Better Lovers

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Better Lovers
Better Lovers performing in 2023. Left to right: Greg Puciato, Jordan Buckley, Steve Micciche, Clayton "Goose" Holyoak, and Will Putney
Better Lovers performing in 2023.
Left to right: Greg Puciato, Jordan Buckley, Steve Micciche, Clayton "Goose" Holyoak, and Will Putney
Background information
OriginBuffalo, New York, U.S.
Genres
Years active2023 (2023)–present
Labels
Spinoff of
Members
Websitegodmademeananimal.com

Better Lovers is an American hardcore punk band from Buffalo, New York. Formed in 2023 after the dissolution of Every Time I Die, the group consists of vocalist Greg Puciato, guitarists Jordan Buckley and Will Putney, bassist Stephen Micciche, and drummer Clayton Holyoak. The band is signed to SharpTone Records and released their debut EP, God Made Me an Animal, in 2023. Often labeled a supergroup, the band features members formerly of Every Time I Die (Buckley, Micciche, and Holyoak) and The Dillinger Escape Plan (Puciato), as well as a current member of Fit For An Autopsy (Putney).

History[edit]

Formation and God Made Me An Animal (2023)[edit]

Jordan Buckley, Stephen Micciche and Clayton "Goose" Holyoak were once part of the metalcore band Every Time I Die, alongside Andy Williams and Jordan Buckley's brother Keith. In December 2021, Keith took a hiatus from the band citing mental health concerns,[1] but later accused his brother Jordan and bandmates of "ostracizing" him from the band.[2] Every Time I Die issued a statement saying they were working on things privately,[3] and would go on to play one last show on December 11. On January 18, 2022, Jordan Buckley, Williams, Micciche and Holyoak released a statement saying they were no longer performing as Every Time I Die due to inabilities to directly communicate with Keith or reach an agreement to continue as a band, effectively breaking up the band after 24 years.[4][5] The next day, Keith revealed he'd been issued a cease-and-desist on December 20, the week following the band's final show, ordering him to stop using the band's name and likeness.[6]

Despite the breakup and public coverage, Jordan Buckley, Williams, Micciche and Holyoak would continue to practice together,[7] with intentions to start a new band under a different name.[8] In November 2022, Buckley would post video clips to his social media of him working on new material with Micciche, Holyoak, and producer Will Putney at his studio in New Jersey.[9] Putney had produced Every Time I Die's last two albums, Low Teens and Radical. Guitarist Andy Williams was not present in these sessions, having fully committed to a career in professional wrestling with All Elite Wrestling as "The Butcher," and bassist Micciche would later confirm Williams was not involved with their initial recordings.[10]

On April 17, 2023, Buckley, Micciche and Holyoak officially announced the formation of Better Lovers with their first single, "30 Under 13", released through SharpTone Records.[11] The band revealed that Putney was officially a member of the group as a guitarist, and that they were joined by vocalist Greg Puciato, formerly of the metalcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan.[12] Puciato had been working with heavy metal supergroup Killer Be Killed, electronic supergroup The Black Queen, and as a solo artist prior to joining the band. When talking about whether Better Lovers was a supergroup, bassist Steve Micciche said "we don't look at it that way. While it's impossible to not acknowledge the past bands that we were in that we're proud of, this thing is its own thing/beast/entity. We're not here for a cup of coffee. We still have something to say creatively, and that's a thing that doesn't just go away and is very important to all of us."[13]

One day after the announcement, on April 18, the band revealed they would be joining The Ghost Inside, Underoath and We Came As Romans on their summer North American tour,[14] and throughout April and the rest of summer would also announce their own headline dates in both America and the UK, including a debut show in their hometown of Buffalo, New York.[15] On July 7, 2023, Better Lovers surprise released their debut EP, God Made Me an Animal, released through SharpTone and produced by Putney.[16]

In an interview with Revolver on September 26, the band intimated they had enough songs in the works for a whole album, but alluded to the possibility of more music releasing before the end of the year.[17] On November 16, they would indeed release a new single, "Two Alive Amongst The Dead,"[18] and later in the year announced 2024 tour dates in North America in the spring and Europe in the summer.

