LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: Make Them Suffer – Academy 2, Manchester – 10/05/2025

On this gloriously sunny day in May, Manchester’s Academy 2 becomes the setting for Australian metalcore act Make Them Suffer’s return to the UK as headliners. The last time they were here headlining was over half a decade ago. Now, they’re crossing continents with sold out dates , tonight being one of them.

Despite the sunlight attempting to peak through from behind the curtains of Academy 2, Pennsylvania-based If Not For Me bring a heavy and high-energy sound from the off on their first UK tour. With melodic choruses, trap cymbals and lyrical hooks under red and white stage lights, the band kicks off a thrilling line-up with a bang. Their breakdowns soon see the bass reverberating through the wooden floorboards. If Not For Me’s synth and metal blend cultivates the atmosphere even at this early stage in the evening. The venue is already filling up and it’s electric. Their setlist shows off an array of the band’s style including Alone’s emotional edge that also shows off vocalist Patrick Glover’s cleans and soon sees crowd members lighting up their phones. Catchy motifs are abundant across tracks such as Say It To My Face and No Thanks To You, which also bring heaviness entwined with the melodic.

Conjurer’s distinctive dark sound, drawing from across doom, sludge, black-metal, hardcore and more, casts an enveloping obliterating mood over the venue. Shrouded in a haze of red and orange, the destructive power of their sound resonates around the walls. There’s a huge amount of support for the British metallers amidst the audience. While the last of the daylight is still trying to reach through the gaps in the curtains, the red fabric will at least hide any blood stains. Anyone who has Conjurer before will be well acquainted with the immense intensity of their sound that emanates from the stage into the audience. Conjurer is notably a band of few words, allowing their music and stage presence to speak for itself. From slow and heavy chugging that unleashes the sheer weight of all above, while grooves and fast-paced sections see their furious side unleashed. Prominent bass and jazz-inspired aspects all add intrigue to the journey through their setlist comprised of a selection of tracks from across their discography. The technical, progressive side is thrown open with nonstandard time signatures dissonance and gutturals. The band also provide an early taste of what awaits in their forthcoming album.

Hailing from Lyon, France, Resolve unleash a highly dynamic display of metalcore infuse with industrial hints, textural synths, anthemic touches and powerful rhythms. The quartet’s setlist traverses an intriguing variety of light and shade across moodier and softer tracks. Despite switching up stylistically, Resolve’s sound, in all it’s forms, is accessible and enticing while remaining characterful. The dark intensity of Bloodlust manifests through a shadowy nature and explosive heaviness and hard-hitting aggression. Death Awaits kicks off with an enticing lyric hook that builds anticipation with electrifying percussion, rhythms and intensity. Smile reveals a softer side with a predominantly synth led sound that carries a soaring dreaminess. It’s highly atmospheric. The Mancunian crowd love the set, and the band reciprocate the love for the crowd’s energy and enthusiasm.  

The eagerly awaited return of Australian powerhouse Make Them Suffer sees the audience erupt as the stage lights dim and the instantly identifiable synth lead of Epitaph begins. The crowd quickly joining in singing along to the lead melody as the band make their way on stage, the room explodes when the first riff strikes. Anyone familiar with MTS will be well acquainted with the emotive and melodic sound that is laden with groove, riffs and erupting breakdowns. All immersed in electronics, the combination of hooks, memorable lyrics so easy to sing along to, in addition with their very capable brutality, it’s an energising concoction. Bones travels to more abrasive heavy realms bringing a rhythmic onslaught and seeing the first crowd surfers take flight. Juxtaposing the ferocious with anthemic elements, the likes of Oscillator fill the stage with gripping impact. Amidst the show, the set list this evening happens to include a rather wholesome rendition of Happy Birthday in honour of Make Them Suffer’s sound engineer Dylan Mitrovich. Now fuelled with cake to navigate the latter part of the evening, the quintet, of course, choose end on the epic synth heavy and dystopian-esque Doomswitch. Hopefully it won’t be quite so long before Make Them Suffer return to UK shores as headliners again.

Words by Holly Royle

Photos by Will Robinson (Instagram)