Asserting their position at the head of heavy music's new class, Paleface Swiss took on the tall task of kicking off 2025 with one of the most anticipated releases of the year.
Unloading a succession of preview singles drawing universal acclaim, tracks like "Hatred", "My Blood On Your Hands" and "Love Burns", further fueled the band's rocketing ascent and added to the hope that heavy music had scored yet another promising prospect.
Combining the band's collective songwriting prowess that sourced various elements across the spectrum of heavy, Paleface Swiss earned early praise for their explosive brand of aggression. The stylistic amalgam made it tough to box the band in and suggested that the vision, much like the obvious ambition of the collective, had only just begun to make itself apparent two albums in.
Rather than indulge spectacle and floor the throttle, Paleface Swiss flexed the kind of composure that most bands in their position wouldn't consider. Following the acclaim of 2022's Fear and Dagger, it would have been safe to derive a formula from that success and hit record for number three, especially given the live pop those previous songs earned from the band's first sold out headlining tour in the US.
Rather, the band sought refuge in an effort to better refocus, realizing the significance of their next record. It would be the project that would either affirm the hype or fizzle the fascination. Emerging from their elective sequester, the band came away with their most personal and powerful work to date in, Cursed.
The collection of tracks navigates the bleakest instances of the human experience, contrast with the imagery of beautiful, delicate flowers - with each track represented by a specific flower that loosely correlates to the song. The band that first turned heads with their raucous brand of musical shock and awe, was asserting their creative range on a presentation that emphasize metaphor, and meticulous detail - all while still delivering the hulking musicality that propelled them to this point.
Currently dazzling audiences on the EU/UK leg of the Cursed Tour and just days away from beginning their North American conquest, Paleface Swiss took some time to assess how the investment in themselves on the new album paid off. Frontman Marc "Zelli" Zellweger confided how the band is processing their continued rise and dispelled the idea that the band is has any interest in fitting in any one particular category. He also shared that while every band tells you their newest record is their nest yet, for Paleface Swiss, the proof is as powerful as it is plain to see.
It’s important to emphasize that Paleface Swiss toured as a headliner in the US for the first time ever just last year… and now here you are less than a year later playing your biggest tour of the region yet. How has that kind of real time success settled with you?
We’re struggling to fully comprehend what’s happening. Everything is moving so quickly, and we’re constantly focused. We’re doing our best to savor every moment and enjoy it to the fullest. We love working and making progress, so we’re incredibly happy with how everything is going. So hey, we are extremely excited to go back to North America!
Much of Cursed seems to traverse personal struggles, the growing pains that come with life. Yet over the last couple of years, it would seem the band has made their biggest strides yet. How has the balance of personal and professional life been and how did that work into the fabric of this record?
Zellweger - The first thing I really wanted for the writing process of 'CURSED' was for all of us to take time off, fly somewhere remote, and escape reality. That way, we could fully focus on the music and the pain we wanted to express through the songs. Most of us still have day jobs, so finding the right work-life balance isn’t always easy, but one thing is certain: during the creation of 'CURSED,' we all felt completely at home.
Though the band is largely regarded as a deathcore band, there is a healthy variety of influences that are evident on the record ranging from metalcore to nu-metal and more. Was there a conscious effort to weave in different stylistic dynamics or was that more your influences naturally working their way into your songwriting?
Zellweger - Honestly, I really don’t know where this whole deathcore thing came from. We never set out to write deathcore, and I don’t even listen to it myself. We’ve never been concerned with labels or genres, so we never placed any boundaries on ourselves when it came to trying new things. We’ve always written whatever we wanted, without worrying about whether it fits into any specific genre. Writing this album felt completely natural, and nothing was planned.
Prior to Cursed, had the band ever opted to retreat for recording before? What was the experience in Tenerife like and how did working in seclusion on an island set the tone for those sessions?
Zellweger - This was the first time we took a break from everything else. Before that, we had always written our music after work shifts, late at night, in our basement. Taking this time off was the best decision we could have made to ensure this record turned out as great as possible. We truly had the best time of our lives spending time together on this beautiful island, and we will definitely do it again.
Each track on the album is represented by a flower, which is said to be symbolic of the struggles that band has endured thus far. What was the thinking in going so unconventional? Flowers are usually considered delicate - not a trait synonymous with dominant deathcore.
Zellweger - I wanted to create something visually beautiful that carries a dark message. Not every flower symbolizes something positive. In many cultures, flowers are often associated with sorrow and loss. I loved the idea of using flowers to represent our pain and struggles, shaping them into a bouquet of our darkest days.
