Paleface Swiss – Cursed (The Complete Edition)
Release Date: 4th June 2025
Label: Blood Blast Distribution
Five months after its initial release, Paleface Swiss bring a not so gentle reminder to their recent studio efforts with this further expansion of their third record, Cursed (The Complete Edition). This juiced up package includes the addition of three previously stand alone singles, an extra bonus track, as well as an unplugged rendition of the album closer for good measure.
Deigning to carve their niche on the recent Nu-metalcore revival, the Zurich collective bring weighty elements of slam, hardcore and straight up metal to the table in this amplification of their January release. Cursed takes the art of reintroduction with a degree of brute force necessity in order to stand out amongst its counterpart tastemakers. With heavy music being more accessible than it ever has been, it certainly makes sense to leave no stone unturned when the spotlight hits.
The album starts off with the instrumental ‘Un Pobre Niño Murió’. Brief and unnerving, the distant screams of strings combined with a low-fi folk style lilt casts an a24 horror style atmosphere that neatly segues into the first single ‘Hatred’. Undeniably wholly embracing a pre IOWA esque-Slipknot influence, this track appropriately writhes and convulses between its vigorous drum blasts, colossal guitar riffs and totally feral vocal lines. Vocalist Marc “Zelli” Zellweger channels these indisputably Corey Taylor style barks in a way that’s as unhinged as it is appropriately aggressive.
‘…and with hope you’ll be damned’ further continues down the family values nostalgia route. Complete with stark, rattling bass lines and swooping phased guitars amidst Jonathan Davis style scatting (no, really), its climax into a dive-bombing guitar solo with duelling harmonies all but just sets the track apart from a potential Life Is Peachy b-side. Returning to a more contemporary sound is ‘Don’t You Ever Stop’. A slam laden beat-down fest, packed with frequent breakdowns and pig squeals would be sure to knock things loose on tour, whilst ‘Youth Decay’ overflows with thrash gallops, blistering lead guitar shredding and surprisingly melodic choruses.
While reclaimed singles such as ‘Please End Me’ (a brutally claustrophobic death-core laden piece), and ‘Best Before: Death’ are thankfully squeezed into this newly fattened track list, there certainly are moments that could be comfortably left on the cutting room floor. ‘Enough?’ borderlines on the verge of parody with its trap beats and hype man style rapping before its deck scratch infused zenith, while ‘River Of Sorrows (Unplugged)’ adds little more than a token gesture of fan service.
Being the first record under their new moniker and their third full-length release, it’s clear that Paleface Swiss aren’t afraid of constant evolution to those willing to come along for the ride.
FFO: Slipknot / Graphic Nature / Alpha Wolf
Recommended Track: Hatred