Paleface Swiss sure know how to put on a unique and versatile show; they wildly exceeded fans’ expectations and have really proved themselves tonight to be a standout, must-see live band.
Words & photos by Tanita Hingerty | Jan 16, 2025
Paleface Swiss kick off their first show of the European tour tonight in Dublin, Ireland.
The first support act is the legendary Stick to Your Guns, who start their set with huge amounts of raw, unapologetic, and contagious energy that bursts off the stage with their every gesture, movement, and note they play. Their stage presence is uncontainable, unique, and insanely passionate.
They haven’t played in Ireland for quite some time, and it’s clear from the crowds’ dedicated reactions to their performance that they have been greatly missed, while circle pits, bouncing in unison, and crowd surfing commence to their heavy sounds.
They are not afraid to use their platform for good, as the lead singer speaks of the suffering in this world and who he looks up to for direct inspiration, which enticed the crowd to go even wilder. The speech was powerful and authentic, much like their performance.
With a hand placed on his heart while he delivers lyrical screams, the crowd’s arms are firmly placed in the air, with everyone chanting throughout an emotional yet hardcore set.
The stage lights dim, and all we can make out are old TV sets, crackling with grey static until the band Static Dress takes to the stage. The band’s energy is chaotic yet defined, and the crowd chants their lyrics back to them as the mosh pit ensues.
Spaced-out chords lead to interesting rhythms that fluctuate effortlessly. Explosive vocals and intensified sounds correlate into continuously well-paced melodies that are delivered with so much attitude.
Songs come to abrupt endings with huge applause given. Their set now becomes slower and more emotional, with the crowd’s phone torch lights to the air, engaged in this moment that makes us feel truly present in the band’s lyrical grief. We move on swiftly from crying to thrashing for their last song.
An ominous and alluring atmosphere created of sounds and lights braces us for when Paleface Swiss take to the stage, and from the get-go, they have the most beautiful yet ferocious energy, it’s hypnotizingly chaotic while being intensely in your face- all at once. The way they move is magnetic and addictive to watch; you don’t want to miss a second, and you never quite know what’s coming next. One thing about this show is for certain, though: crowd surfers.
Vocals are fluctuating from emotive to screaming, while the music is genre-bending throughout. Emphasis is dedicated to lyrical deliveries of screams with the hardest, most brutal double-time lyrics spat and growled consistently, which transport us into another world, while taking on a lyrical journey before we’re being abruptly slammed back into the hardcore sounds of reality. Brief pauses in melodies are added for suspense and then filled at a full throttle pace, giving us consistent energy renewals throughout their set.
The drumming, which comes from above, on a tiered stage, gives layers of depth to the performance while emphasising and highlighting the beats in all the right places, while low guttural guitars and bass set impressive melodies that remain strong and steady throughout.
The mosh pit is spilling out of the building as two-stepping and ninja moshing begins. Long hair is spinning in circles, and heads are banging wall to wall in this packed-out, sweaty room. This is their longest set yet, and they play a range of new and old songs, each just as well received by the crowd.
They encourage fans to mosh, crowd surf and interact with them throughout the show. Everybody sits down on the floor and then jumps back up in unison while the room quakes. The crowd’s energy throughout their set never faltered; they obeyed every command given and energetically put as much into their moshing as the band put into their performance.
The whole mood in the room shifted for their acoustic version of “River of Sorrows”, which came with an emotional speech about reaching out when things get tough and to keep going to gigs and talking about how you’re feeling and not letting the world get on top of you. Vocals are delivered so emotively during the acoustic set that it gives us chills. Phone torches and lighters are raised to the sky for this uniquely special moment, while we quickly catch our breath from moshing, but it’s short-lived as Stick to Your Guns now join Paleface Swiss on stage for “Instrument of War” and the whole crowd begins to surge again.
Paleface Swiss sure know how to put on a unique and versatile show; they wildly exceeded fans’ expectations and have really proved themselves tonight to be a standout, must-see live band.
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