The City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection has become pretty well acquainted with Australian deathcore band Make Them Suffer over the years, with more than half a dozen shows since the release of 2015 sophomore LP Old Souls, most recently with an April 2024 stop at Theatre of Living Arts as direct support for ERRA. However, it’s been quite some time since we’ve seen the band headlining (2017 at Voltage Lounge, if my calculations are correct). But tomorrow Make Them Suffer kick off more than a month of headlining dates across North America which will have them appearing at our very own Brooklyn Bowl (which was upgraded from The Foundry) on March 2nd. Make Them Suffer’s upcoming dates are their first Stateside shows in support of their self-titled fifth LP, which dropped last November on Greyscale Records in Australia and SharpTone Records in the rest of the world.
The last time I chatted with Make Them Suffer was in the summer of 2021, when I spoke with guitarist and co-founder Nick McLernon about 2020 fourth LP How To Survive a Funeral, how the group spent the pandemic, and their first-ever collaboration, 2021 stand-alone single “Contraband,” which features Spiritbox’s Courtney LaPlante. However, last month I got a chance to chat with Make Them Suffer vocalist (and other co-founder) Sean Harmanis, who tells me about getting back to touring, the band’s latest (and perhaps definitive) music, and what Americans can expect of these headlining dates.
Izzy Cihak: The last time I spoke to the band was in July of 2021, when live music was just about to come back. What have been some of the highlights of Make Them Suffer over those almost four years? You’ve done a ton of touring and released a new full-length since then.
Sean Harmanis: Oh, so many highlights! I suppose playing our first tour back was incredible. Recording and releasing our fifth studio album, and self-titled record. Just being in full swing right now is a highlight to be honest.
Izzy: The new album dropped late last year. How do you feel like it compares to previous releases? It’s obviously a bit of a reinvention (or evolution) sonically, and it’s also the first to feature Alex Reade.
Sean: The new album is really exciting for us. I think the record achieves exactly what we intended it to do. It’s a compilation of bangers. A bunch of consecutive singles that define the current era of Make Them Suffer. We couldn’t be more proud of it.
Izzy: Have you had any favorite reactions to the new music? People seem to be loving it, considering the fact that the show you’re playing here got moved to a venue more than twice the size.
Sean: Honestly, I try to steer clear of reactions and feedback to a lot of our new music as I feel regardless of the feedback being positive or negative, it has an unhealthy impact on me. Although Galacticcriminal on YouTube I think is probably my favourite of the reaction video content creators, he’s such a vibe and I get pumped whenever I see him pull out the sunnies at the end of one of his videos.
Izzy: This is the second album in a row for which you worked with Jeff Dunne. How did you originally connect with him, and how would you characterize the dynamic that you have with him?
Sean: Jeff was the guitar engineer and mixing engineer on our previous album, How To Survive a Funeral, which is produced by Drew Fulk. During the recording of that record, Nick and Jeff really hit it off and, after having him mix a couple singles since the release of that record, we felt comfortable having him engineer and mix this one.
Izzy: This is kinda a cheesy question, but considering that this is a self-titled album, I’m curious if you have any favorite self-titled albums in your own musical library? The self-titled releases from The Stooges, Jane’s Addiction, Ramones, and Black Sabbath immediately come to mind, but there really are tons and tons of great ones.
Sean: I really love Gorillaz’s self-titled album, Suffocation’s self-titled album I think is a real stand out. Slipknot’s self-titled is probably my favourite from them. Weezer’s blue album is their technically self-titled record, and I love that one. Rage Against The Machine. I feel like there are a lot of great self-titled albums.
Izzy: You’re about to embark on a ton of touring, with more than a month of North American dates, followed by a month of dates in the UK and Europe. Are there any shows/venues/cities you’re especially excited to play?
Sean: I’m excited for the whole thing, and we’re looking to have a few sellouts on this run, but I have no expectations of any particular one show. I’ll decide the standouts when I see the energy each crowd brings on the night. We’re going to be giving it 100% every night and we hope to see the same from every crowd on these tours. Don’t miss out on your tickets if you haven’t got them yet.
Izzy: You’ve played Philadelphia a lot over the past decade-ish, between TLA, Voltage Lounge, Underground Arts, and Union Transfer. Any favorite memories or thoughts on the city?
Sean: I remember the Philly show was first up our last time over on the ERRA tour, and that crowd really set the bar. We were very jetlagged and that was a nice welcome to the tour, so if the crowd will be anything like that, then I’m excited to play Philly again. I also like Philly quite a bit in general. I like the people, the mannerisms, the slang, the culture. It’s unique and always a fun time.
Izzy: I’m pretty sure this will be your first time playing our Brooklyn Bowl, although you have played at least the one in Nashville, right? What are your thoughts on Brooklyn Bowl venues and their general vibe and feel?
Sean: I’m assuming from this question then that Brooklyn Bowl is a franchise? We don’t have that in Australia. I do remember the venue in Nashville was nice, good catering and sound, nice loading ramp; which is really important with all the loading I do as a vocalist. If Philly’s Brooklyn Bowl is any similar, I’m sure It’ll be a great time.
Izzy: What can be expected of the live show on this run, in terms of setlist, production, and general energy of the night? This will actually be my first time seeing you play a headlining show (I saw you a few years back supporting Bad Omens, although I was really just there for you… They were definitely fun live, though.)
Sean: We are coming to fuck shit up. Bring positive vibes and rock out with us.
Izzy: You’re gonna be on the road with Like Moths To Flames, Windwaker, and Aviana in America, who are all super cool. What are your thoughts on your tourmates and their music? Are you excited to be out and travelling the States with them?
Sean: Yes, we are, we’re big fans of all of their music. Like Moths I’ve listened to for some time, Windwaker are our good mates from Australia, I haven’t met everyone from Aviana yet, but the people I do know are very nice people and their music is rad. I think we’re going to be in for a sick tour!
Izzy: Finally, what’s next for you, after all of this currently announced touring wraps? What are you planning or working on for the second half of 2025, or is it just going to be more and more playing live?
Sean: We’re always working on new stuff, and we’re always working towards new shows and tours. As so aptly put my millions of bands and artists before me: BIG THINGS COMING SOON. WATCH THIS SPACE.
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