Paleface Swiss
Swiss metal band known for chaotic live shows and genre fusion.
Paleface Swiss is a metal band from Zürich, Switzerland, formed in 2017. The current lineup includes vocalist Marc "Zelli" Zellweger, guitarist Yannick Lehmann, bassist (not Tommy Lee—that's the Mötley Crüe drummer), and drummer Luigi Paraventi. The group has put out three studio albums and two EPs, with the most recent releases being *Cursed* (3 January 2025) and *The Wilted EP* (2 January 2026), both issued through Arising Empire (not Blood Blast Distribution). These releases continued the band's growing profile.
Originally performing as Paleface, the band released their debut EP, *Chapter 1: From the Gallows*, in 2018, followed by *Chapter 2: Witch King* in 2019. A third EP, *Chapter 3: The Last Selection*, was planned for May 2020 but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic; it was eventually released as a full-length debut album instead. Their second album, *Fear & Dagger*, came out in 2022 to positive reviews. In 2023, the band changed its name to Paleface Swiss after discovering another artist using the name Paleface. That same year, they issued several standalone singles, including "Best Before: Death," "Please End Me," and "The Gallow." Vocalist Marc Zelli appeared on Left to Suffer's 2024 single "Lost in the Dark." The band's third album, *Cursed*, arrived on 3 January 2025.
According to *Metal Hammer*, Paleface Swiss had a major breakout in 2024, gaining international attention for their extremely heavy mix of deathcore, hardcore, nu metal, and thrash, drawing comparisons to early Slipknot. The band only began performing live in 2022 but quickly became known for chaotic, high-energy shows, with packed tours and festival appearances at Resurrection Fest and Sick New World. During a U.S. tour, they replaced the opening act with an extreme wrestling match refereed by Marc Zellweger. In an interview, Zellweger said the band plays every show "at the limit," something the crowd "definitely feels." On 21 October 2025, the band announced an EP called *The Wilted*, released on 2 January 2026.
Critics have categorized Paleface Swiss' music as beatdown hardcore, deathcore, and nu metal, though the band avoids associating with any specific subgenre, making their sound hard to pin down. Their influences include Slipknot, Korn, the Amity Affliction, NF, Nickelback, Nothing but Thieves, Bullet for My Valentine, Trivium, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest.
Quick Facts
- Landscape
- Yes
- Alias
- Paleface (2017–2022)
- Origin
- Zürich, Switzerland
- Genre
- Beatdown hardcore · deathcore · nu metal
- Years Active
- 2017–present
- Label
- Blood Blast Distribution
- Current Members
- Marc Zellweger / Yannick Lehmann / Tommy Lee / Luigi Paraventi
- Past Members
- Colin Hammond / Cassiano Toma
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The band formed in 2017 under the name Paleface. They released their debut EP, Chapter 1: From the Gallows, the following year and the follow-up, Chapter 2: Witch King, in 2019. In May 2020, they were set to release their third EP, Chapter 3: The Last Selection, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the release was postponed; however, instead of an EP, the band released it as a full-length debut album. In 2022, they released their second album, Fear & Dagger, which was met with positive reception. In 2023, the band announced that they had renamed to "Paleface Swiss" due to there being another artist named "Paleface"; that same year, the band released several standalone singles, including "Best Before: Death", "Please End Me", and "The Gallow", among others. Vocalist Marc Zelli was featured on Left to Suffer's 2024 single titled "Lost in the Dark". The band's third studio album titled Cursed was released on 3 January 2025. On 21 October 2025 the band announced an EP called The Wilted, which was released on 2 January 2026.
Reader's Guide
Paleface Swiss gained significance through a rapid rise in the metal scene, marked by a major breakout in 2024 according to Metal Hammer. Their music blends deathcore, hardcore, nu metal and thrash, drawing comparisons to early Slipknot. The band began performing live only in 2022 but quickly became known for chaotic, high-energy shows, with packed tours and appearances at festivals such as Resurrection Fest and Sick New World. During their U.S. tour, they replaced the opening act with an extreme wrestling match refereed by Marc "Zelli" Zellweger. Critics have categorized their music as beatdown hardcore, deathcore and nu metal, though the band avoids associating itself with any specific subgenre. Their legacy includes a discography of three studio albums and three EPs, with their latest releases continuing their upward trajectory. The band's influences include Slipknot, Korn, the Amity Affliction, NF, Nickelback, Nothing but Thieves, Bullet for My Valentine, Trivium, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest.
Did You Know?
- The band originally formed under the name Paleface in 2017 and changed to Paleface Swiss in 2023 due to another artist named Paleface.
- Their debut album Chapter 3: The Last Selection was originally planned as an EP but was released as a full-length album after a COVID-19-related postponement.
- During their U.S. tour, the band replaced the opening act with an extreme wrestling match refereed by vocalist Marc Zellweger.
- The band's third studio album Cursed was released on 3 January 2025, and their EP The Wilted was released on 2 January 2026.
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