Midweek Mayhem: PALEFACE SWISS Ignite Leeds with a Night of Unrelenting Energy – Concert Review & Photos

What to do on a Wednesday night? Well, how about heading to a night of hardcore live music? That’s exactly what we did to catch the much anticipated Paleface Swiss European tour. With mile long queue of like minded people people waiting to get in, the excitement and anticipation to let go tonight could be felt and it wasn’t long before Project House in Leeds was packed out and ready to go!

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Words by Emmie Ellis

Photos by Mark Ellis

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Desolated Set the Stage with Unrelenting Energy and Brutality

Kicking things off is the highly energised Desolated. With an alert playing over the sound system advising that they take no responsibility for any personal injury, I was already expecting some heavy beats and brutal vocals. These guys certainly didn’t disappoint in that respect, as they instantly had the crowd enthralled. Their aggressive sound is balanced by the energy the band exudes on stage. With a treat of their new single “Bite Down’ off their upcoming album release, it’s clear that these guys have a whole lot more to give, which you won’t want to miss! The fast rhythms against the vocal intensity make this band a force to be reckoned with and a perfect start to a great night of music.

Desolated Setlist

• Numb
• The Beginning
• Bite Down
• Victim
• The End
• Therapy
• Suffering
• A New Realm of Misery
• Death by My Side

The Acacia Strain Ignite Leeds with Bone-Crushing Intensity

Up next are The Acacia Strain with bright white and yellow lights. These guys are a bit of a change from the last band. The fast tempos and growling vocals raise the temperature of the room, which is driven further by the heavy breakdowns. With the brighter lights, you can also see the band interaction, which shows the joy these guys get from playing live. The crowd is clearly sold on these guys too, as they scream back and a sea of heads bob along to the beats. Encouraged by vocalist Vincent Bennett, there are even a few crowd surfers who make their way over the barrier. As the set gets heavier, the intensity and brutality of the band increases, and the crowd matches that same energy. American bands always hold themselves in a way that’s different to UK bands and it’s the energy that they provide that stands out. The Acacia Strain certainly showed that tonight.

The Acacia Strain Setlist

• FLOURISHING
• Dr. Doom
• Whoa! Shut It Down
• Chhinnamasta
• CHAIN
• FRESH BONES
• The Beast
• Bitter Pill
• Feed a Pigeon Breed a Rat
• Crossgates
• The Hills Have Eyes
• Carbomb

Red Lights & Roaring Chants: Paleface Swiss Command the Night

With the lights down, it’s time for tonight’s headliners Paleface Swiss to hit the stage. With a red ominous glow on the stage and a Middle Eastern sounding chant coming from the sound system, the atmosphere in the room is charged. Once the band comes out, there’s a renewed sense of energy amongst the crowd, driven by the band themselves. It’s not long before vocalist Marc “Zelli” Zellweger has the crowd jumping as he throws himself into the music. It’s not often that you see a frontman with the skills to manipulate a crowd in such a way that throws them into a frenzy that never ends. On top of that, his vocal prowess switching from brutal growls to speedy rap to melodic singing is incredible to see live. The enthusiasm shown by guitarist Cannock Lehmann is on a whole other level from what we’ve seen so far tonight as he bounds around the stage, hair flying. This is matched by the crowd as the pits open and the bodies fly over the top. From the moment this band hits the stage to the moment they leave, they give everything they have, expecting the crowd to do the same. Paleface Swiss are one of those bands that you just have to experience live, whether you’re their biggest fan or just dabble In the hardcore scene, this is an experience that you don’t want to miss.

Paleface Swiss Setlist

• Hatred
• Suppressing Times
• My Blood On Your Hands
• Youth Decay
• …and with hope you’ll be damned
• Nail to the Tooth
• The Gallow
• Don’t You Ever Stop
• Enough?
• River of Sorrows
• Please End Me
• Pain
• Love Burns

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Photos by Mark Ellis Photography

Paleface Swiss

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The Acacia Strain

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Desolated

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