How have the last couple of years of extensive touring impacted you as a songwriter and a storyteller? As the shows grow and the fanbase gets bigger, how has that shared connection you have onstage resonated with you when you are piecing together an album like Cursed?
Zellweger - I prefer not to plan or rehearse the stories I tell. I love being spontaneous and sharing whatever comes to mind, whether on stage or in the studio. This allows me to express my emotions as raw and directly as possible, which is what I love about storytelling.
The people seem to like what I have to tell so this makes me even happier and more confident to keep telling my stories the way I do it.
Because the band is such an amalgam of styles do you every get concerned that the pool of bands you can tour with becomes more and more limited. Not very many bands can fuse together so many styles and make it their own - which seems to be the MO of a band like Paleface Swiss.
Zellweger - I love it most when every band on a tour lineup has a distinct sound. What I really enjoy is when bands tour with artists from outside the music industry, like dancers or other performers. I appreciate when the entire evening feels like one big show, showcasing a variety of different art forms. So no, I’m not concerned at all—quite the opposite. I’m excited about all the new opportunities that might come our way.
With the UK and the US legs of The Cursed Tour set to begin, the consensus is that the band is due to have a breakout year. Do those kinds of expectations create pressure for you? What is the collective feeling within the Paleface camp as you gear up for such an important launch?
Zellweger - We don’t feel any pressure at all. We’re doing exactly what we love, and the fact that so many people support us makes it even more exciting. We’re confident in what we do, and we can’t wait to have fun with all the cursed ones around the world.
Cursed is a very detailed, very forward-thinking record. Has that level of detail worked its way into the live translation? How do you intend to translate what you did on record during a live Paleface set?
Zellweger - I just want to let out my raw emotions. No mask, no filter. This is the only right way to present the album on stage.
Everyone says their newest record is their best, but given the trajectory the band is on and the obvious level up on Cursed - where does this album rank for you in terms of personal and professional accomplishments?
Zellweger - It is the best work we’ve ever done for sure. This album represents exactly what we are and who we are. We love this album a lot.
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Paleface Swiss are currently on the EU/UK leg of tehir Cursed Tour. Next month, the band continue their biggest touring year yet with a with a triumphant return to North America with support from Stick To Your Guns and NASTY. A full list of dates and cities can be found below. Get tickets - HERE
Cursed, the new album from Paleface Swiss is now available. Order the album - HERE
PALEFACE SWISS REMAINING EU/UK HEADLINING TOUR DATES
02/19 Hamburg, GER – Gruenspan
02/20 Frankfurt, GER – Batschkapp
02/21 Tilburg, NET – 013
02/22 Hannover, GER – Faust
02/23 Antwerp, BEL – Trix
02/25 Birmingham, UK – Xoyo
02/26 Leeds, UK – Project House
02/27 Glasgow, UK – Slay
02/28 Manchester, UK – Academy 2
03/01 Bristol, UK – SWX
03/02 London, UK – O2 Academy Islington
NORTH AMERICA 2025 HEADLINING TOUR
3/20 Detroit, MI, St. Andrews Hall
3/21 Toronto, ON, Lees Palace
3/22 Montreal, QC, Club Soda
3/23 Worcester, MA Palladium (Upstairs)
3/26 Albany, NY, Empire Live
3/27 Baltimore, MD, Soundstage
3/28 Pittsburgh, PA , Roxian Theatre
3/29 Greensboro, NC, Hangar 1819
3/30 Tampa, FL, Orpheum
04/01 Orlando, FL, The Abbey
04/02 Atlanta, GA, Masquerade (Hell)
04/03 Nashville, TN, Eastside Bowl
04/04 Louisville, KY, Mercury Ballroom
04/05 St. Louis, MO, Red Flag
04/06 Wichita, KS, Wave (Indoors)
04/08 San Antonio, TX, Vibes Underground
04/09 Dallas, TX, Southside Music Hall
4/10 Albuquerque, NM, Sunshine Theater
4/11 Mesa, AZ, Nile
4/12 Los Angeles, CA, The Regent
4/13 Roseville, CA, Goldfields
4/15 Portland, OR, Dante's
4/16 Vancouver, BC, Rickshaw Theatre
4/17 Seattle, WA, El Corazon
4/18 Spokane, WA, The Knitting Factory
4/19 Salt Lake City, UT, Metro Music Hall
4/20 Denver, CO, Summit
4/22 Omaha, NE, The Waiting Room
4/23 Iowa City, IA, Wildwood
4/24 Minneapolis, MN, Varsity Theater
4/25 Milwaukee, WI, The Rave II
4/26 Chicago, IL, Thalia Hall
