MAKE THEM SUFFER’s ALEX READE On APRA Nomination, Breaking Boundaries, And A True Blue Aussie Tour

Interview by Angela Croudace
Australian metalcore powerhouse Make Them Suffer are riding high in
2025 with a prestigious APRA Music Award nomination—an accolade
that has vocalist and keyboardist Alex Reade feeling a well-earned
sense of pride.
“When we found out about the nomination, we weren’t sure what it
meant at first,” Reade admits. “But once we did our research, we
realized—this is something we’ve worked so hard for. After
everything we’ve put into the last three years, the grind of
touring, this kind of recognition really matters.”
The category for Most Performed Heard Rock/Heavy Metal Work was
taken out in 2024's inaugural year by Parkway Drive and
is something that Reade sees as a major step forward for the
genre and its diverse artists. “It’s so good to see not only heavy
music being acknowledged, but also the visibility of women within
it,” she says. “We’re reaching a point where it’s just normal. It’s
respected.”
Reade joined Make Them Suffer ahead of their 2023 self-titled
album, which she calls a “dipping of toes” into the band’s true
potential. “This album showed what the band is capable of, but I
don’t think people have seen anything yet,” she says. “The next
chapter is going to be something really special.”
The band’s evolution—from COVID-era uncertainty to global tours and
packed venues—has forged a new, galvanized identity. “There was a
time when no one knew if we’d keep going,” Reade reflects. “But the
response to Doomswitch and this new chapter has been massive. We’re
solid now. We’re a team.”
With an 18-date regional Australian tour lined up, including stops
in less-frequented towns like Narre Warren and Forster, the band is
embracing their roots. “This tour feels like a celebration of
Australia,” Reade says. “We're bringing the full heavy energy but
in a way that's more intimate, more connected.”
With Justice for the Damned and The Gloom in the Corner joining the
run, Reade promises one thing: “It’s gonna be heavy. And it’s gonna
be fun.”

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