026). "Dave Grohl says Angine de Poitrine "absolutely blew my fucking mind" and called them "so completely bonkers, dude"". NME. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  20. ^ Lennon, Sean. "About Angine de Poitrine".
  21. ^ Forrest, Maura (3 April 2026). "Why is Angine de Poitrine, Quebec's masked, math-rock band, blowing up". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  22. ^ "Angine de Poitrine to Release Vol's I and II on Vinyl and CD Worldwide June 12". Glide. 9 April 2026. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  23. ^ Dunworth, Liberty (1 April 2026). "Viral duo Angine de Poitrine announce more 2026 UK and European tour dates due to phenomenal demand". NME. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  24. ^ a b Pearis, Bill (19 February 2026). "French-Canadian microtonal mathrock duo Angine de Poitrine playing first US shows in September". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  25. ^ Mello-Klein, Cody (6 April 2026). "Why is Angine de Poitrine, a masked math rock band, going viral?". Northeastern Global News. Northeastern University. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  26. ^ a b Weingarten, Christopher R. (3 April 2026). "Angine de Poitrine: Vol. II Album Review". Pitchfork. Condé Nast. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  27. ^ Kilkenny, James (1 April 2026). "Angine De Poitrine – Vol. II". Clash. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  28. ^ a b c d Darmana, Theo (September 2024). "Zine X MUSIQUE X QC" [Zine X MUSIC X QC] (PDF). GAMIQ Zine (in French). GAMIQ. pp. 18–19. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  29. ^ Monty, Adele; Benabbou, Gabriel (20 February 2026). "Angine de Poitrine: A discussion with the infectious Quebec band". Noize Magazine. France. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  30. ^ Jetté, Elise (26 September 2025). "Angine de Poitrine, le plaisir de brouiller les pistes". Le Devoir (in French). Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  31. ^ Snapes, Laura (8 May 2026). "'We're not Lady Gaga and Elton John': unmasking Angine de Poitrine, the year's buzziest, dottiest band". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  32. ^ Taylor, Tom (4 May 2026). "Angine de Poitrine's strange connection to a pyramid in Quebec". faroutmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  33. ^ Taylor, Tom (1 April 2026). "Angine de Poitrine - 'Vol II' album review". faroutmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  34. ^ Weller, Phil (19 March 2026). ""I added more frets with a saw." Angine de Poitrine built a microtonal double-neck guitar that "makes no sense." Now they're blowing up online". Guitar Player. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  35. ^ Fournier, Alice (9 March 2026). "On a parlé au luthier qui a fabriqué la guitare à deux manches d'Angine de poitrine". 24 Heures (in French). Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  36. ^ "Billboard Canadian Albums: Week of April 18, 2026". Billboard. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
  37. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 13 April 2026. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  38. ^ a b "Angine de poitrine". Spectacles Bonzaï (in French). Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  39. ^ "Sherpa". Bandcamp. 1 June 2024.
  40. ^ "Mata Zyklek". Bandcamp. 28 November 2025.
  41. ^ "Fabienk". Bandcamp. 5 February 2026.