Make Them Suffer’s Suffer Forever Australian tour hit the UNSW Roundhouse in Sydney on Sunday night, marking their biggest headline tour to date. With Bloom, and two international supports in Spite, and Bury Tomorrow on the bill, this tour has been the talk of the town for some time, and we couldn’t wait a day longer!
After catching Make Them Suffer earlier this year as they supported Bring Me The Horizon and Sleep Token, I was very excited to see them continue the momentum and take the stage for their own headline tour. Sydney’s own Bloom kicked off the night, delivering a stack of tracks that set the tone perfectly. Tracks like Bound To Your Whispers and An Exit got the crowd moving, warming up the muscles for a big night in the pit. The band’s recent regional tour with Polaris has clearly sharpened their live show, and their performance was a brilliant opener, leaving the crowd energized and ready for what was to come.
Spite was up next, and their set was the one I was most excited about, especially after catching them on their last visit to Australia supporting Thy Art Is Murder. The Southern California deathcore band did not disappoint, delivering a ferocious performance. Frontman Darius took command of the stage with an intimidating presence that had the crowd in the palm of his hand from the moment he stepped on stage. Dressed in coveralls with hair obscuring his face, he unleashed a relentless energy that drove the crowd into a frenzy. Tracks like IED, Caved In, and Free for All kept the mosh pit alive and moving, with Spite proving once again why they’re one of the most intense acts in the scene. While it’s been great to see them twice in the same venue, I really hope there is a headline tour for Spite in the near future.
The excitement only grew as Bury Tomorrow took the stage. Having recently visited Australia just last year for their sold-out headline tour, it was great to see them back so soon. The British metalcore giants delivered a powerful set in support of their seventh album, The Seventh Sun, blending heavy vocals with soaring melodies from Tom Prendergast. Tracks like Villain Arc and Boltcutter kept the energy high, and frontman Dani Winter-Bates’ message of positivity touched the audience, as he swapped between praising the crowd for their support and ordering a pit to open up. Choke was a highlight of their set before closing out their onslaught with DEATH (Ever Colder). The band’s stage presence and musicianship were top-notch, making it clear why they have such a dedicated following.
With the three awesome supports all wrapped up, anticipation for Make Them Suffer was at its peak. The band kicked off their set with Epitaph, and the room erupted. Despite a brief technical glitch that saw Bury Tomorrow’s visuals accidentally displayed on the screen, Make Them Suffer didn’t miss a beat. Their performance was a tirade of power and refined artistry, with the video wall adding a visual dimension that lifted the atmosphere to the next level. Displaying lyrics on screen was a particularly nice touch, allowing fans to sing along, even with newer tracks.
The setlist was a mix of fan favorites and new material, keeping the energy high throughout. After the powerful opener, Bones had the crowd headbanging in unison, followed by the intense Uncharted and the chaotic Vortex (Interdimensional Spiral Hindering Inexplicable Euphoria). The band continued to showcase their versatility with tracks like Ether and the live debut of Oscillator, both of which demonstrated their ability to blend melody with brutality. Oscillator was released recently on August 9, but that did not stop the crowd from knowing every word.
Ghost of Me and Soul Decay brought the emotion to the set, with Sean Harmanis and Alex Reade’s vocal interplay shining through. The Attendant, another live debut, highlighted Make Them Suffers evolving sound and created a haunting atmosphere, if this is what the new album has in store for us, it’s shaping up to be a great one! The crowd was kept on their toes with the heaviness of Hollowed Heart and the dark, brooding Blood Moon. Each band member on the stage are full of beans, each with their own personal style whether it be the shirtless running man moves, twirls or windmills, tonight had it all!
A special moment came when Bury Tomorrow’s Dani Winter-Bates joined Make Them Suffer on stage for Contraband, adding even more excitement to an already raucous crowd. The setlist was rounded out with Erase Me, a fan favourite that had the crowd screaming along, and the ever favourite Doomswitch, which left everyone in the room buzzing with energy.
Make Them Suffer’s Suffer Forever tour has proven to be an incredibly important moment in the bands career, showcasing a band that has worked tirelessly to improve their craft, their visuals, stage presence and song writing. With a new album on the horizon, releasing November 8, and a tour that’s left fans across the country buzzing, it’s clear that Make Them Suffer’s legacy is only just beginning.