Paleface Swiss: Smiling Through The Darkness
Since their inception in 2017, PALEFACE SWISS have been on a rapid ascent to the forefront of the deathcore division with 2025’s Cursed album being a significant component in their rise to prominence. Striking whilst their popularity is white hot, the quartet poured their efforts into a four-track EP entitled The Wilted.
A sonically devastating piece of artistry that has continued to cement their status as one of the most exciting bands of the modern era. “For Cursed we used a lot of floral imagery so it was a continuation of that cycle of sorts but it also represented how we felt upon completing these songs,” explains frontman Marc ‘Zelli’ Zellweger. “We had a lot of fun writing the EP and even though it was only four songs it was so exhausting. We were writing on the road and there were just so many shows that we played in-between writing. It felt like we had put all of our energy and emotions into these songs. We were feeling wilted ourselves. It felt like a very fitting conclusion to this cycle. We’re not sure whether we would use the same approach again, maybe during festival season when there are more gaps in-between shows, but the benefit is that we always have our stuff with us, so if we are feeling particularly inspired we can work on something immediately. We don’t want to plan things out too much.”
The Wilted is PALEFACE SWISS at their explosive, frenetic best, but it also represents their constant evolution and experimentation of their sound, particularly on the emotionally charged closing track, Everything Is Fine. A piece where Zelli showcases his singing abilities. “We’re fortunate to be in the position that our fans know to expect the unexpected. Every song we release can be something completely different and because they are very accepting it means we can just do whatever we want. Knowing that we can just have fun with it and do new things is really freeing.”
If you are at all acquainted with the personalities that comprise PALEFACE SWISS you will know that despite their music being dark and intense, their demeanour behind the scenes is a stark contrast, with constant smiles etched on their faces. “We’re very fortunate that our lives are pretty good, we’re safe and it’s super nice to be surrounded by really good people all the time and we can live our dreams,” admits Zelli. “There’s not really any huge problems or things to worry about, but when we do have dark days we know we have a means of channelling them and being able to talk about it. It can be difficult to be poetic and it’s something I’m working on rather than my lyrics being like ‘I’m fucked up, I hate myself, fuck you’. I know the music is aggressive and scary but we’re not scary people. We’re smiling all the time and want to have fun.”
The track Instrument Of War saw the band being able to collaborate with some of their childhood heroes in STICK TO YOUR GUNS. The gratification was increased tenfold when Jesse Barnett and company joined them on their recent headline jaunt throughout Europe and the UK. “We had an amazing time writing that song,” declares Zelli. “We rented a hotel room in Denver just for the day and it was crazy spending time with those guys. They were the first hardcore band that I discovered and the first breakdown I ever heard was one of their songs so the connection runs deep for me. The next time we crossed paths in Europe we got into the studio and recorded the song and two weeks later we met up in Germany to shoot the video. We had so much fun performing it every night on the recent tour. We didn’t do any writing on that tour as doing a headlining run was a big deal to us and we wanted to just appreciate the moment and take it all in.”
Performing with such intensity and ferocity night after night can take its toll on the human body, particularly in the vocal department. We have witnessed many a vocalist have to restructure their approach in order to prolong their careers and this is something Zelli is becoming increasingly aware of as his commitments to PALEFACE SWISS continue to increase. “In the last couple of years or so I’ve been taking care of my body more by working out and running a lot and I can really feel the benefits when I’m out on stage. I’m not the kind of person who ever stands still so I want to be able to get out there and perform and deliver a high energy show the way I want. With me alternating between screaming and introducing more singing now I have to be more conscious of looking after my vocal chords. No more partying until the morning! I’m still learning how to shut the fuck up as I’m always yapping during the day.”
It can be a lot of pressure suddenly being propelled into the spotlight with all eyes eagerly awaiting your next move. PALEFACE SWISS are more than ready for the challenge and are poised to grab each and every opportunity with both hands. “We’re just very lucky that since day one everything has just been heading upwards. We are so thankful for the experiences we have had so far but we want to keep pushing as far as we can go,” states Zelli. “2026 is shaping up to be another great year for us, we’ve got a lot of festival appearances and shows booked in cities we’ve never visited before. We’re very excited. We love hanging with the locals, finding cool restaurants and taking in the culture. We’ve worked really hard and we know that the bigger the band gets the harder we have to work, but I’m at the point where it’s like ‘Fuck yeah, we deserve this!’.”
The Wilted EP is out now via Bloodblast Distribution. View this interview, alongside dozens of other killer bands, in glorious print magazine fashion in DS129 here.
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