French post-punk band VARSOVIE has released their second video-single, “Pochodeň číslo jedna,” off their forthcoming fifth album, “Pression à froid,” set to be released on October 6, 2023, by Icy Cold Records. The track serves as a hauntingly poignant tribute to a historic act of protest and the timeless concept of resistance.
The title, “Pochodeň číslo jedna,” translates to “torch number one” in Czech and was the moniker used by student Jan Palach when he self-immolated in 1969 in Prague to protest the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. The song explores this act’s lasting impact, weaving a narrative around its consequences and the broader idea of resistance against oppressive forces.
The video is shot across various locales and features multiple characters that are intentionally left indistinct, forming a single, unified movement. This choice mirrors the idea of determination and resistance, visually manifesting as a mesmerizing dance-like march.
Another new track from the album was released earlier this Summer. Go here to watch the video and listen to the track below.
Formed in 2005 in Grenoble, France, VARSOVIE consists of Arnault Destal, who handles the drums, lyrics, music, and art direction, and Grégory Catherina, who takes on vocals, guitars, bass, and music. Their latest album was recorded at the Drudenhaus studio in Brittany in January 2023, with the album’s visual elements crafted by Greek artist Sotiris Lamprou.
