Angine de poitrine

Angine de poitrine is a Canadian rock duo from Saguenay, with an origin also associated with Montréal, active since 2023. The group consists of Khn de Poitrine on guitar and bass and Klek de Poitrine on drums. The members are anonymous and perform under these pseudonyms.

Style and presentation

The duo’s music is linked to math rock, experimental rock, art punk, art rock and avant-prog, with wider descriptions also placing it in progressive, psychedelic and instrumental rock. Their compositions use complex structures and sometimes microtonal elements. Their visual presentation is distinctive: they perform in oversized papier-mâché masks and black-and-white polka-dotted costumes.

The disguises begin as a practical way to separate performances at a local venue when the group is booked for two shows in the same week, and the anonymity becomes a central part of their identity. The name means angina pectoris in French, referring to chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart, and the band uses it to suggest the intensity and dissonance of their music.

Background and releases

The members are from the La Baie borough of Saguenay and collaborate musically from adolescence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when live shows are limited, both work in construction while continuing the project. The duo’s debut album is Vol. 1 in 2024, followed by Vol. II in 2026.

Performances and recognition

After the release of Vol. 1, Angine de poitrine appears at Quebec festivals and music events including Le Festif!, M for Montreal, the Montreal Jazz Festival and Pop Montreal. The group later performs at the Trans Musicales festival in Rennes, France, and the performance is circulated online after a KEXP recording. In 2025, the duo receives the GAMIQ award for Artist of the Year.

Recordings and touring

The increased attention around the KEXP session contributes to a broader international profile. The group appears on the Quebec talk show Tout le monde en parle and later tours internationally, beginning at the Tremor Festival in the Azores, Portugal, before additional dates across Europe and the United States. Physical releases outside Quebec are distributed through ATO Records in the United States, F>A>B in the rest of Canada, and Republic of Music in Europe.