Paleface Swiss – Cursed (Album Review)
Paleface Swiss – Cursed
Released: January 3rd, 2025
LineUp
Marc “Zelli” Zellweger // vocals
Yannick Lehmann // guitar
Tommy Lee // bass
Cassiano “Cassi” Toma // drums
Online
Third albums used to come with a fair bit of pressure, but in the streaming era it’s probably not quite the same. In the case of Paleface Swiss, they’ve built a loyal global fan base via their first two albums and relentless touring (including a debut in Australia last year), satisfying new fans with a string of one off singles. And yet Paleface Swiss remain committed and ambitious on their new LP, Cursed. Standalone singles are nice, but given the chance to dig in and they explore some new ground both thematically and sonically.
Cursed is an angry, bombastic deathcore record that isn’t afraid to move in different directions when the lyrics call for it. Intro track ‘Un Pobre Niño Murió’ has horror movie vibes, setting the stage for the savage ‘Hatred’, a song whose intensity recalls the likes of Slipknot’s ‘(sic)’. The nine Iowans are a constant reference point for the album, with Paleface Swiss drawing on a similar style of personal lyricism and a take no prisoners approach to riffing and drumming. Frontman Marc “Zelli” Zellweger leads the way with a delivery that is equally parts bark and bite. ‘…and with hope you’ll be damned’ sees Zelli chew on his lyrics in scatting style that conveys his angst, while musically the bands switch between groove riffs and uptempo hardcore.
The bop continues on ‘Don’t You Ever Stop’, with some killer staccato syncopated guitar and drums. It’s more bruising than aggressive with a slower tempo. There’s unpredictability to their song writing that pushes listeners out of their comfort zone.
In terms of left hand turns, it’s hard to go past ‘Enough’. The first half is a straight up hip hop song but when the breakdown hits it finds a new level, not nu metal, but something strikingly dark. It’s a beat down on toxic masculinity, including misogyny and homophobia. It separates them from the meathead -core bands too, which is never a bad thing. ‘My Blood is on Your Hands’ was a curious single choice, with its percussive vocal rhythm leading to some sick BREAKDOWN, and an acapella spoken work outro. Total runtime: 1.40.
‘Youth Decay’ is much more reminiscent of their previous material, a breathtaking double kick ode to teenage angst. And yeah there’s BREAKDOWNS and some great lead work from Yannick Lehmann. Similar in this vein is ‘Love Burns’, a fine choice for a single that gets the blood pumping with its emotive racket and melodic solo. It’s the clean sung intro that seals it as a memorable track, since it’s the only one of the nine songs that ends like this. It segues nicely into the intro for closing ballad ‘River of Sorrows’.
It’s an inspired creative choice, the musical shift suiting the song’s theme of longing and regret. The vocal style highlights Zelli’s accent, a point of difference from American and British bands that’s worth celebrating. It kicks up a gear at the last minute with a soaring guitar solo.
Don’t underestimate what Paleface Swiss have accomplished on Cursed. Rather than try to out deathcore Lorna Shore or Slaughter to Prevail, they reached deep into themselves and put their own unique spin on the subgenre. For 29 minutes, the nine songs here never repeat themselves, each delivering a standout moment distinct from the next track. It doesn’t drag and you’ll be reaching for the repeat icon when it gets to the end.
Paleface Swiss – Cursed Tracklisting
1. un pobre niño murió
2. Hatred
3. … and with hope you’ll be damned
4. Don’t You Ever Stop
5. Enough?
6. Youth Decay
7. My Blood on Your Hands
8. Love Burns
9. River of Sorrows
Rating: 8 / 10
Cursed is out now. Stream it here.
Review by KJ Draven (Instagram & Threads)
