Words & Pictures: Lorna Leahy
Make Them Suffer kicked off the first night of their UK tour with a sold-out show at Southampton’s Engine Rooms – the perfect setting for a metalcore gig. From the moment the doors opened, the venue steadily filled up, creating an atmosphere that matched the Engine Rooms’ reputation for hosting unforgettable heavy shows. With its corrugated steel roof, industrial interior and a sound system that does justice to the genre’s intensity, the space served as an ideal backdrop for a night packed with energy and heaviness.
First up were UK sludge/post-metal outfit Conjurer, who set the tone early with a heavy, unrelenting set. By the time they took the stage, the room was already quite packed, and it didn’t take long before the first mosh pit of the night opened near the front. Their set included tracks like “Choke,” “Scorn,” “Rot,” “Warmth,” and “Retch,” with Brady Deeprose doing a solid job of firing up the crowd – calling for circle pits and getting people involved, whether they knew the band or not.
Next up were French metalcore band Resolve, who made a memorable entrance soundtracked by Édith Piaf’s “Non, je ne regrette rien.” The song slowly rose in volume before cutting out precisely as the band stepped on stage, earning immediate attention. They launched into “Human” without hesitation, kicking off their set at full throttle. From there, they pushed the pace even further, keeping the crowd moving throughout. Frontman Anthony Diliberto had no trouble commanding the room, urging circle pits and getting the audience clapping along at key moments. They’d even brought their own platforms that ran along the front of the stage, which they jumped from and paced across throughout the set, adding more drama to their set. They closed with “Older Days,” leaving the crowd buzzing for the headline act.
Make Them Suffer kicked off their headline set with “Epitaph,” immediately setting a high-energy pace for the rest of the night. About thirty seconds in, the first wave of crowd surfers started coming over the barrier, and from there, the atmosphere didn’t let up. The band were tight throughout, with heavy guitars, pounding drums, and powerful vocals coming together to deliver a solid, well-balanced performance.
One of the biggest moments of the night came halfway through the set with “Ghost of Me.” The crashing guitars and unrelenting rhythm hit hard, and the response from the crowd was instant. Fans along the barrier were headbanging in time, and the pressure against the front was enough to make the barrier shift noticeably. In the middle of the room, another mosh pit had opened up, with arms flying and people moving non-stop.
“Erase Me” and “Doomswitch” were clear highlights towards the end of the main set, both getting huge reactions from the crowd. After a short break, the band returned to the stage for an encore, closing with “Widower” from their 2012 debut album. It was a throwback that long-time fans clearly appreciated, and it rounded off the set with a sense of where the band started, while still showing how far they’ve come. The performance balanced old and new material well, keeping the energy up throughout and leaving the crowd energized.
As the crowd began to make their way out, it was clear that the first night of Make Them Suffer‘s UK tour had gone down well. Their set was tight and energetic from start to finish, with a good mix of newer tracks and older fan favourites. The support acts, Conjurer and Resolve, helped build the atmosphere early on, and by the time the headliners took the stage, the room was fully warmed up. The Engine Rooms once again proved itself as a solid venue for this kind of show, both in terms of sound and crowd energy. Overall, it was a strong start to the tour and a night that delivered exactly what fans came for.
https://www.makethemsuffer.com.au/
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