LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: MAKE THEM SUFFER AT THE O2 ACADEMY ISLINGTON, LONDON 17/05/25
Photo gallery for Make Them Suffer here
It's somewhat unclear what the demographic crossover between Make Them Suffer fans and Eurovision enthusiasts may be. Admittedly, us metalheads do unironically enjoy a bit of euro-pop (Vengaboys at Download anyone?) But choices were made on the big night at The O2 Academy Islington, with a sold-out room of fans either gladly or otherwise, vetoing an evening with Graham Norton and an almost inevitable nul points for a sweaty, rowdy night of guttural screams and mosh pits, with a nevertheless, international line up of acts.
Make Them Suffer had put themselves at the top of a bill that ensured the venue was packed to the rafters from the first notes of If Not For Me's opening song, the Pennsylvania natives bursting with energy and enthusiasm, facing down a crowd with all the same ideals.
"Some of you came to move, some of you came to crowd surf tonight so let's see some of you coming over this barrier." Frontman Patrick Glover encouraged. The groovy in places- 'No Thanks To You', a real set highlight, showcasing the band's ability to smoothly execute proper new wave metalcore values. Putting on a stellar show, the question was then how the rest of the night's acts were going to top that?
The relentless Conjurer then stormed through a heavy as hell set with very little faffing around. Mostly hair windmills and screams, they catered perfectly to the portion of the crowd that craved their metal darker and with more sludge.
Conjurer do stand out in a few ways on a lineup of modern, genre bending acts as a more traditional, doomy black-metal outfit. Their stage presence solid and enthralling but with a distinct lack of crowd work. This doesn't come across as elitist though, instead it serves as an indicator of their authenticity. Certainly, it’s their technical prowess and stamina that acts as their real draw, as well as representing homegrown talent as the only UK act on the bill.
Heading back internationally, French Metalcore masters Resolve followed, emerging as clearly one of the favourites of the night. Looking supremely confident on the stage, Risers were set up for this part of the evening and vocalist Anthony Diliburto spent much of the set up on them, reaching towards the crowd, every inch the engaging frontman.
"Are you guys having a good time so far? Thank you so much for having us!” Diliburto was all smiles as he took in the boisterous atmosphere. Both band and crowd looked like they were having the most fun with plenty of crowd surfing and band members hopping around the stage, launching themselves off the risers. Energy peaked around the middle of the set with 'Molotov' The opening track from 2024 album 'Human' and we got only a slight reprieve with the slower moments in 'Emerald Skies'. The epic and soaring 'Smile' was a real set highlight, demonstrating the abilities of a band who can tick off the whole checklist of satisfying heaviness, fun riffs and beautiful melodic hooks.
If only they weren't busy smashing their way through a set at the O2 Academy Islington, there's a chance that a band like Make Them Suffer, with a song like the night's opener ‘Epitaph’, could possibly take home the trophy for Australia at Eurovision. From layers of interesting industrial aspects, the catchy chorus sung by vocalist and keys-mistress Alex Reade and tons of punchy and slick stage-presence, this is an outfit that delivers it all.
"Who is having a good time say fuck yeah" smiled frontman Sean Harmanis as every voice in the room screamed 'fuck yeah!' back in response. "We've been a band for a very long time, longer than a lot of people realise," he confesses.
There can be many ways to look at a group that has been active over the fifteen plus years, like Make Them Suffer have. Sure, the sound, the identity and soul of a band can be well defined over that time. The self-assuredness that comes with a long career in the industry will have its advantages as well as it's pitfalls and bands that endured that long can fatigue too. Indeed, earlier on the tour Harmanis took to social media to talk about life on the road and how his exhaustion was peaking and his tolerance for the challenges of it was waning, but getting on the stage every night swept it all away and in those moments, he would always be reminded of why he does what he does.
During ‘Ghost of Me’, from the self-titled album of 2024, the room really got moving. Maintaining the intensity while bringing an ethereal twist, this track is a great example of the mastery of their craft Make Them Suffer demonstrate.
"These last two go out to you, start a circle pit." Harmanis roared as the band launched into 'Erase me’ and then ‘Doomswitch’.
Ending with a cheeky encore of ‘Widower’ I think we can safely say that Make Them Suffer have earned from this crowd of sweaty, screaming fans, a solid Douze points to Australia.
Words and photos by Imogen Bird.
Full setlist below:
Epitaph
Bones
Uncharted
Ether
Mana God
Ghost of Me
Oscillator
Weaponized
Hollowed Heart
Soul Decay
Erase Me
Doomswitch
Widower