Make Them Suffer | The Forum
@destroyalllines
On September 5th, 2024, metalcore titans Make Them Suffer took the stage at The Forum in Melbourne, headlining their biggest show to date as part of their Suffer Forever tour. Joining them were Sydney's Bloom, US deathcore giants Spite, and British metalcore veterans Bury Tomorrow, crafting an unforgettable lineup. Having followed Make Them Suffer since they opened for The Amity Affliction in 2017, it's been incredible to witness their meteoric rise.
Opening the night, Bloom hit the stage with their signature energy, kicking off with The Service and followed by Bound To Your Whispers and Cold. The crowd was already packed, filling the venue’s stairs as Bloom played their hearts out. The production was pristine, with the band's name glowing in blue on the LED screen behind them, and the lighting so perfect it was a photographer's dream. Jono Hawkey's powerful vocals, paired with tight musicianship, ensured they left a strong impression.
Spite took the stage next, delivering an intense set that was nothing short of a cinematic experience. Kicking off with IED from their 2017 album Nothing is Beautiful, they immediately set a heavy tone. Frontman Darius Tehrani dominated the stage, his presence magnetic as he led the crowd into madness with tracks like Kill or Be Killed and Psychopath. The brutal closer Free for All shook the venue with its crushing breakdowns, and Tehrani’s gutturals were truly next-level. Spite’s set was a relentless assault of energy, leaving the crowd hungry for more.
Next up was Bury Tomorrow, a band I’d seen before and knew would bring the house down. They opened with The Seventh Sun, followed by Abandon Us, both from their latest album The Seventh Sun. Dan Winter-Bates worked the crowd with his signature humor, keeping the energy high. He encouraged the audience to challenge security with 1,000 crowd surfers during Black Flame, which resulted in an endless stream of bodies over the barrier. Their performance was polished and intense, with Bury Tomorrow showing why they remain a staple in modern metalcore. They wrapped up with Death (Ever Colder), a hard-hitting single from 2022, ending their set on a powerful note.
When Make Them Suffer finally hit the stage, the energy in The Forum reached new heights. Opening with the intro to Epitaph, from their upcoming self-titled album due out November 8th, 2024, the band wasted no time as pyro filled the stage, launching into the full track with explosive force. Sean Harmanis’s commanding vocals, combined with Alex Reade's haunting keyboard melodies and backing vocals, set the tone for the night. They powered through tracks like Oscillator and Bones from their 2020 release How to Survive a Funeral, with the crowd matching their energy at every turn.
A standout moment came during Soul Decay, when Sean announced the first official wall of death, dismissing previous attempts. The audience responded with ferocity, creating one of the largest walls of death I’ve ever seen at The Forum. The band then slowed things down with The Attendant, offering a brief sing-along moment for the crowd to catch their breath.
As the set approached its climax, Make Them Suffer reignited the crowd’s energy with Hollowed Heart before closing with Doomswitch, a track the band has referred to as a symbol of their resilience. The final song was a perfect representation of their journey, bringing the set to a fiery conclusion with one last blast of pyro and CO2.
Just when it seemed like the night was over, the crowd’s encore chants brought the band back for a surprise performance of Widower from their 2012 album Neverbloom. The nostalgic throwback to their earlier sound was a perfect way to close out the night, giving long-time fans one final moment to revel in the band’s legacy. As the CO2 cannons blasted into the air, the night came to an unforgettable end.
Make Them Suffer’s headlining performance at The Forum was a masterclass in intensity and showmanship, blending massive production with a career-spanning setlist that kept the crowd on their toes. From pyro displays to crowd-driven moments like the wall of death, the band delivered on every front. Don’t miss their upcoming self-titled album, dropping on November 8th, 2024—this is just the beginning of the next chapter for Make Them Suffer.