There is nothing better than spending a Saturday night seeing a band you have admired for years. Paleface Swiss landed in England with The Wilted Tour, following the release of their The Wilted EP earlier this January. Honestly, it was just a matter of time before I got to see one of the deepest and most intense EPs I have ever listened to live. Even though the Troxy was not packed, it was still an amazing and intimate night.
Paleface Swiss – Static Dress – Stick To Your Guns
Troxy, London – 17 January 2026
Words: Carol Giannattasio
Photography: Antonio Giannattasio
Starting with I Am A Cursed One, it was clear from the first notes that the night would be full of movement and sweat, given how the setlist was shaping up. Hatred and …and With Hope You’ll Be Damned kicked off full-on chaos with circle pits, nonstop crowd surfing, and constant energy.
The surprise inclusion of Nail To The Tooth took us back to 2022’s Fear And Dagger, and during the breakdown, the vocalist Marc (Zelli) jumped onto the barricade to scream the lyrics with the fans. Those almost cutting words hit even harder live.
Then Paleface Swiss launched into Withering Flowers, announced by Zelli, who looked genuinely hyped to play the new tracks, and we were more than ready to hear them. His vocals on the chorus were pure melody, yet aggressive when it came time for the breakdowns.
Next, they threw in another classic in The Rats from Chapter 3: The Last Selection (2020), which sent the crowd into total delirium. The same happened when they played The Orphan’ (Fear & Dagger) and the single The Gallow.
Paleface Swiss literally levelled the Troxy, with fire, smoke, and intense mosh pits. Yannick’s guitar solos completed each song perfectly, and hearing them live made tracks like Everything Is Fine hit in a completely different, emotional way.
Everything Is Fine was another track from the EP, and Zelli emphasised how much it meant to him. I could not agree more. It is a song that hits straight to the heart, deep and full of pain. I personally feel especially connected to it. It was funny that, among the chaos of The Orphan and The Gallow, they slipped this song right in the middle, giving us a brief emotional pause.
Bassist Tommy also shone with his stage presence, sharp riffs, and constant interaction with the fans, proving how solid and tight the band is.
Enough? brought a different kind of insanity, mixing Metal with rap/hip-hop rhythms before crashing back into typical aggressive Hardcore/Deathcore sections. And the drums. Let’s not forget Cassi. His sound on this track, and many others, was insane. His stage presence is flawless, and his mastery of the drums makes every song unique. Cassi joined Paleface Swiss in 2023 and, in my opinion, is one of the best drummers around right now.
My Blood On Your Hands was mind-blowing. Red lights, relentless sound, Zelli alternating between visceral screams and resonant vocals, and an insane pig squeal, it left the crowd completely speechless. I have never heard anything like that live.
After this, they played a third new track from the EP, Let Me Sleep, and let me tell you, I had been waiting all night to experience the chaos of this song live. And that’s exactly what Paleface Swiss delivered. Fans on their knees waiting for the breakdown to unleash the beast inside, shaking the Troxy with constant, violent movement.
One of my favourite moments, something many might dislike, was the unplugged version of River Of Sorrows. With all the phone lights on and both Yannick and guest Ron Deris on guitar, it became a real experience before transitioning into the regular version.
The last song from the EP, Instrument Of War, with Jesse and Josh from Stick to Your Guns joining the stage, followed. This was, hands down, the best collaboration we could have asked for. Zelli and Jesse’s voices worked perfectly together.
The night sadly came to an end with Love Burns, closing the set with one of the band’s most famous singles. Zelli even said they never expected this single to become so big, and at one point, they almost did not release it at all.
Released in 2023, Please End Me wrapped up the second-to-last night of the UK tour, and the band made sure to leave a mark one last time. Chaos took over the crowd, as circle pits, crowd surfing, and a huge wall of death turned the venue upside down. It was the perfect ending and a night no one there will forget.
What I love most about this band is how real they are. On stage, they laugh, joke, interact with fans, dedicate a few words, and give every ounce of energy, leaving everything on the stage. Their passion, dedication, grit, and gratitude toward their fans are something truly unique.
Paleface Swiss may still be a small, climbing band, but they are slowly growing, finally getting the recognition they deserve.
Stick To Your Guns
Stick To Your Guns kicked off the night, and honestly, I was blown away by how tight they sound live. Starting with Diamond, the California crew unleashed a wave of pure energy, dragging the crowd into a tornado of adrenaline.
The mosh pits went off instantly, and crowd surfing kept the floor moving, even though The Troxy was still filling up. The energy in the room was already off the charts.
Vocalist Jesse had a magnetic presence on stage, and tracks like Such Pain and Invisible Rain showed his ability to switch from powerful screams to clean, emotional singing effortlessly.
They mixed new songs and classics seamlessly as Amber and the set-closer Nobody landed perfectly.
Honestly, Stick To Your Guns should not even be just a warm-up band. The absolute energy they brought and how they controlled the pit was insane. The whole band was incredible live, tight, fun, and totally engaged with the crowd. It was a surprise and a thrill from start to finish.
Static Dress
Static Dress closed out the openers, and even though they are not usually my cup of tea, it was easy to see why people love them. From the second they hit the stage, they did not miss a beat. The Leeds band brought a serious punch of energy, blending post-hardcore fury with melodies that stick in your head.
Frontman Olli was a force of nature, literally a hurricane on stage. Tracks like Face, Push Rope, Courtney, Just Relax, and Death To The Overground fueled a nonstop mosh pit and endless crowd surfing.
Their stage presence was insane. Static Dress grabbed everyone, even the least focused crowd members, especially during their new release, Human Props, a chaotic, heavy-hitting track that hit hard live.
The set closed with Sweet and Crying, leaving fans desperate for more. Static Dress definitely made their mark, thanks to how completely they pulled the crowd in from start to finish.