Debut studio album (2024–present)[edit]

On January 9, 2024, the band revealed their intent to release their debut full-length record in 2024. On their Instagram, they cited the sporadic releases they'd done throughout the previous year, but "to do that with the sixteen new songs we’ve written would be unsafe."[19] The timing of their studio sessions fits in before the start of their North American tour later in the spring. On April 2, 2024, the band released the single "The Flowering," a version of a track played at shows the previous year under the working title "Punk."[20]

Musical style[edit]

Better Lovers' style has been described as hardcore,[16][21] metalcore,[22] and mathcore.[23] Despite incorporating members from multiple bands, MetalSucks described their sound as "more Every Time I Die than Dillinger Escape Plan, but if you love early 2000s chaotic hardcore and metalcore, God Made Me an Animal will be your jam."[22]

Members[edit]

  • Greg Puciato – vocals (2023–present)
  • Jordan Buckley – guitar (2023–present)
  • Steve Micciche – bass (2023–present)
  • Clayton "Goose" Holyoak – drums (2023–present)
  • Will Putney – guitar (2023–present)

Discography[edit]

EPs

  • God Made Me an Animal (2023)

Singles

  • 30 Under 13 (2023)
  • Two Alive Amongst The Dead (2023)
  • The Flowering (2024)

References[edit]

  1. ^ Enis, Eli (December 3, 2021). "Keith Buckley Taking Hiatus From Every Time I Die Due To Mental Health". Revolver. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  2. ^ "Every Time I Die Frontman Keith Buckley Accuses Bandmates Of Secretly Plotting To Replace Him". Blabbermouth.net. December 3, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  3. ^ Qureshi, Arusa (December 6, 2021). "Every Time I Die are working on issues with singer Keith Buckley "privately"". NME. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  4. ^ Singer, Quentin (January 18, 2022). "Every Time I Die Has Officially Broken Up". Forbes. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  5. ^ France, Lisa (January 18, 2022). "Every Time I Die band splits". CNN. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  6. ^ Breihan, Tom (January 19, 2022). "Keith Buckley Explains His Side Of Every Time I Die's Extremely Contentious Breakup". Stereogum. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  7. ^ Martins, Jorge (March 27, 2022). "Members of Every Time I Die Met to Rehearse Without Vocalist Keith Buckley". Ultimate Guitar. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  8. ^ LaPierre, Megan (January 19, 2022). "Members of Every Time I Die Want to Form a "Different Band"". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  9. ^ Childers, Chad (November 16, 2022). "Ex-Every Time I Die Members Are In The Studio With Well-Known Producer". Loudwire. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  10. ^ Heathcote, Chris (January 24, 2023). "Andy Williams Has Nothing to Do With New Group Featuring His Former Every Time I Die Bandmates". Ultimate Guitar. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  11. ^ "Members of Dillinger Escape Plan and Every Time I Die launch new band Better Lovers". Kerrang!. April 17, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  12. ^ Navidson, Will (April 17, 2023). "Dillenger, Every Time I Die Supergroup: Hear Better Lovers' Debut Song "30 Under 13"". Revolver. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  13. ^ Micciche, Steve [@mitchbhavin] (April 18, 2023). "Hi! Since the madness has subsided a little for us that came with debuting a new band out of nowhere, now seems like a good time to reintroduce ourselves and show some gratitude". Archived from the original on July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2023 – via Instagram.
  14. ^ Keenan, Hesher (April 18, 2023). "Better Lovers to Join Underoath, The Ghost Inside and We Came as Romans for U.S. Tour". MetalSucks. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  15. ^ "Better Lovers schedule debut show in Buffalo, NY". Lambgoat. April 26, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  16. ^ a b Carter, Emily (July 7, 2023). "Listen to supergroup Better Lovers' "wildly fun" debut EP, God Made Me An Animal". Kerrang!. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  17. ^ Enis, Eli (September 26, 2023). "From bitter breakups to Better Lovers: Inside Heavy Music's Hottest New Supergroup". Revolver. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  18. ^ Enis, Eli (November 16, 2023). "Hear Better Lovers' ritious new song "Two Alive Amongst The Dead"". Revolver. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  19. ^ Keenan, Hesher (January 9, 2024). "Better Lovers Have More Than a Dozen New Tunes Written for Their Debut Album". MetalSucks. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  20. ^ Carter, Emily (April 3, 2024). "Watch the video for Better Lovers' new single, The Flowering". Kerrang!. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  21. ^ "Better Lovers, hardcore supergroup, drop debut EP". Lambgoat. July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  22. ^ a b "Sh*t That Comes Out Today – July 7, 2023". MetalSucks. July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  23. ^ Sacher, Andrew (July 7, 2023). "Better Lovers (Every Time I Die, Dillinger Escape Plan) surprise-release debut EP". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
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