Review: Make Them Suffer at Magnet House

Make Them Suffer at Magnet House
w/ Fit For An Autopsy, Ocean Sleeper
Sunday, June 4, 2023

Make Them Suffer, the esteemed metal powerhouse from Perth, have achieved remarkable growth and success since the awe-inspiring release of their 2012 debut album, Neverbloom. To commemorate this milestone, the band has made Neverbloom available on vinyl for the first time, alongside a remastered version of the album now streaming on all platforms. Additionally, Make Them Suffer embarked on the Neverbloom 10 Year Anniversary Tour, culminating in a monumental homecoming show at Magnet House, where around 700 fervent metalheads gathered to celebrate the momentous occasion.

The evening boasted a killer line-up, featuring the masterful metalcore talents of Ocean Sleeper from rural Victoria and the beyond-revered American deathcore stalwarts, Fit For An Autopsy. The stage was set for an unforgettable night of brutality.

Ocean Sleeper, hailing from Gippsland, delivered an enthralling performance with their infectious brand of metalcore. Although Ocean Sleeper is no opening band by any means, it was fitting to have them lead off and fill the room with punters early on. Led by the charismatic and guttural frontman, Karl Spiessi, Ocean Sleeper's powerful riffs, skilfully headed up by guitarist Stan Liagourdis, ignited the mosh pit from the outset. Adding a vibrant contrast to their sound, guitarist and melodic singer Ionei Heckenberg's distinctive vocal choruses infused a pop sensibility into Ocean Sleeper's set.

The band's lyrics, delving into themes of rejection, loss, failure, self-esteem, and mental health struggles, prompted moments of introspection within the audience. Their openness deeply resonated with the crowd, as it has since their inception in 2016, amassing tens of thousands of loyal followers. Ocean Sleeper showcased a comprehensive setlist, encompassing tracks Forever Sinking, King of Nothing, Hate Me Like You Mean It, Your Love I'll Never Need and the fresh Never the One.

An amusing moment ensued as Fit For An Autopsy began disassembling Jarred Robson's drum kit midway through Ocean Sleeper's closing song, leaving the percussionist with only a kick, snare, and a single cymbal to finish the set. It was a thoroughly enjoyable performance that left plenty of punters eagerly anticipating their return to Perth in the near future.

Fit For An Autopsy took the stage next, emanating a chilling and calculated malevolence. Their performance can only be described as apocalyptic, as they meticulously incised with the precision of a neurosurgeon and relentlessly bludgeoned with the efficiency of a sledgehammer.

Frontman Joe Badolato, seemingly possessed by a demon, commanded the audience with his seething and almost maniacal vocals, igniting circle-pit after circle-pit. Guitarists Pat Sheridan and Tim Howley showcased their mastery, creating an atmosphere of sinister devastation, particularly evident during Iron Moon and Black Mammoth. The rhythm section consisting of bassist Peter Spinazola and drummer Josean Orta reverberated through the venue, unleashing an underlying rumble that particularly came to the fore during Hellions. The metaphorical box had been opened, with the fervent mosh pit shouting along with Badolato in Pandora: “A world driven by extinction, only ends in extinction!"

Amidst the performance, Badolato expressed gratitude and humour, extending thanks to all who contributed to their journey down under, including Mad Dog Adrian, whom he hoped would have taken his door spot!

Fit For An Autopsy concluded their Australian tour with a captivating rendition of Far from Heaven. The song commenced with an intricate guitar intro that built anticipation before erupting into a powerful performance, eliciting one final surge of energy from the mosh pit. The crowd joined in, singing along to the hauntingly melodic chorus, “I saw the fallen stars descend into the sea," and the poignant bridge proclaiming, “We are what you created."

The experience left fans eagerly anticipating Fit For An Autopsy's return to Australia for another unforgettable performance.

