Coming down from a massive high and an all-out blockbuster of a tour with support from Bury Tomorrow, Spite, & Bloom, Make Them Suffer made time in their schedule for us over a Music Scene Media for a quick interview. I had the absolute honor and pleasure to get a look into the life of the band from guitarist Nick McLernon. From talking about the tour to life lessons to a shout-out to the Texas staple Buc-ee's, this conversation was nothing short of amazing for this fan of over a decade.
You just wrapped up your Australian tour alongside Bury Tomorrow, Spite, & Bloom. Were there any moments from the shows that took you by surprise?
Nick McLernon: Honestly, the energy from the crowd in Australia blew us away! Each city had its own vibe, but the passion and enthusiasm from everyone were something else. Sydney and Adelaide really took us by surprise because we experienced an energy we’d never felt or seen before. Not to say we had low expectations, but those two shows in particular really caught us off guard with the welcome we received.
Speaking of touring, is there anything that you absolutely must have on tour? Like a special thing from home, coffee machine, snacks, etc.?
Outside of all the essentials, I rotate between lots of socks and lots of underwear and about ten of the same plain black tee.
You have toured with a wide variety of musicians over the years. What kind of life lessons and/experiences have you collected along the way?
Touring has taught us a lot about resilience and adaptability. You never know what’s going to happen next, whether it’s a last-minute change in the lineup or unexpected technical issues. Learning to go with the flow and keep a positive attitude has been invaluable.
Do you have a favorite stop location while on tour? Whether it be a specific city, a restaurant, rest stop, etc. What’s the place you see the sign for and go “We are STOPPING!”?
One word - Buc-ee’s. If you know, you know!
Are there any dream artists that you’d like to collaborate with either on a Make Them Suffer track or on one of their tracks?
A Fred Durst guest feature is on our bucket list. The man is a lyrical messiah.
Make Them Suffer has been a name in the heavy music scene for quite some time now, but the band has exploded to new heights ever since the release of How To Survive A Funeral in 2020. Was there something about that album that you think caused this huge rise?
My guess, personally, is that it was the first time we attentively introduced relatability in our song lyrics. The subject matter and hooks play a big part in drawing the person into the song. We would do it in different ways on previous albums, but I think we really hit the nail on the head on this album.
Speaking of albums, is there a track that stands out as a band-favorite on the upcoming album?
Much like the general public, I don’t think the band can unanimously agree on a favourite track. My personal favourite would have to be between "Doomswitch" or "Epitaph."
When writing your self-titled album, what outside factors/experiences influenced the writing process of the album?
The persistence and perseverance to dig ourselves out from underground again. The entire process of writing and touring during this pre-record cycle was the reason the album is self-titled to begin with.
Are there any bands out there, either well known or up-and-coming, that you’d like to shed some light on?
Knosis, Spite, and Void of Vision. How they’re not bigger than they are is beyond me.
Do you have a motto or good advice that you live by?
Veritas Vincit which translates to - truth conquers. Stay true to yourself, your values no matter what adversities you face, and if you believe in yourself enough, something or someone may knock you down, but you’ll be able to keep getting back up
