Album Review: Make Them Suffer – Worlds Apart

JT July 24, 2017 239 Comments 1,176 views 2 likes

Make Them Suffer have made quite the name for themselves throughout the years. With a haunting and captivating storyline (Lord of Woe) spanning across an EP and two albums and a sound ranging from symphonic deathcore to hard-hitting, yet ambient metalcore, they’ve more than proven they have the prowess to unequivocally be one of the greatest bands in the game today. With their upcoming release Worlds Apart, they have further cemented this sentiment. The title could not be more fitting for a multitude of reasons. The music itself, albeit not entirely different of the band of old, is none the less …softer than previous releases. Do not however think for a single second that Make Them Suffer has lost any bit of their aggression or edge. Although aspects of the sound have taken on some more ambient or melodic elements, there is no lack of ballistic, head banging material. This will also be the first album to seemingly have been written without reference to the Lord of Woe character, with many more hints at a modern day storyline.

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Genre: Metalcore | Symphonic Death Metal
Label: Rise Records
Release: July 28, 2017
Connect: Facebook | Twitter
Purchase: iTunes | Google Play
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The album opener entitled “The First Movement”, was an epic and phenomenal choice to introduce you to the bands new sound as the song overall is one of the most melodic on the entire album. Vocalist Sean Harmanis almost grooves in his harsh, yet rhythmic delivery. The style in which Harmanis screams truly enraptures the listener in the story in which he hopes to tell. Taking over clean vocal duties, while original keyboardist/clean vocalist Louisa Nurton is on hiatus, is Booka Nile. With a voice as unique as her name, she soars over the beautiful harmonies of the instruments and is a fitting addition.

“Vortex (Interdimensional Hindering Inexplicable Euphoria)” is almost reminiscent of the bands Neverbloom/Old Soul days. The song leans on the more symphonic metalcore aspects that used to be the namesake of the bands sound. Sean’s screams are (as per usual) pushed to the limits with an insane amount of range. From guttural low and gritty growls, to highs almost akin to shrieks, he truly has one of the most versatile screams in the business today (and this song is a perfect example of this).

Make Them Suffer – Vortex (Interdimensional Spiral Hindering Inexplicable Euphoria)

Purchase “Worlds Apart” here: https://RiseRecords.lnk.to/WorldsApart Spiralling down, the void is pulling me. Twisting me. Willingly, I’ll abandon all I knew. Circling. When I’m finally down the drain, I will see it differently. Sadly that’s the best I can do. I think I’ve fallen apart. Left only an empty dial tone.

“Fireworks” was the first single released from the album, and although not a complete representation of what direction the entire album would be going in (the band has truly never pigeonholed themselves with just one sound on any release, if we’re being honest), it did truly show the band was ready to embrace a new and beautiful sounding horizon. The song’s verse and chorus flow with an undeniably smooth momentum, yet come the bridges and breakdown, you’re musically slapped in the face, ensuring you that there is no lack of heaviness. The music video was an absolute perfect representation of the song. Filmed in part with the group performing at the peak of a hilltop in a rolling countryside, this song at its core is a love story. Perhaps an imperfect one, yet a love story none the less, and the depiction of a romance between characters as kids and adults shows this wondrously.

Make Them Suffer – Fireworks (Official Music Video)

Purchase “Worlds Apart” here: https://RiseRecords.lnk.to/WorldsApart So long, goodbye. Because tonight I think I’m ready to go. And so I’m praying you’re still laying there and waiting when I’m finally home. I had to do this for me, because it’s all I know. This time I’ll make things right.

Rounding out the album is the final track, “Save Yourself”, which is a hard hitting song and contains perfectly subtle ambient touches throughout. The chorus is a stunning back and forth between Harmanis and Nile, speaking of a love gone awry with the instigator of this fact being self-aware of their faults. The bridge of this song is focused around a spoken word/screamed admission of these faults and how one could try to overcome them. This is captivation and emotion and its best. At its heart though, it is an apology, and a very heartfelt one at that. One I’m sure we’ve all had to say to one degree or another in our lives. Finally, the song ends with a equally emotionally piece from keyboardist Nile, signifying the song much like the relationship is over.

It couldn’t be any more clear that Make Them Suffer were ready for a new chapter, and they couldn’t have conveyed that in a more perfect way. This album is full of heartbreaking and inspiring tales alike, with incredible attention to detail in both lyricism and instrumentation. It touches on every element that makes a band like them great. With songs that will ignite a fire in both old fans and new, this is precisely the album that will set Make Them Suffer “worlds apart” from anyone else in the metalcore scene today.