INTERVIEW: PALEFACE SWISS IN CONVERSATION WITH YANNICK LEHMANN
Interview by Cecilia Pattison-Levi
No Barriers caught up with Yannick Lehmann (Guitarist and Songwriter) from the iconic Switzerland deathcore band
Deathcore experimentalists Paleface Swiss will be headlining their first Australian tour, and their last tour of the year, that will feature Belgian aggro-punk band Nasty as support. Paleface Swiss are celebrating and touring their fantastic current album ‘Cursed’ (The Complete Edition) that debuted on the Spotify charts at No. 1 in the UK, No. 3 in the USA and No. 17 worldwide and they did this without major label backing. It’s an amazing achievement!
Paleface Swiss is a Zurich based deathcore metal band that formed in 2017 from the local heavy music and metal scene. Today, they are one of the most exciting bands pushing heavy metal music boundaries. The band's line-up currently consists of vocalist Marc "Zelli" Zellweger, guitarist Yannick Lehmann, bassist Tommy Lee and drummer Cassiano "Cassi" Toma.
As Paleface Swiss gear up for their biggest Australian tour, that will include a detour to Thailand on their way home, guitarist and songwriter Yannick Lehmann talked to No Barrier’s about the band’s rapid rise from their do-it-yourself beginnings to international recognition and success.
“The local metal scene is good in Zurich with lots of bands but it is small in Switzerland,” said Yannick Lehmann. “Bands have to go to Germany, France or the UK to get access to the music industry. We are really lucky we are going to play our first ever UK festival at Bloodstock in Birmingham on Friday and then we travel to Australia for our first headline tour. The band is super excited”.
With their explosive live energy, emotional honesty, and genre-defying approach to music especially in their new album, Paleface Swiss are carving out a space all their own in the global heavy music scene. Yannick Lehmann reflected on the creative process behind their deluxe album ‘Cursed’. “The album ‘Cursed’ is more personal to us and what we’ve been through the last few years. We made the album – the lyric writing and music – in two weeks. We record how we play. We want to capture that raw energy,” stated Yannick Lehmann. “We don’t overthink it. We went into the studio in the Canary Island’s where the album was born. Recorded it in two weeks and we didn’t change much. The demos sound pretty much like the album. The whole vibe we experienced there is now on that album. And, after ‘Cursed’ was released, we put out three more singles and we are going to play them on tour”.
“Actually, we are going to play the whole album on the tour. It’s 28 minutes long,” explained Yannick Lehmann. “It will be great to be the headline act as we can play the whole album and extra songs and singles. Plus we can go back to tracks from ‘Fear And Dagger’. Our gig will be not be super slick with production. We are going to perform with just the band, no distractions – pure, raw energy played straight at fans. We want people to come to the show and enjoy it. Leave all the bad stuff at home and come and have fun”.
Paleface Swiss musical sonic palette is a nuanced mix of deathcore, heavy metal and dark folklore. ‘Cursed’ preserves the band’s history of disturbing influences and interludes. It will be fascinating to hear their brilliant songs like ‘Un Pobre Niño Murió’, ‘Hatred’, ‘My Blood On Your Hands’ and the amazing and beautiful ‘River Of Sorrows’ delivered live. “We will also have ‘Talk’ written with Nasty,’ stated Yannick Lehmann. “It was fun to write that song. We all met in a studio in Germany and we sat there together. The riffs came and then the lyrics. We just recorded it. We had the best time”.
So come and sing ‘I Am A Cursed One’ along with the band and other fans and celebrate Paleface Swiss’ first headline tour of Australia. “We are who we are, and we want to keep doing what makes us happy,” stated Yannick Lehmann. “We don’t want to be distracted by things that don’t matter. That is the most important thing about live music you must enjoy it. Come to the show and enjoy the music. That is what Paleface Swiss is all about – having the best time. A Paleface Swiss gig is pure chaos, pure energy, and pure passion”.
Paleface Swiss are touring Australia in September 2025 with Belgian band Nasty.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
September 2: Perth, Magnet House
September 3: Adelaide, Lion Arts Factory
September 5: Melbourne, Northcote Theatre
September 7: Sydney, Manning Bar
September 9: Newcastle, King Street
September 10: Brisbane, Princess Theatre
You can read our Nasty interview here.
