I’m not sure how or why this happened, but France has forged its own branch of oi—the chant‑along street‑punk style once thought exclusively British. Bands such as Syndrome 81, Prisonnier Du Temps, Oi Boys and Rancœur have crafted an echo‑laden interpretation that melds classic oi with gothic and post‑punk textures, yielding a dim, mysterious, and strikingly cool soundscape. This vibe is resonating beyond borders, with groups like Québec’s Béton Armé and Edmonton’s Home Front borrowing from the same well of inspiration.
Last year, The Guardian published a feature on the French oi scene, labeling these acts “cold oi” and tracing their roots back to the pioneering French punk outfit Métal Urbain, which turned to a drum machine rather than a live drummer in the 1970s. While the shift makes perfect sense historically, it also highlights the underground pioneers Rixe, whose latest effort is the 2024 EP Tir Groupé. One of Rixe’s members is also part of Squelette, a Paris‑based band whose ten‑year career was most recently marked by the 2023 release Fin de Partie.
Squelette (French for “skeleton”) originated a decade ago and first emerged publicly with the 2023 album Fin de Partie. Their newest offering, the EP Soir d’Orage—a nod to the French term for “stormy evening”—delivers pounding yet atmospheric battle music punctuated by brief new‑wave melodic flourishes. The closing track abandons conventional oi entirely, presenting a haunting instrumental that adds a chilling twist. For anyone planning a night out in a shadowy alley or exploring the catacombs, this EP provides the perfect soundtrack.
