Photo Credit: Ola Hac
Although BETTER LOVERS is still a relatively new band, its members are seasoned veterans. Greg Puciato, the former frontman of The Dillinger Escape Plan, and Will Putney, the guitarist for Fit For An Autopsy, formed a new band with Jordan Buckley, Clayton Holyoak and Stephen Micciche after the demise of Every Time I Die. The hardcore punk band’s third trip across the pond was their biggest to date, returning to the cities where they started their new voyage in 2023 while playing in far larger venues than their previous runs.
The evening began with Kentucky’s GREYHAVEN, a band that consistently combines progressive elements, hints of hardcore, and killer guitar riffs to create an extremely powerful sound. Seven years on, their debut album, ‘Empty Black’ is still a highly discussed record, and both new and old fans flocked to the venue early to witness the openers set. ‘In A Room Where Everything Dies’ kicked off the band’s set, and despite having just thirty minutes to work with, they made sure to deliver a explosive performance. A large portion of the audience was bouncing along throughout the show, showcasing their interest was well and truly locked in. The band’s magnificent finale came in the form of ‘Echo and Dust Pt. 1‘. to conclude their short but sweet set.
Next up came FRONTIERER, a band whose sound is so technical that it would be hard to perform live, or was it? Not for these guys, who were still able to manoeuvre around the stage with ease while the audience watched on in amazement by the intricate math-style guitars. Electronics played a major role in the band’s performance, and their much heavier approach than the opening act served as the ideal warm-up ahead of the headliner. While frontman Chad Kapper leaped on to the barrier to scream in the faces of the Leeds fans, their guitarist Valiani climbed up the PA system and then descended again to continue the forceful finish. A mosh pit formed in the middle of the room for the band’s last song, ‘Bleak‘, and crowd surfers crossed the barrier to give the Scottish band the salute they deserved.
The main event soon came around as BETTER LOVERS, took the stage for only their second Leeds show since their formation, but this time it was the biggest one to date. ‘Lies Between the Lines‘, the album’s opening track, gave the audience a chance to let loose and the room instantly erupted to match the band’s intensity on stage. Heavy hitters ‘Sacrificial Participant‘ and ‘Your Misplaced Self‘ were featured early on in the set, with the frontman wasting no time in leaping on to the barrier, highlighting Puciato’s willingness to interact closely with the audience.
The band turned it up a level as ‘A White Horse Covered in Blood‘ began, and the Leeds audience once again reacted with force. Fans of their new endeavour can see both growth and a hint of nostalgia as Jordan Buckley and Stephen Micciche’s stage presence hasn’t diminished in the slightest from their ETID days. Mosh pits continued forming in front of the barrier, as the band pushed forward with their wild performance, but it wasn’t long until the ‘30 Under 13‘ concluded the evening and raised the standard for both BETTER LOVERS and what was possibly the most chaotic show the venue has ever hosted to date.
Taped Magazine 