What can I say about Paleface Swiss that hasn’t been said before? I feel like I’m flogging a dead horse by saying that they have an uncanny resemblance to IOWA-era Slipknot, but The Wilted EP further cements that comparison with Marc “Zelli” Zellweger’s exacerbated vocal delivery. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, if I could have Slipknot go back in time and continue the sound of their earlier albums, I absolutely would take that offer, but instead, we have Paleface Swiss, and honestly, that’s absolutely fine by me.
The Wilted EP is sort of a continuation of their last album, CURSED, being written while on tour promoting the record. It’s a brutal retelling of the time the band spent on the road, and it’s not for the faint of heart. As the band themselves wrote, this EP is “more cinematic, more emotional, and a reflection of everything we’ve experienced on the road and within ourselves.” Indeed, being on tour isn’t an easy experience, and if this EP is anything to go by, it’s not something I’d personally want to dive into (who am I kidding, of course I would).
With a run time of around 13 minutes, it’s a short but sweet bombardment of explosive deathcore-infused metalcore riffs and scatter-gun vocals that later evolve into a more melodic metalcore affair with the tracks Instruments of War (featuring Stick to Your Guns singer Jesse Barnett – a track written while the two were on tour together, which once again reminds us at what time this EP was written), and the closing track Everything is Fine – a much more slow-paced, melodic affair.
For such a short EP, a lot is going on with The Wilted EP. This isn’t just some throwaway B-side release with tracks left over from CURSED. The aforementioned track, Instruments of War, was released as a charity single that, alongside tour merch, supported Doctors Without Borders. The whole EP had an intense promotional run, too, showing that this band isn’t here to fuck around with their music. Refreshing in a world where algorithm-focused singles seem to be at the forefront of the way music is being released nowadays.
The Wilted EP is a refreshing reminder that music is here to be enjoyed as the bands we listen to are putting blood, sweat, and tears into the music they create. A reminder that we should be slowing down and taking in what we’re listening to rather than throwing it on in the background. This is an EP that shouldn’t be missed, and though short, it is just enough to keep you wanting more.
The Wilted EP by Paleface Swiss is out now via Blood Blast Distribution.
Rating: 8/10