Since about the time of their 2020 full-length debut, Chapter 3: The Last Selection, Swiss deathcore/beatdown outfit Paleface Swiss have grown increasingly comfortable letting nu-metal influences—Slipknot in particular—into their sound. But Saturday, October 31st, at Core Fest in Göppingen, Germany, the band made the connection more explicit than even by dressing up as the nu metal legends for Halloween.
The whole band wore red jumpsuits and masks for the duration of the concert. The band, vocalist Marc Zellweger, guitarist Yannick Lehmann, bassist Tommy Lee, and drummer Luigi Paraventi, dressed as Corey Taylor, Mick Thomson, the late Paul Gray, and Eloy Casagrande, respectively. What's more, the band opened their festival set with an old-school Slipknot medley comprised of "(sic)," "People = Shit," and "Psychosocial." The band even used a pretape of "742617000027" to kick off the show.
Paleface Swiss began covering "People = Shit" live earlier in October, but this show marked the debut of their takes on "(sic)" and "Psychosocial." It should probably come as no surprise that the band prove a natural fit for the material, but it's still impressive how much of that trademark sound they're able to channel with only half the manpower. Shout-out to whomever from their crews joins in as Jim Root during "People = Shit."
It's perhaps Zellweger who most impresses during the medley. Effortlessly switching between Taylor's nu metal rhyming and ursine roar, his performance is what really takes these covers to the next level. His control of the rabid crowd only adds intense energy in the air as the band tear through the medley. Props to Zellweger for shouting out the tremendous drum work from Paraventi (handling the work of a legendary drummer and two percussionists is no small feat). Hopefully, more Slipknot covers are in the band's future, live or in studio.
Beginning in January, fans in Australia and New Zealand can see Paleface Swiss headlining with support from Counterparts and Fox Lake. Then, from March through early May, the band will open for Trivium and In Flames on their co-headlining European tour with fellow special guests VOLA. And all the way in 2028, the band is set to appear on the inaugural European voyage of the Headbangers Boat along with Lamb Of God, Bleed From Within, Kublai Khan TX, Shadows Fall, and Heriot. Pre-sale for tickets is available now. Click here for info.
And, as you may have heard, Slipknot announced a huge stadium tour with a murderer's row of opening acts. And Marilyn Manson. Tickets are on sale now. Click here for details.
Check out video of the performance and dates below.
Paleface Swiss's latest, The Wilted EP, is out now on Blood Blast Distribution.
01/27 Perth, AU @ Paleface Swiss Australia Headline 2027
01/31 Melbourne, AU @ Paleface Swiss Australia Headline 2027
02/02 Bruce, AU @ Paleface Swiss Australia Headline 2027
02/05 Sydney, AU @ Paleface Swiss Australia Headline 2027
02/06 Brisbane, AU @ Paleface Swiss Australia Headline 2027
02/07 Townsville City, AU @ Paleface Swiss Australia Healdine 2027
02/12 Wellington, NZ @ Paleface Swiss NZ Healdine 2027
02/13 Auckland, NZ @ Paleface Swiss NZ Healdine 2027
03/29 Dublin, IE @ 3Arena
03/31 Glasgow, GB @ OVO Hydro
04/02 Manchester, GB @ Co-op Live
04/03 London, GB @ Alexandra Palace
04/04 Cardiff, GB @ Utilita Arena Cardiff
04/06 Forest, BE @ Forest National
04/07 Paris, FR @ Zenith
04/09 Hamburg, DE @ Sporthalle Hamburg
04/10 Dresden, DE @ MESSE DRESDEN HALLE 1
04/11 Berlin, DE @ Velodrom
04/13 Esch/alzette, LU @ Rockhal
04/14 Bern, CH @ Festhalle Bern
04/16 Frankfurt, DE @ Festhalle
04/17 Düsseldorf, DE @ PSD BANK DOME
04/18 Amsterdam, NL @ AFAS Live
04/20 Praha, CZ @ O2 Universum
04/21 Wien, AT @ Wiener Stadthalle Halle D
04/23 Stuttgart, DE @ Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle
04/24 Munich, DE @ Zenith
04/25 Bamberg, DE @ BROSE ARENA BAB Bamberg Arena mbH
04/27 Frederiksberg, DK @ K.B. Hallen
04/29 Oslo, NO @ Oslo Spektrum
05/01 Stockholm, SE @ Avicii Arena
05/03 Tampere, FI @ Nokia Arena harjoitushalli
Headbangers Boat: The Inaugural European Voyage
05/27-31 Southampton, UK to La Coruña, ES @ The Norwegian Jewel
(sic)EST STADIUM TOUR
07/03 London, UK @ Wembley Stadium #<!
# with Marilyn Manson
< with Hatebreed
! with Lorna Shore
(sic)EST STADIUM TOUR: North America
07/16 Washington, DC @ Nationals Park ~%
07/18 Queens, NY @ Citi Field ~%
07/21 Montréal, QC @ Parc Jean Drapeau ~^@
07/23 Toronto, ON @ Rogers Stadium ~^
07/25 Chicago, IL @ Soldier Field ~$
07/28 Hershey, PA @ Hersheypark Stadium ~!
07/31 Boston, MA @ Fenway Park ~!
08/03 Nashville, TN @ FirstBank Stadium ~^
08/06 Houston, TX @ Daikin Park ~+
08/09 Commerce City, CO @ Dick's Sporting Goods Park ~=
08/13 Inglewood, CA @ SoFi Stadium ~=
08/15 San Francisco, CA @ Golden Gate Park ~&=
08/18 Phoenix, AZ @ Chase Field ~&
~ with Bring Me The Horizon
% with Acid Bath
! with Lorna Shore
^ with Kublai Khan TX
@ with Vended
$ with Lamb of God
+ with Polyphia
= with Loathe
& with Motionless in White
(sic)EST STADIUM TOUR: South America
09/04 São Paulo, Brazil @ The Town #
09/08 Buenos Aires, Argentina @ Estadio Huracán #<
09/12 Santiago, Chile @ Estadio Nacional #<
09/14 Lima, Peru @ Estadio Nacional #
09/16 Bogotá, Colombia @ Vive Claro #<
# with Marilyn Manson
< with Hatebreed
Nu Metal Agenda may earn an affiliate commission via purchases on ticket links through this article.
%3A%20Paleface%20Swiss%20Perform%20Core%20Fest%20Halloween%20Show%20As%20Slipknot%2C%20Cover%20Classic%20Tracks){kind=link}