Paleface Swiss grows an increasing number of highly effective with every passing yr however 2025 will undoubtedly convey nice success for this Swiss powerhouse. I’d guess cash {that a} horror film will use first monitor “Un Pobra Nino Murio” (translation: “A Poor Baby Died”) as their trailer background music. A half-dead physique dragging itself alongside, haunting church synth growing in quantity and bass rattling till the bloody particulars of its destiny are in full focus, the watcher’s eyes glued to the display as frontman Marc “Zelli” Zellweger‘s guttural vocals spin round in a twister of bleakness. It is among the most unnerving, unsettling tracks, not to mention album introduction, that I’ve ever digested. The 2022 album Worry and Dagger featured an introduction appropriate for a Noticed film, however this one is pure atmospheric TERROR.
I used to be already so pumped for this report, as Paleface has develop into considered one of my favourite deathcore bands, consistently pumping out music and collaborations whereas hopping on tour runs to grace America with their energetic efficiency. Once I final noticed them at Milwaukee Metallic Fest in Could, the band performed one of the energetic and thrilling units of the weekend, seamlessly working by technical difficulties and delivering goofy quips in between songs.
Irrespective of how heavy this band will get, considered one of my favourite issues about them is their dedication to conserving steel enjoyable. Innumerable bands take themselves so severely, they suffocate with their heads up their very own asses. Paleface could not be extra reverse of that with Zelli‘s traditional scream-giggles, Swiss-cheese jokes and smiles. Constantly taking part in with intriguing mixtures of vocal distortions and blast beats, we have watched the wildly distinctive vocal type of Zelli rework into what I am now listening to on new 2025 report Cursed and his improvement is really one thing to behold.
After the horror present (a optimistic observe coming from myself) of the primary monitor, second monitor “Hatred” quickly exhibits off a few of the finest blast beats I’ve heard from Cassi so far, with guitarist Yannick Lehmann and bassist Tommy Lee every showcasing their very own skills to create a setting of continuous deathcore destruction. We get the aforementioned scream giggle from Zelli and it’s obviously apparent that his vocal capabilities have crossed a brand new threshold as he shows malicious growling screams. The third and fourth tracks “…and with hope you will be damned” and “Do not You Ever Cease” go in a bass-forward nu-metal course that I am not completely shocked to listen to, since Zelli‘s vocal type is paying homage to rap/rock however they each nonetheless really feel they belong within the album even when they don’t seem to be my favourite.
Midway by we get “Sufficient” and instantly, I’ve had sufficient. I needed to pause this monitor to mourn what the deathcore masterpiece I assumed this report was going to be. I do know I’ll be lumped in with the “haters” they’re addressing in these lyrics however I am keen to take that threat. I am disenchanted within the 8th-grade degree lyrics with a one dimensional, Soundcloud-esque beat behind them as a result of I’ve heard what this band is able to. I respect their expertise however I want this one would have stayed within the drafts as a result of it ruins your entire album’s circulation straight in the midst of it. Generally the easiest way to beat the haters, is to disregard them and simply be higher.
After “Sufficient”, we get “Youth Decay” through which we get early 2000s rock clear vocals (not sure of who they’re popping out of) for the primary minute, damaged up by the traditional Paleface sound, earlier than violently launching an Avenged Sevenfold sounding riff. I am unsure if the earlier monitor simply left a foul style in my mouth however I am having an extremely exhausting time digging these regardless of being obsessive about this band for the final three years.
“My Blood On Your Palms” is one other horror-sounding monitor and I am relieved to listen to that there’s extra of this disturbing vibe and I want it was longer than 1:40. Zelli offers the scream of the fucking century, his throat rattling as if we’re listening to him choke on his personal blood. “Love Burns” is difficult to pin down genre-wise between traditional rock-sounding guitar items, background shouts, screaming and chugging guitars. “River Of Sorrows” positively conveys a disappointment inside the lyrics and cleans, earlier than breaking into extra rap after which again into screaming. I actually just like the track beginning at 3:30 the place the guitars choose up the gloom and disappointment, carrying listeners down the river.
Total, I believe this was a inventive miss by Paleface Swiss. The report would have benefitted from a extra cohesive construction and settlement upon one or two genres to deal with as a substitute of making an attempt to dip their toes right into a thousand completely different parts with out taking the time to determine correctly match them collectively.
