MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 03/07/25

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 03/07/25

HOUR 1
WEEKEND PICNIC - "echo chamber" // echo chamber - single
MADAM DRIVER – “crossroads" // negative ghostrider
SKILLET – “fire inside of me" // revolution
JOHNNYROOK - "if you're dying, I'm dying" // if you're dying, I'm dying - single
THE OFFSPRING – “OK but this is the last time" // supercharged
NEW FOUND GLORY – “all downhill from here" // catalyst
JIMMY EAT WORLD – “bleed American" // bleed American
ARCHITECTS feat HOUSE OF PROTECTION – “brain dead" // the sky, the earth and all between

ODDS OF AN AFTERTHOUGHT – “bearer of bad news" // where dreams go to die
ELECTRIC CALLBOY - "elevator operator" // elevator operator - single
UNDEROATH – “all the love is gone" // the place after this one
THE THIRSTY GIANTS – “dopamine" // misery and thirst
HELMET – “milktoast" // betty
EVERNORTH – “venture through ruins" // venture through ruins - single
POISON THE SERPENT - "shattered illusions" // shattered illusions - single

HOUR 2
SPIRITBOX – “fata moragna” // tsunami sea
DYING WISH – “I gave you my soul (your world gave me despair)” // I gave you my soul - single
GEL - "mirage" // persona ep
SCOWL - "special" // are we all angels
HANABIE – “OTAKU lovely densetsu" // otaku lovely densetsu - single
DOROTHY feat SLASH - "tombstone town" // the way
BULLETS AND BUTTERFLIES - "sleepless nights" // sleepless nights - single
THE PRETTY RECKLESS feat KIM THAYIL and MATT CAMERON - "only love can save me now" // death by rock and roll

PLAGUE OF STARS - "false reality" // extinction
GABRIEL AND THE APOCALYPSE - "march of the dolls" // the ghost parade
EVERNOIR - "you tried" // hateful lullabies
POPPY - "the center's falling out" // negative spaces
MVRROW - "hope" // fever dream
OLD TOWNE GHOSTS - "knight boat" // the old ones are and forever shall be
EMPLOYED TO SERVE feat WILL RAMOS - "atonement" // fallen star
ENTHEOS - "an end to everything" // an end to everything

MAKE THEM SUFFER throw the "Doomswitch"!

CONCERT REVIEW :: MAKE THEM SUFFER
Varsity Theater in Minneapolis, MN
Feb 20, 2025
Photos by Brett Zisler
Review by Nick

MAKE THEM SUFFER kicked off their 2025 U.S. Tour in Minneapolis, MN at a sold out Varsity Theater. The crowd was packed in excitement for the return of the Australian metal band who released perhaps their career defining self titled album back in November. An album that has not left constant rotation personally since it’s release almost 5 months ago.

The opening melody of “Epitaph” plays as the band takes the stage. The stage goes black and silent just as the song should pop off, giving the crowd a moment to have their voices heard. The band kicks out a blast of sound as they officially launch in to the track starting a frenzy. Not letting up, the band rolls right in to “Bones”, a stand out track from How to Survive a Funeral. Guitarist Nick McLernon, bassist Jaya Jeffery and drummer Jordan Mather throw down a wall of sound for keyboardist and vocalist Alex Reade to weave in and out while lead vocalist Sean Harmanis powerful screams lead the charge.

“Mana God”, “Ghost of Me”, “Oscillator” and “Weaponized” come one after the other showcasing the new album in style and providing many sing along moments with the crowd during the choruses. While they didn’t play most of the back half of the new album, they made sure to play at least one song from every album previous.

Closing the main set was the 1-2 punch of “Erase Me” into “Doomswitch” which was a pretty perfect way to leave the crowd wanting a little more before going back to the Neverbloom record for the encore of “Widower” complete with Alex wielding a keytar! This was exactly what you would want from the band. A mostly bare stage leaving the band plenty of room to roam with a solid light show to go with the frantic breakdowns and melodies that would crush the hour long set.

Jet lag and illness be damned, the band powered thru and left it all on the stage accomplishing a solid set equally enjoyable for new fans just coming on board and old fans that have been around awhile. MAKE THEM SUFFER left the fans wanting more and hopefully a return visit is in the cards where they can play more of the new album live.

SEE MORE OF BRETT'S PHOTOS OF MAKE THEM SUFFER HERE!

