REVIEW: BETTER LOVERS "HIGHLY IRRESPONSIBLE"

If you’re entrenched anywhere in the heavy music scene, then you probably have heard the name Better Lovers, a supergroup of sorts building massive momentum since their EP up to Highly Irresponsible, their debut full length produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Will Putney. The album is out October 25th via Sharptone Records, and was one of my most anticipated releases this year, and boy does it live up to the hype.

This album does not slow down from the first note until the final one, coming at you in a controlled chaos freight train. The band is composed of Greg Puciato (vocals), Jordan Buckley (guitar), Will Putney (guitar), Steve Micciche (bass), and Clayton “Goose” Holyoak (drums).

Puciato keeps it simple,

“New album. First full-length. It’s a typical thing to say, but we’re excited to start getting this thing out there. Everyone really brought their best to this and brought out the best in each other.” 

The album opens with “Lies Between the Lines” which immediately asks the question, “Am I where I’m supposed to be?” There is a lot of reflecting happening in the album, but also just as much aggression to get out through trademark Jordan Buckley riffs, and high pitched screams from Puciato. 

“A White Horse Covered In Blood” was the lead single when the album was announced, so we’ve had it the longest, and yet in context of the album it still kicks you in the teeth immediately. The song goes between the screams and almost a whisper, repeating, “you taught yourself a lie that you repeated,” which is so much fun to scream live having just seen them at the last Furnace Festival in Alabama earlier this month. There is a lot of whisper yelling throughout the album and it’s incredibly effective to really pull attention to the lyrics before opening back up to the drums, guitars, and bass. This song really embraces everything I loved about the EP and cranks it up another thousand notches.

The band is about to embark on a tour in support of the album, and I cannot wait to hear some of these other songs live such as the next one, “Deliver Us From Life”, which is sure to be a much needed breather among the full speed spinning of the mosh pit and endless crowd surfing. Just because the song is slower does not make it any happier: “warning I’m not inclined to believe you/and maybe I’m fooling myself by deceiving you.” This song is very clearly aimed at someone who is assumed to be lying, and telling them off.

“Everything Was Put Here For Me” feels like a condemnation of humanity and the overconsumption of resources and polluting of the planet. “And it won’t be bright enough when you’re trying to see/and it won’t be clear enough when you’re trying to breathe/And you won’t be laughing when you’re lying deceased.” 

The guitars transition from chaos to eerie vibes over a loose bass groove and pulsating drums on the spacey “At All Times”. This song is another breath on the album as the train slows, but does not stop. I’m a huge fan of the drums on this song and this whole album. Goose really is just one of my favorite drummers in hardcore. This whole album is just such a great listen top to bottom. 

The last track on the album, “Love As An Act of Rebellion”, talks about the high temperature in America and the world right now, and how love in some places has become an act of rebellion against the hate of different communities. The track was put out as the last single before the record which the band account on X FKA Twitter said, “Here’s one more appetizer before the Highly Irresponsible main course is served this Friday. Some crispy green beans before your Buddha’s Feast. A blooming onion before your slow roasted prime rib. Unlimited soup and salad before your Tour Of Italy.” 

CHECK OUT “HIGHLY IRRESPONSIBLE” ON 10/25 AND CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE ALBUM NOW!

TRACK LISTING:

LIE BETWEEN THE LINES

YOUR MISPLACED SELF

A WHITE HORSE COVERED IN BLOOD

FUTURE MYOPIA

DELIVER US FROM LIFE

DROWNING IN A BURNING WORLD

EVERYTHING WAS PUT HERE FOR ME

SUPERMAN DIED PARALYZED

AT ALL TIMES

LOVE AS AN ACT OF REBELLION

Forget Me Not

Photo by Gabe Becerra