On February 23, 2025 Australian metalcore band Make Them Suffer sold out The Roxy at Mahall’s in Lakewood, Ohio bringing out Windwaker, Aviana & Like Moths To Flames creating one of the best line ups so far this year!
Windwaker started the night off strong playing songs such as “Dopamine Freestyle,” “Fractured State of Mind,” and “Sirens.” I had missed them the last time they were in the United States and seeing them this time around was definitely worth the wait. They put on such a great show as openers and you don’t want to miss their set hands down.
Next was Aviana, hailing from Sweden they personally gained a fan out of me with their insane stage presence and the crowd seemed to love them as well with a whole group of fans on barricade headbanging and even getting attention from the members. Like Moths To Flames came up and surely made a homecoming with their stage presence and crowd interaction trying to get the crowd to at least do some movement as they were just standing there most of the show which definitely ruffled some feathers with the bands.
Make Them Suffer, as always, puts on one of the greatest shows I’ve ever seen. They truly were made to perform. Their lighting this time around was so beautiful and made sure you can see each member. At the beginning of the set the crowd still wasn’t moving a bunch — but by the end of the set the crowd finally started moving and creating mosh pits. Once the crowd got going, there was no stopping the energy as it spread through the venue like wildfire.
They played songs such as the live debut of “Mana God,” “Ghost of Me,” “Erase Me” and “Doomswitch.” A big highlight was the incomparable talent from female keyboardist and vocalist Alex Reade. She oozed with badassery and is a solid representation for all of the women in metal bands. Make Them Suffer had a flawless chemistry between all of the members, proving to be one of the bands on our radar for 2025. Overall, this show was beautiful from every aspect and still one of the best line ups thus far in the year!
GALLERY: Make Them Suffer with Windwaker, Like Moths To Flames and Aviana at The Roxy at Mahall’s in Lakewood, Ohio (February 23, 2025)