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 02/28/25

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 02/28/25

HOUR 1
ARCHITECTS feat AMIRA ELFEKY – “judgement day" // the sky, the earth and all between
BLACK MAP - "hex (come get it)" // hex
ALIGN – “the quest for townies" // blue book value
RAD OWL - "every second" // rage gracefully
FORBIDDEN SEAS – “sirens" // sirens - single
SILVERSTEIN – “don't let me get too low" // antibloom
MADAM DRIVER – “through the trees" // negative ghostrider
THROW THE FIGHT – “obey" // strangeworld
HOUSE OF PROTECTION – “afterlife” // outrun you all

PLUSH – “I don't care" (live) // live USA '24
DIRTY HONEY – “California dreaming (live)" // mayhem and revelry live
CHAINED SAINT - "stronger than stone (blindside)" // blindside
ALICE IN CHAINS - "the one you know" // rainer fog
SEVENDUST – “everything" // truth killer
THE WARNING - "automatic sun" // keep me fed
TURNSTILE - "humanoid/shake it up" // glow on

HOUR 2
EVERNOIR - "you tried" // hateful lullabies
PARKWAY DRIVE - "absolute power" // reverence
BEARTOOTH - "bad listener" // disease
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE – “the fall of us" // this consequence
HANABIE – “Osaki Ni Shitsurei Shimasu" // reborn superstar
AMON AMARTH – “raise your horns" // jomsviking
PANTERA – “I'm broken" // far beyond driven

DYING WISH - "I brought you my soul (your world brought me despair)" // I brought you my soul - single
GEL - "persona" // persona ep
LOATHE - "aggressive evolution" // I let it in and it took everything
SPIRITBOX – “no loss no love” // tsunami sea
THE BURN VAULT - "even rock stars die too" // ignite
SOULKEEPER - "heavy glow" // holy design
BLOODYWOOD – “tadka” // nu delhi
ARCH ENEMY - "paper tiger" // blood dynasty

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 02/21/25

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 02/21/25

HOUR 1
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE – “discordant nation" // this consequence
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE - "aftermath" // this consequence
ALIGN – “neo-noir" // neo-noir - single
ANXIETY SOCIETY – “you want it” // you want it - single
HOUSE OF PROTECTION – “afterlife” // outrun you all
UNDEROATH – “teeth" // the place after this one
MADAM DRIVER - "crossroads" // negative ghostrider
SILVERSTEIN – “don't let me get too low" // anitbloom

DIRTY HONEY – “the wire" (live) // mayhem and revelry live
PLUSH – “champion" (live) // live USA 24
ANGRY WATERS - "invasive species" (live) // angry waters live
BANEHINGE - "lemmings" (live) // live at star central
SHINEDOWN – “dance, kid, dance” // dance, kid, dance – single
HOT WATER MUSIC - "side of the road" // vows
WEEKEND PICNIC - "I will remain" // I will remain - single
ARROWS AT DAWN - "save love" // save love - single

HOUR 2
EVERNOIR – “spiral" // hateful lullabies
PLAGUE OF STARS – “vain" // extinction
ARCHITECTS – “blackhole" // the sky, the earth and all between
TETRARCH – “never again (parasite)” // the ugly side of me
CYMOTHOA feat NATE GALBRAITH - "chuggernaut" // make noise loud again but with vocals
LACUNA COIL – “scarecrow" // sleepless empire
MACHINE HEAD, IN FLAMES, LACUNA COIL, UNEARTH – “these scars won't define us" // unatoned

POISON THE WELL – “trembling level” // trembling level - single
BLEEDING THROUGH – “hail destruction” // nine
EMPLOYED TO SERVE feat WILL RAMOS – “atonement” // fallen star
INTERLOPER – “a forgotten loss” // a forgotten loss
ORBIT CULTURE – “vultures of north" // descent
REAPING ASMODEIA – “shattered leviathan” // shattered leviathan - single
KUBLAI KHAN TX - "mud" // exhibition of prowess

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 02/14/25

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 02/14/25

HOUR 1
TURNSTILE - "real thing" // time and space
TOO LATE, BUT STILL – “live more tilapia" // rewrite the story
OFF WITH THEIR HEADS – “seek advise elsewhere" // home
RAD OWL – “growl" // rage gracefully
EXACTLYNO – “where we belong" // red line city
LOST ISLAND SOCIETY – “living the meme" // living the meme
CRASH CUDDLE – “owning the bull" // klaxon
XAETO – “amalgam" // amalgam - single

DOROTHY feat SLASH – “tombstone town” // the way
BULLETS & BUTTERFLIES – “sleepless nights” // sleepless nights - single
CASANATRA – “blonde train run” // blonde train run - single
NITA STRAUSS feat DOROTHY – “victorious" // the call of the void
DEADLANDS & THE PRETTY WILD – “kundalini" // kundalini - single
SEVENDUST feat SKIN – “licking cream" // home
DEFTONES - "digital bath" // white pony

