Album Review: Paleface Swiss - Cursed
Reviewed by Tim Finch
Switerzland’s masters of brutality Paleface Swiss are ready to land the first big hitter of 2025 with the release of their third full length offering on January 3rd. The deathcore outfit are set to become a major player this year, all thanks to this new opus.
The album opens with ‘Un Pobre Niño Murió’, the re-imaging of an old Canary Island folklore track, with sounds as tribal and enchanting as anything any metal band has incorporated on their albums in the past. This softly spoken number raises the intrigue yet gives no clue as to what is about to come.
From the closing moment of the intro the listener is thrown full throttle into this battering ram of an album. From here the riffs and blast beast are flowing faster than a rumour circulating at the office Christmas party. There are many early 2000’s influences floating around in their sound, something on point given the era’s revival of late.
‘Hatred’ blows the cobwebs away with its barbaric nature from the off. This song bears more than just a passing resemblance to early Slipknot, the influence here is dripping from every note.
In contrast ‘...and with hope you'll be damned’ could be straight off of Korn’s 1998 opus ‘Follow The Leader’. For those of us who developed their musical tastes through that era, this album’s is a welcome nod to those times whilst developing new elements to keep the band’s sound unique enough to build a new fan base.
‘Enough’ keeps the listening on their toes with an eerie backline layered with a rap vocals, completely contrasting the rest of the record and yet fitting perfectly in place. Whilst ‘Youth Decay’ encompasses thrashier elements mixed in with their deathcore style and more hints of Slipknot, all resulting in a cacophonous mass that cannot be ignored.
To kick start 2025, Paleface Swiss have produced an album that will be sure to bring them to the next level and beyond. Leaning heavily on the early 2000’s sound there is an element of nostalgia for the older listeners yet the band retain their unique style. It’s possible that nostalgia may be a little too heavily relied on at times, yet overall ‘Cursed’ is a good listen and no doubt one that will bring the band the attention they ultimately deserve.
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