The Roxian shook to its core as Paleface Swiss stormed through Pittsburgh on their Cursed Tour, a brutal celebration of their latest album Cursed which dropped this past January. The Swiss hardcore band has built a reputation for leaving no stage unscathed, with unrelenting breakdowns and vicious vocals. This tour marks a turning point for the band, not only highlighting their newest album, the first since changing their name to Paleface Swiss, but also showing yet again why they’ve become one of the most talked-about acts in the heavy scene. Every deathcore and hardcore fan in the city packed the sold-out Roxian full for one of the heaviest, most brutal shows of the year.
Belgian beatdown legends Nasty kicked off the night with a set that felt like a declaration of war. The band’s signature brand of raw, streetwise hardcore brought instant chaos. With frontman Matthi’s untamed energy leading the charge, the pit erupted into a whirlwind of flailing limbs and primal aggression. Tracks “At War with Love” and “Total Domination” hit like sledgehammers, each breakdown igniting the pit deeper into the aggressive void.
Following the carnage, Stick To Your Guns jumped staight into the fire. The Californian hardcore veterans have long been known for their passionate performances and socially charged lyrics, as seen last year at Stage AE when they opened for Hawthorne Heights on the 20 Years of Tears tour, and this night was no exception. Songs like “Nobody” and “Against Them All” resonated deeply with the crowd, who shouted every word back at vocalist Jesse Barnett. Barnett at one point asked the crowd if there was anyone who had never heard of them before. Despite being in the scene for 20 years there were a few shouts back from the crowd, delighting Barnett so much that they could once again be a brand new band in the eyes of the crowd. Balancing relentless energy with powerful messages, Stick To Your Guns reminded everyone that hardcore is about standing up, speaking out, and pushing forward as much as it is about aggression.
It must be noted at this point that there were several incidents of fighting throughout the night, particularly while Stick To Your Guns was playing, to the point where police intervention was needed. Security at the Roxian are always phenomenal, they were able to handle the incidents swiftly and discretely, to the point where if you weren’t directly in their path, or out in the lobby being blinded by a multitude of blue and red lights, you’d never have known something so severe was occurring. Physical aggression has its place in the hardcore scene but should never get to the point of actual violence, especially at a classy establishment such as the Roxian.
Despite the incidents, the show must go on! Paleface Swiss emerged, wasting no time before tearing into “Hatred”, one of the fastest, most in-your-face tracks from Cursed. The band’s presence was colossal, with frontman Zelli Zellweger dominating the stage like a man possessed. Every growl, every guttural roar reverberated through the Roxian as the band unleashed their signature onslaught of metallic hardcore. Iconic tracks like “The Gallow” and “Please End Me” saw the crowd lose themselves in the music, fists raised and heads banging in unison.
The band’s ability to seamlessly blend crushing breakdowns with bleak, emotionally charged lyrics created a visceral tension that pulsed through the Roxian. Bassist Tommy Lee and drummer Cassi Toma maintained an unrelenting rhythm, keeping the energy at a boiling point from start to finish. Guitarist Yannick Lehmann, with hair flying everywhere, provided a menacing edge with his razor-sharp riffs, further driving home the band’s devastating sound. Throughout the set, Zelli continuously antagonized fans, egging everyone on to mosh harder than ever, and even got in on the fun himself with a glorious stage dive. The last time Paleface Swiss was in Pittsburgh, they were opening for The Ghost Inside at Stage AE; the intimacy of The Roxian compressed this raw aggression into a much more concentrated experience.
Every single track from Cursed was included on the set, a rare occurance for any live show. From the ungodly, soul-crushing heaviness of “Don’t You Ever Stop” to the melodic and riff-laden “Youth Decay,” each song felt incredibly fresh while still having that signature Paleface Swiss edge. The eerie yet emotional “Enough?” embraces unconventional rap elements that juxtapose perfectly with a demonic breakdown. Every album needs balance, and “River of Sorrows” provides a much-needed respite from the physical heaviness while leaning more into the emotional heaviness of dealing with loss, each word positivity dripping in pain.
As the night raged on, Paleface Swiss proved with each and every song that they are an unstoppable force. The pit, now a churning mass of bodies, surged with every riff and breakdown. Even the slower, sludgier tunes felt like impending doom, adding a level of intensity that never once relented. By the time they closed the set with “Love Burns,” another rapid-fire track from Cursed that feels like a punch to the face in the best way possible, fans were exhausted and a little battered but exhilarated, the perfect finale to a brutal night in the Burgh. For those who came seeking intensity, they found it and then some. This was not just a normal run-of-the-mill concert; it was a baptism by fire, and no one left unscathed.
March 28th, 2025
