Make Them Suffer’s “Old Souls”: A Descent into Darkness and a Desperate Plea for Redemption

Make Them Suffer's 2015 album "Old Souls" is a harrowing concept album that chronicles the emotional and psychological deterioration of a soldier returning from war. Through brutal instrumentation and frontman Sean Harmanis' anguished vocals, the album paints a vivid picture of a man grappling with PTSD, alcoholism, and the crushing weight of guilt.

The opening track, "Foreword," sets the stage with the protagonist's hopeful plea to an old friend, "Let's start again," hinting at a bygone happiness soon to be shattered. The music video depicts a brutal separation from a loving wife, foreshadowing the emotional turmoil to come.

As the album progresses, the protagonist's world crumbles. "Scraping the Barrel" lays bare his profound sadness, with lyrics like "patching the holes" and "drying the emptiness" depicting a desperate attempt to numb the pain through alcohol. This self-destruction culminates in the schizophrenic inner struggle portrayed in "Blood Moon," where the protagonist wrestles with his demons.

A turning point arrives with "Through the Looking Glass," a moment of chilling self-reflection. The protagonist confronts his reflection, a stark contrast to the hopeful pleas of the opening track. This introspection ushers in a sense of surrender in "Threads," where he relinquishes all earthly possessions, symbolically shedding his physical form.

The desperate yearning for oblivion intensifies in "Let Me In." The protagonist, unable to bear the weight of his actions and the emotional void, returns home to his wife "Annie." A haunting apology note left behind hints at the tragedy to come, a foreshadowing confirmed by the gunshot that concludes the song's music video.

"Requiem" serves as a mournful farewell, a lament for the fallen soldier. The protagonist's voice, though silenced, promises to live on: "Through my buried bones, my song lives on." This chilling line takes on a new meaning upon returning to the opening track, "Old Souls," where the protagonist seems to plead from beyond the grave. The album ends with a single, heartbreaking line: "It's been so long," a stark reminder of the enduring impact of war and the tragic cost it extracts.

"Old Souls" is a harrowing journey into the abyss of despair. Make Them Suffer masterfully weave a narrative of mental disintegration, using brutal music and introspective lyrics to deliver a powerful and unforgettable experience.