Ocean Sleeper and Fit For An Autopsy flawlessly set the stage for the arrival of hometown deathcore titans, Make Them Suffer. It was hard to get a view of the stage amidst the excitement and the intensifying mosh pit as newcomer Alex Reade positioned herself to commence the intro track, Prologue. One by one, the remaining band members emerged, with guitarist Nick McLernon and bassist Jaya Jeffery saluting their instruments to the crowd in true homecoming fashion, much to the delight of their families, friends, and devoted fans. Vocalist Sean Harmanis took a moment to introduce the band with impeccable timing as the Make Them Suffer logo came into full view on the colossal 1.5 million-pixel LED screen behind the stage.

The mosh pit stood in awe, absorbing the magnitude of this long-awaited moment, which had been eleven years in the making. The venue was dominated by the glow of phone screens as the audience captured digital keepsakes for their collections. The title track, Neverbloom, commenced with a world-class light show that Magnet House is renowned for, immersing the audience in a blinding sea of red hues, synchronised strobes, and tessellating triangles suspended from the ceiling, choreographing a mesmerising display of light above the band. Simultaneously, the mosh pit erupted with unwavering fervour, propelled by Harmanis’ devastating vocals and a relentless onslaught of lightning-fast picking and blast beats that assaulted the airwaves.

Speaking of beats, fill-in drummer Dan Presland, formerly of Ne Obliviscaris fame and currently with Black Lava, undertook the Herculean task of learning the 90-minute set in under a month of tour preparation. Presland’s mastery was thoroughly impressive, seamlessly weaving his craft while paying the utmost respect to Tim Madden’s original work on Neverbloom.

Make Them Suffer then embarked on an aural journey of cathartic intensity and bloodletting, performing the songs from Neverbloom in chronological order. This contrasting album encompasses some of the most aggressive vocals, riffs and drumming you are ever likely to encounter, juxtaposed with haunting keyboard compositions, delicate piano interludes and the odd splash of beautiful vocal melodies from Alex Reade paying respect to Louisa Burton.

Amidst the chaotic grooves and crushing breakdowns, certain songs provided the audience with moments to shout in unison with Harmanis, such as Maelstrom with its resounding declaration, “Pulled beneath the deepest depths, where I was always meant to be, forever lost!" and the profound cry of “An eternity frozen in time!"

The Well included unified roars of “I can't feel my sinking face!" and the audience also embraced the menacing proclamation of Weeping Wastelands, “I am your fucking end!"

In keeping with the theme of frontmen conveying gratitude, Sean Harmanis' heartfelt nostalgia led him to reminisce about the early days when Make Them Suffer rose to prominence at YHQ. This reflection most likely struck a chord with many of the original fans, bringing back memories of incredibly enjoyable times at the all-ages shows held at that venue throughout the years. Many of these fans had been on this journey with Make Them Suffer. Whether it was witnessing them supporting Bleeding Through at Amplifier Bar in 2013, or hearing the exciting news of their signing to Roadrunner Records, there were plenty of moments of reflection that served as a testament to the band's journey and growth.

One detail that emerged from the Neverbloom celebration show was that the band had decided to retire the album from their repertoire. It was disheartening to learn that future shows would no longer feature any Neverbloom songs, and even the merchandise would not be reproduced once sold out. It's a fucking shame, but it signifies the band's evolution and their embrace of a new direction.

As their set drew to a close, Make Them Suffer unleashed their electrifying new material, Ghost of Me and Doomswitch. These tracks ignited the crowd, who sang along with full force, and you couldn't help but notice the enhanced clarity of the mix in comparison to the older Neverbloom material.

Despite the crowd's passionate chants for an encore, Make Them Suffer had reached the end of their allocated set time.

From the humble YHQ to the grand Red Hill Auditorium, Make Them Suffer have played countless great shows in their hometown, but this was arguably their most impassioned performance of them all. As one of the country’s finest metal exports, let's hope they come to dominate Perth stages again in the near future.

ANDY JONES

Photos by Adrian Thomson