ALBUM REVIEW: Highly Irresponsible – Better Lovers
Supergroups can be cause for much hype when announced and for the most part its deserved but when it’s huge titans in the space coming together, particularly after fresh drama from their previous parties, it hits different. When BETTER LOVERS were birthed last year, consisting of members of THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, EVERY TIME I DIE and producer mastermind of FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY/END, Will Putney, the scene was quite rightly frantic and it wasn’t long before the group were straight on the road with EP God Made Me An Animal, proving why they should be.
Fast forward to now and their debut Highly Irresponsible is everything you’d hope for. Combining the groove-riddled licks of the bassist, guitarist and drummer of EVERY TIME I DIE with the iconic vocal range of Greg Puciato is a match made in heaven, incorporating enough to keep fans of the aforementioned bands above content with new music now they no longer exist and offering new fans some thing to dig their teeth into.
The album is short and sweet at just thirty-five minutes but this doesn’t mean its lacking, as every track packs a partying punch from the get go. Whilst track A White Horse Covered In Blood has an almost MASTODON under tone in the clean chorus, there is still plenty of chaotic guitar and manic drums throughout to keep the DILLINGER fans satisfied, as well as Greg being, well Greg.
Future Myopia features Jordan Buckley’s notoriously chunky riffs that combine magically with floating leads that follow this pattern and the closest thing to a breakdown on the album. Whilst the entire album is capable of inducing a pit, tracks Drowning In A Burning World and Your Misplaced Self certainly carry the most frenzy across this energetic album, with Puciato’s rasps always leading the way. Whilst the overarching speed and tone of the record is bouncy, rowdy fun, the four piece show a slightly softer side on tracks such as Deliver Us From Life, which is drowning in melody and At All Times is definitely the ballad, (if you can call it that), more reminiscent of Greg Puciato’s solo work, showcasing his infatuating range of emotions.
The several years of epic musicianship from the collective shines through consistently with everyone getting a time to show off, and of course, its produced by Will Putney who turns everything he touches to gold, so there is never a dull moment. Its rare to see a super group pull at everyone’s strengths so meticulously to bring out the best bits, but BETTER LOVERS do it with such an unhinged polish that scours across so many genres so there truly is a little something for everyone. Whether you get to start a party pit in your living room with some pals, or are lucky enough to witness these guys live and have a sweaty Greg land on you from a pillar, this is an album to help you act Highly Irresponsible in the best way possible.
Rating: 8/10
Highly Irresponsible is out now via SharpTone Records.
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