LIVE FROM THE PIT: Make Them Suffer, Conjurer, Resolve and If Not For Me

Australian metalcore five-piece Make Them Suffer have steadily built a reputation as a band worth experiencing. They’ve been touring since 2011 and have performed countless headline shows, as well as securing a high-profile support slot for Bring Me The Horizon’s ‘Nex Gen Down Under Tour’ last year. It’s clear that their dedication, despite numerous sudden changes in band members over the years, is paying off. Now, Make Them Suffer take on Glasgow’s respectable mid-sized venue of Slay, supported by fellow metalcore outfits from across the globe: If Not For Me, Conjurer, and Resolve. With the queue down the street being in high spirits and an air of excitement being felt even from outside, it was time to see what the night had to offer.

It’s hard to believe that Pennsylvanian metalcore unit If Not For Me were the evening’s opening act, as they performed to a room still filling up but crackling with anticipation. We knew it would be a night to remember when they bounded onstage and launched into ‘Demons’ from their 2024 album ‘Everything You Wanted’; their explosive energy and stage presence immediately setting the tone. Their set was a powerful showcase of mostly their latest album, breaking it up in the middle with their 2024 single, ‘Say It To My Face’. They thanked the crowd, promising to return before ending with the reverberating riffs of ‘Feel Me Now’.

In a surprising contrast to the dynamic American four-piece, sludge-metal masterminds Conjurer emerged onto the eerie blue-lit stage with quiet composure. They opened with fan-favourite ‘Choke’ from their 2018 album ‘Mire’, and the rest of their set was a deep dive into their 9-year discography. This unfolded beneath flashing blue and red hues, creating a sense of ominous urgency. While their sound occasionally bordered on repetitive, it was undeniably immersive, prompting the first pit of the night to explode. Before the final track, ‘Retch’, they promised a new album later this year. In a final moment of connection, bassist Connor Marshall flounced into the centre of the pit as the final notes rang out, a delighted crowd encircling him.

With the crowd still buzzing, the venue erupted into dramatic serenading and a sense of camaraderie as ‘Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien’ slithered out of the speakers. Riding on the playful energy, French metalcore powerhouse Resolve stormed onto the stage, immediately electrifying the room with the intense riffs of ‘Human’, the title track of their 2024 album. The already ferocious crowd wasted no time continuing the chaos. The band powered through a brutal and relentless set, taking us to a new extreme with songs like ‘Smile’ and ‘Sandman’. With almost no time to rest, the energy in the room never faltered. Midway through, they spoke to the crowd in French, which was met with a round of good-natured booing. They wrapped up their dynamic set with ‘Older Days’, their more deathcore-inspired collaboration with Switzerlands finest, Paleface Swiss. After such an explosive ending, it was undoubtedly time for Make Them Suffer to take the stage.

The crowd was ravenous for more, only taking the first symphonic notes of ‘Epitaph’ to send the room into a frenzy. Sean Harmanis’s instantly recognisable growls combined with Alex Reade’s smooth vocals as the chorus hit created an unmatched wave of adrenaline that swept across the venue.

The set was an engaging exploration of their discography and journey as a band, featuring heavy-hitters from their acclaimed 2020 album, ‘How to Survive A Funeral’, such as ‘Bones’ and ‘Soul Decay’, to their self-titled latest album from 2024. One standout was ‘Mana God’, with Harmanis’s guttural vocals, whilst occasionally buried beneath the sonorous drumming, creating a visceral intensity in the room, feeling especially noticeable following the more melodic ‘Uncharted’. The band’s energy was overflowing, and the venue could barely contain it.

Just before the crushing breakdown of ‘Hollowed Heart’, the band raised a Scottish flag, causing a reception of thunderous cheers from an already rowdy crowd. As the end approached, Sean rallied the audience one final time, declaring that it was “everyone's last chance to give it their all”. The gentle opening notes of ‘Widower’ lulled us into a brief moment of calm, and as the savage riffs kicked in, so did the onslaught of crowdsurfers and an eruption of a circle pit ready to pounce.

With If Not For Me, Conjurer, Resolve and Make Them Suffer delivering one unforgettable performance after another, the evening was a celebration of what metalcore thrives on: pure emotion, intensity, and fiercely loyal fans. Next time they hit the road - which will undoubtedly be soon, given their track record - make sure you check them out, as if this night was anything to go by, seeing them cause carnage in a smaller venue may soon be a rare opportunity.

Words: Chloe Sodeau

Photos: Libby Percival