HOUR 2
LACUNA COIL – “I wish you were dead" // sleepless empire
TETRARCH – “never again (parasite)” // the ugly side of me
DREAMS ASIDE - "square one" // square one - single
MAKE THEM SUFFER – “ghost of me" // make them suffer
SPIRITBOX – “no loss no love” // tsunami sea
LOATHE – “new faces in the dark" // i let it in and it took everything
SLDG - "1000 yard stare" // predicaments
CYMOTHOA – “chuggernaut” // make noise loud again but with vocals

BLEEDING THROUGH feat COMEBACK KID – “I am resistance" // nine
GABRIEL AND THE APOCALYPSE – “counting scars" // alpha bionic
JINJER – “duel” // duel
NEKROGOBLIKON – “bodom beach terror” // bodom beach terror - single
SHADOWS FALL - "in the grey" // in the grey - single
GWAR - "sick of you" // scumdogs of the universe
MINISTRY – “burning inside" // the mind is a terrible thing to taste

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 02/07/25

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 02/07/25

HOUR 1
GOJIRA, Marina Viotti & Victor Le Masne – “mea culpa (ah! ca ira!)” // mea culpa (ah! ca ira!) - single
SPIRITBOX – “no loss no love" // tsunami sea
POPPY – “the center's falling out" // negative spaces
KNOCKED LOOSE feat POPPY - "suffocate" // you won't go before you're supposed to
TOO LATE, BUT STILL – “live more tilapia” // rewrite the story
THE OFFSPRING – “OK, but this is the last time” // supercharged
FLIPP – “half a brain" // flipp (20th anniversary platinum edition)
TURNSTILE - "dance off" // glow on
ALIGN - "lost on the ten" // blue book value

SCOWL - "special" // are we all angels
PLUSH – “I don't care (live)" // live USA '24
MVRROW - "hope" // fever dream
BARONESS – “isak" // red album
DEADLANDS & THE PRETTY WILD - "kundalini" // kundalini - single
NITA STRAUSS feat LZZY HALE – “through the noise" // the call of the void
ELECTRIC CALLBOY - "elevator operator" // elevator operator - single
GIDEON - "take off" // more power. more pain

HOUR 2
JINJER – “tantrum” // duel
CYMOTHOA – “choosy moms choose riffs” // make noise loud again
LACUNA COIL – “oxygen” // sleepless empire
KITTIE – “falter” // fire
THE CHALLENGER DISASTER CONSPIRACY - "corncob messiah" // city pages 2023 band of the year
BLOODYWOOD – “tadka” // nu delhi
RED FANG – “it’s always there” // deep cuts

ARCH ENEMY – “paper tiger" // blood dynasty
DRAIN – “living proof” // living proof
DYING WISH - "watch my promise die" // symptoms of survival
GEL - "persona" // persona
REFLECTIONS – “deva” // deva - single
BLEEDING THROUGH – “dead, but so alive” // nine
POISON THE WELL – “trembling level” // trembling level - single
PLAGUE OF STARS – “false reality” // extinction

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 01/31/25

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 01/31/25

HOUR 1
LARKIN POE – “pearls” // bloom
SHINEDOWN – “dance, kid, dance” // dance, kid, dance - single
WEEKEND PICNIC – “follow me down" // follow me down - single
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE – “I believe” // this consequence
DOROTHY feat SLASH – “tombstone town” // the way
BULLETS AND BUTTERFLIES – “abandon ship” // abandon ship - single
RAD OWL - "always eyes" // rage gracefully
SCOWL – “not hell, not heaven” // are we all angels

ELECTRIC CALLBOY – “elevator operator” // elevator operator – single
JOHNNYROOK – “anything that'll sink" // the more things change
INCUBUS – “blood on the ground" // morning view
L.S. DUNES – “permenant rebellion" // past lives
THE LONELY ONES - "the bottom" // the bottom - single
BUTCHER BABIES - "sincerity" // sincerity - single
FLESHWATER – “linda Claire” // we’re not here to be liked
TURNSTILE - "t.l.c. (turnstile love connection)" // glow on

HOUR 2
JINJER – “duel” // duel
PLAGUE OF STARS – “false reality" // extinction
ALL THAT REMAINS – “divine” // antifragile
CYMOTHOA - "choosy moms choose riffs" // make noise loud again
EVERNOIR – “eater of worlds” // hateful lullabies
AUGUST BURNS RED feat JOSH McMANNESS – “barbarian” // thrill seeker (20th anniversary edition)
BLOODYWOOD - "tadka" // nu delhi

POISON THE WELL – “trembling level” // trembling level - single
ODDS OF AN AFTERTHOUGHT – “bearer of bad news" // where dreams go to die
MAKE THEM SUFFER – “tether" // make them suffer
RED FANG - "it's always there" // deep cuts
WARROOSTER - "hyperdrive" // demo
EMPLOYED TO SERVE feat WILL RAMOS – “atonement” // fallen star
REAPING ASMODEIA – “shattered leviathan” // shattered leviathan - single