On February 7th, 2026, Motionless in White, Dayseeker, and Make Them Suffer descended upon Manchester’s AO Arena for a night of pure, unrelenting devastation.

This marked our third time seeing Motionless in White, first as support for Beartooth at Wembley Arena, then at Download Festival, and now headlining the AO Arena. Every single performance has been nothing short of colossal. The band consistently delivers an almighty, arena dominating set that few can rival. Honestly, it’s hard not to see them as future Bloodstock and/or Download Festival headliners in the making.

First to take to the stage were Australian metalcore heavyweights Make Them Suffer, a band I’ve been desperate to see live since my teenage years. They wasted absolutely no time in kicking the night into gear, instantly igniting the room and delivering a crushing, no nonsense opening set.

From the very first song, crowd interaction was dialled in perfectly. Mosh pits and circle pits erupted as pure chaos unfolded across the floor. Booking Make Them Suffer as the opener was a flawless decision — a solid 10/10 way to start the night.

Make Them Suffer opening set for Motionless in White on 7th February 2026.

Next up were Dayseeker. I was genuinely excited to finally catch them live after being completely shut out of their Download Festival 2025 tent set, there was simply no getting in. However, seeing them here left me questioning the running order. Placing Dayseeker above a band like Make Them Suffer felt like an odd choice, particularly when Make Them Suffer would have offered a far more natural transition into Motionless in White.

The momentum did noticeably dip, as Dayseeker’s sound is far less chaotic and high-energy. That said, they were by no means bad; in fact, they delivered a strong, polished, and professional performance. I’d be interested to see them on a lineup better aligned with their style before making a definitive judgement.

That being said, Dayseeker were outstanding on the night and are an incredible band to catch live. If you ever get the chance, they’re absolutely worth checking out.

Dayseeker “Pale Moonlight” opening set for Motionless in White on 7th February 2026.

Finally, the moment arrived. Motionless in White graced the stage and, from the very first note, commanded it like a band that’s been headlining arenas for years. The atmosphere was electric, and the scenes unfolding, both onstage and in the crowd, were nothing short of unreal. On this night, M.I.W surpassed both previous performances we’ve seen from them, and bringing their full production to the UK proved to be an absolutely spot-on decision.

Overall, I could easily see Motionless in White headlining Download and/or Bloodstock Festival within the next five to ten years. Kam Huq, Vicky Hungerford, get these guys at the top of the bill. They will bring nothing but chaos.

Motionless in White headline set on on 7th February 2026. “Slaughterhouse”

On a side note, it’s worth touching on the food and merchandise situation. We were fortunate enough to secure The Mezz Entrance tickets, which granted access to The Mezz bar and restaurant, along with excellent seats directly opposite the stage. Being able to grab drinks before, during, and after the show without battling through crowds, paired with an outstanding view, was a definite perk.

However, there were a few unavoidable downsides, familiar to anyone who regularly attends arena shows: the pricing. Food and drink costs were eye watering, with £16.50 for a burger, £9 for a pint of Beavertown Neck Oil, and around £18 for a double vodka and Coke. Merchandise wasn’t much kinder, with t-shirts priced at £40 and hoodies listed at £70.

To be clear, this isn’t a reflection on Motionless in White themselves; the same items are listed on the band’s official website for around £20 less. This sits firmly with the venue’s merch cut and inflated pricing, which feels especially excessive given the show was completely sold out.

Nonetheless, we had a fantastic time on Saturday, and Motionless in White’s performance now sits firmly among my top three live shows of all time. I would absolutely pay to see them again, as well as Dayseeker and Make Them Suffer, without hesitation.

Overall, a 10/10 night and one I’d happily relive.