Zurich’s @palefaceswiss made their second “St. Louis stop” @popsrocksstl in fabulous Sauget, Illinois. Despite their heavier-than-heavy sound, belly-rumbling bass, and pulverizing sound, this is a band of kind, neutral, and positive influences, and their fans were out in full force.
The younger collection of hardcore metal fans–both dudes and dudettes, came in from the rain to witness the reign of metalcore’s latest sensation, the Zurich-minted hard-hitting quartet of @palefaceswiss–vocalist Marc “Zelli” Zellweger, guitarist Yannick Lehmann, bassist Tommy Lee, and drummer Cassiano “Cassi” Toma. They are one tight unit of road-tested musicians and performers.
Since 2017, the band has released three full-length albums, including 2025’s “Cursed”, two EPs, and numerous singles, and has toured extensively across Europe and North America.
The young band and their jovial and engaging singer, Marc “Zelli” Zellweger, were sincere, intense, entertaining, and generous. He spent just as much time tearing it up as joking with the crowd and even getting deadly serious about the subject of suicide and loneliness. In between encouraging the opening of a significant mosh pit, he also lamented losing friends to suicide and admonished the crowd to take care of people. This message resonnated with the mostly younger crowd, and you could tell Zelli meant it.
At another point in the show, Zelli kissed drummer Paleface Swiss drummer, Cassiana Toma, full and deep on the mouth. He said if that shocked anyone in the crowd, they could leave. No one did. If anything, the pit and macho displays of body slamming ramped up another degree. This was a welcoming tribe of heavy metal fans, and the music was all that mattered. If you’re a true fan of new metal music and want to see one of the newest, and most promising acts, checkout Paleface Swiss if they’re coming to your town.
