Make Them Suffer, Conjurer, If not for Me and Resolve at O2 Islington

At a sold-out O2 Islington, Make Them Suffer didn’t just give us an unforgettable headline set—they brought along three killer support bands that made the night even more special: If Not For Me, Conjurer, and Resolve absolutely smashed it and got the crowd hyped from the start.

If Not For Me

I was especially excited to finally see If Not For Me live, and wow, they did not disappoint. They delivered a performance packed with emotion, power, and energy from start to finish. Frontman Patrick Glover told the crowd it was their first time in Europe, and you could feel how thrilled they were to be here, playing to new faces and sharing their music.

These guys are quickly making a name for themselves in the modern metalcore scene. Their sound hits that perfect balance between heavy and melodic, aggressive riffs, crushing breakdowns, and tight rhythms, but what sets them apart is Patrick’s voice. He moves seamlessly between raw screams and clean, emotional vocals that give the songs real depth and feeling.

Their set was pure energy. From the first note, the crowd was all in. Tracks like Demons and Feel Me Now showed off their ability to mix anger and vulnerability, while Say It To My Face hit hard with its no-nonsense punch. Songs like Blameless and Everything You Wanted were total highlights, absolute chaos in the best way, with the crowd going wild.

Sadly, their set came to an end way too soon. I genuinely hope they’re back in the UK soon, because I’m already dying to see them again. I had a quick chat with Patrick at the merch stand, and he was honestly one of the most down-to-earth and humble people I’ve met.

If Not For Me might not be a household name yet, but with the talent, passion, and heart they bring, there’s no doubt they’re going far. Mark my words: this is a band to watch.

Conjurer

If Not For Me got the fire started, but Conjurer took things to a whole different level… dark, intense, and hypnotic. Their set was a full-on immersive experience that left the crowd stunned in the best way.

Blending sludge, doom, and post-metal, Conjurer brought a crushing sound that hit deep. Tracks like Choke and Scorn were heavy, slow-burning monsters filled with dark atmosphere and massive riffs. The twin guitar attack from Brady and Dan was seriously impressive, both of them sharing vocal duties, trading off growls and screams that created a powerful, seamless dynamic.

Bassist Conor was a beast on stage: constantly moving, headbanging, and connecting with the crowd. For their final track, he didn’t just stay on stage, he jumped into the pit, headfirst into the chaos, right in the middle of an all-out mosh. Absolute legend move.

Meanwhile, drummer Noah held everything down with a tight, dynamic performance, driving the band’s intensity from behind the kit and keeping the whole sound locked in.

Conjurer proved once again why they’re one of the most exciting and powerful bands in the UK metal scene right now. Their live set wasn’t just heavy—it was a full-on journey, shifting from pure aggression to haunting, atmospheric moments. A performance that didn’t just shake the walls… it pulled you in and refused to let go.

Resolve

This wasn’t my first time seeing Resolve live, and once again, they proved why they’re one of the best up-and-coming metalcore bands out of France.

From start to finish, they delivered a set full of technical precision, emotional weight, and raw energy. Frontman Anthony Diliberto’s voice was absolutely on point: powerful, versatile, and packed with feeling. He commanded the stage with a presence that was intense, magnetic, and impossible to look away from.

The setlist was a perfect mix of old and new. They brought back fan favourites like Emerald Skies, while also diving into newer tracks from their latest album,m Human, including Molotov, Sandman, and Smile. They closed out with Older Days and it hit hard, both emotionally and sonically.

The crowd was all in: mosh pits, sing-alongs, and hands in the air. But what makes a Resolve show special isn’t just the heaviness or the chaos. It’s how real and connected they are with their fans. They weren’t just performing to us, they were sharing the moment with us. You could feel the bond, the honesty, and the joy they had being up there.

They created an atmosphere that was intense, personal, and cathartic, and for me, that’s what a truly great live show is all about. Resolve might be young, but with the heart, skill, and fire they bring, there’s no doubt, they’re here to stay.

Make Them Suffer

And finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for… Make Them Suffer hit the stage, and it was pure fire from the very first note.

Even though the pit had been wild all night, you could tell the crowd had been saving that last burst of energy for the headliners. This was the band’s first-ever UK headline show, and you could feel the excitement radiating from the stage. They came out ready to make it count and wow, did they deliver.

They opened with Epitaph, and it felt like getting hit by a wave of emotion and sound. The crowd was packed in tight, the pit exploded, and the intensity was unreal. Frontman Sean Harmanis was magnetic, his growls were sharp and spot-on but what really elevated the performance was the dynamic between him and Alex Reade on clean vocals and keys. The way they traded lines was stunning, striking that perfect balance between brutality and emotion. It was heavy, haunting, and cathartic all at once.

Their setlist moved between newer bangers like Ghost of Me, Mana God, and Doomswitch. Each song built in emotional intensity, with crushing breakdowns and haunting atmospheric sections that wrapped around the venue like an electric fog. You could feel the weight of every note.

The crowd gave it all back: circle pits, headbanging, and nonstop movement. The connection between band and audience was undeniable. Weaponized was the absolute high point of the night, a perfectly controlled storm of chaos and emotion that shook the room.

Make Them Suffer proved they’re not just technically tight, they’re emotionally powerful and deeply connected to their fans. Their presence was commanding, their energy was relentless, and their ability to turn a metal show into a fully immersive experience was something truly special.

This wasn’t just a gig… it was a moment we’ll all be holding onto for a long time.