PALEFACE SWISS, THE ACACIA STRAIN, DESOLATED
– Leeds Project House 26th February
Review by Steve Harrison
I’d been looking forward to this gig for some time, waiting while this formidable line up thundered it’s way through mainland Europe like an unstoppable juggernaut until it hit the UK shores, with hardcore stalwarts Desolated and deathcore giants The Acacia Strain supporting Paleface Swiss who I’d not had the chance to see before.
Tonight’s venue, The Project House in Leeds is an independent, locally owned venue with a capacity of 1000, and not surprisingly, tonight’s show was sold out!
Kicking off with an announcement that was reminiscent of a countdown to destruction, like the computer voice from Aliens signalling the impending devastation that will wipe out the planet LV 426, Desolated took to the stage and the pits were instantaneous. Ripping through a short set of brutal, beautiful, heavy riffs including ‘The Beginning’, ‘Numb’, the latest single ‘Bite Down’ dedicated ‘to the greatest drummer in the world Lars Ulrich’ they had the masses chanting ‘Yorkshire, Yorkshire’ at every turn.
Pulling duties on the kit for Desolated tonight instead of Malevolence’ Charlie Thorpe was the thunderous George Scott delivering an epic rhythmic powerhouse of a performance with a special mention for soldiering on through the European dates after being ill. With the singers handspring across the stage from the intro into a ‘New Realm of Misery’ and then closing out with ‘Death By My Side’, Desolated had smashed a marker in the ground for the night ahead with a blinding opening set.
With energy emanating from the stage right from the start, The Acacia Strain hurtled into a set with searing precision. Ripping through tracks from across the last 2 decades including ‘Carbomb’, ‘Dr Doom’ and ‘The Hills Have Eyes’.
Vocalist Vincent Bennett, as engaging as ever with the crowd, shouting out ‘ this is caveman music do something stupid’ as the mass then erupted to the most brutal breakdown, there’s no time for breath as the crowd is swept along with the cadence and brutal riffs of ‘Feed a pigeon, breed a rat’.
It’s great to see Mike Mullholland, formerly of Emmure maintain his position as touring guitarist with the band who are on form, delivering a performance both technical and an innate primeval guttural resonance that grips you like a vice and refuses to let go until you submit.
The last time Paleface Swiss played a headline show in Leeds, it was down the road at the soon to be closing and soon to be resurrected Boom to a crowd of about 150 and now here at the Project house to a capacity crowd of 1000.
With the intro ‘Un pobre nino murio’ akin to a call to prayer, Paleface Swiss blitz the stage with the crushing ‘Hatred’ that instantly whips up the Leeds crowd into an exalted frenzy!
The track very reminiscent of a ‘refined’ early Slipknot, think Iowa and an occasional King 810 simile thrown in! After all it is only human nature to compare and contrast!
With a set that was basically the new album ‘Curse’ played in it’s entirety, the crowd revelled in what was a polished set normally associated with more well established and seasoned artists.
Vocalist, Marc Zellweger was in his element delivering an outstanding performance with his rapid fire staccato raps of sublime lyricism, rumbling depths of hell utterances that transpose into otherworldly sonics! ‘Feels good to be back in Leeds’ he hailed to the crowd and they were all in!
From ‘My Blood On Your Hands’ to the close out breakdown riffs of ‘..and you will be damned’, a wall of death that stretched the whole length of the venue for ‘Don’t you ever stop’.
There is no doubt we were witnessing a band in the ascendency. Yes I know it’s been said before, but seriously…!
I did hope for a smattering of ‘the early EP’s’ but we were treated to the awesome ‘Nail to the Tooth’ and ‘Supressing Times’ from the previous album ‘Fear and Dagger’, which just cemented that feeling of an ‘I was there’ moment.
Delivering a monologue ahead of ‘River of Sorrows’ and finding time to introduce the band and crew as well as a brief guitar solo, ‘Please End Me’ left the us wanting more which was duly obliged with ‘Pain’ and then closing out the night with ‘Love Burns’, Paleface Swiss delivered a set of technical prowess that clearly sets them apart from many.
Heading out on extensive US tour through March and April before heading back to Europe for festival season we will see Paleface Swiss return for what will surely be a memorable set at this years Bloodstock Festival.
I for one will be there!
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