Genre: Deathcore
Label: Bloodblast Distribution
Date of Release: 3 January
Links: https://palefaceswiss.bandcamp.com/album/cursed
Line Up:
Marc “Zelli” Zellweger – vocals
Yannick Lehmann – guitar
Tommy Lee – bass
Cassiano “Cassi” Toma – drums
Tracklist
un pobre niño murió
Hatred
…and with hope you’ll be damned
Don’t You Ever Stop
Enough?
Youth Decay
My Blood On Your Hands
Love Burns
River Of Sorrows
The Swiss Deathcore band returns with their 3rd album “Cursed,” delivering their own brand of brutality. The recording starts with the eerie “un pobre niño murió” that reminded me of an abandoned circus horror movie before shifting gears into the riff-heavy “Hatred.” The exquisite double pedal work from Toma drives through in sections and gives way to heavy chugging from Lehmann. The vocals feel like a cross between Corey Taylor and Jonathan Davies of Slipknot and Korn respectively.
The audible harshness continues into third song “…and with hope you’ll be damned” which reminds me slightly of Chimaira track “Sp Lit.” The momentary pause in the introduction is effective and the heavy chugging seamlessly progresses into a Jonathan Davies-esque vocal breakdown before returning to the heavily muted main riff before accented lead vocal work gives some contrast to the track.
The eeriness from the opening track is also apparent in the fifth track as an undertone to Zellweger’s aggressive rapping. The introduction to the track is a drastic variation from the predecessors on the album. Gone is the heavy chugging through the first half of the song, focusing more on vocal work, however returning to the band’s trademark sound at the midway mark with the added incorporation of DJ work.
In areas of the album, there is a more melodious feel than some of the band’s earlier work, and this apparent change commences in penultimate track “Love Burns” where the band’s angry deathcore styling shifts at the two-and-a-half-minute mark to be replaced by contrasting guitar work and more vocal melody before fading out.
The final track on the album is “River of Sorrows,” which continues where the previous track left off. When asked about the meaning behind the track, lead vocalist Zellweger explained, “It is about the emotional weight of betrayal and the drowning feeling of being trapped in a one-sided connection. It’s heavy in every sense of the word—musically, lyrically, emotionally—and it’s a piece that feels deeply personal while also being universally relatable. We wanted to bring those feelings to life in a way that would truly resonate with listeners.”
The band is playing 3 UK dates in the next week, starting in Glasgow on 27th February before The Manchester New Century Hall on the 28th and finally the Electric Ballroom in London on the 2nd March. They then move on to Europe.
Written by: Dave Martin
Ratings: 7/10
https://open.spotify.com/album/2ic9y0c0Y7goGxrre1ud7Q?si=kwevx687Q22ebD03I9KnNA
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