Rancœur from Nancy follow the wave of the French cold Oi! scene. In 2022, the band released their first EP Lame En Peine, followed by their self-titled debut LP. The album was released through a collaboration of several labels, namely Longshot Music, Kanal Hysterik, Contra Records, and Tough Ain’t Enough.
I’ve come across quite a few debates around what is referred to as cold Oi!. These discussions mainly revolve around whether this sound is Oi! at all, how closely it belongs to the skinhead scene, and whether it can be considered „authentic.“ Personally, I see this hybrid genre as a legitimate part of the broader scene. It often feels like the key factor is the musicians‘ own sense of belonging and identification with the scene. In any case, Rancœur, along with Syndrome 81, are among the strongest representatives of this subgenre in my view. Their sound blends the dark atmosphere of post-punk, a gothic edge, and classic Oi! vocal urgency, especially in the choruses.
Atmosphere is what this record is all about—and it is intense from start to finish. From the very intro, it evokes the chill of an autumn city: wet cobblestones, wind whistling through dark alleyways, and a shivering figure in a soaked flight jacket, wearing fingerless gloves, trying to light a cigarette while wandering through the city at night. Above all, the album is absolutely addictive.
The record contains ten tracks and opens with an atmospheric intro that perfectly sets the mood the album maintains throughout. The French language fits this style beautifully, and its sonority further elevates the overall feeling. The title track Fatalité (Mortality) is excellent and stands out with its poetic lyrics, carried by a subtle dose of nihilism. La Ville follows in a similar vein, with bass and drums locking into a cold, mechanically precise groove, while guitars and vocals cut through like a knife in the back on a dark night. My personal highlight comes next: L’Hiver, with its gradually intensifying, bleak atmosphere—a song about emptiness in an endless winter. Side A closes with the more energetic D’où Je Viens Où Je Vais.
Side B opens with what is probably the most punk track on the album, Partir Sans Dire Adieu. Themes of alcohol, melancholy, emotion, alienation, and mortality reappear here and continue through La Part Des Anges and Les Impatiences. The track Mars 1906 addresses the mining disaster at the Courrières coal mine, where more than a thousand people lost their lives in 1906. The closing outro Oublié then brings the album to a fitting and atmospheric end.
One final note: the booklet includes all lyrics in French along with English translations, which is a great bonus. Excellent work on all fronts.
TOP TRACKY: Fatalité, L’Hiver, Les Impatiences, Mars 1906
