After 2023’s God Made Me An Animal cannonball of an EP which left a hole in the wall for Better Lovers to step through and announce themselves, they embarked on a year of sold out shows and tours to give the world ample time to prepare itself. The expectations on Better Lovers were always going to be inescapable. Members of two of the most beloved heavy bands of the modern day, two near perfect discographies and Will Putney as producer and guitarist. This is an all-star assembly of talent.
But what we find is a band on white-hot form when it comes to hitting all the checkpoints listeners will come to expect from each individual member. There was never going to be any doubts about the albums ability for a mazy riff or tectonic breakdown but this album is as joyous as it is relentless. Guitarist Jordan Buckley has always been the playful vital organ linking all others together. He is an Autobahn of riffs and bounce. Playing to his natural strengths alongside bassist Steve Micciche and drummer Goose. there is a telepathic comfort flowing through the arteries of every track which gives new parties endless avenues of colourful melodies to explore. Greg Puciato is as acrobatic as ever, giving us the ferocity he is famous for but melody is where he earns the high marks, commanding each chorus with ease to create remarkable occasions in every track.
Our introduction ‘Lie Between The Lines’ begins with gentle guitars and restraint for its opening 30 seconds before an avalanche of riff creates a landslide for Puciato to ride in on with what feels like a cheeky wink to the past with “the killer is me” referenced. You have some Radical reminiscence on ‘Your Misplaced Self’ with its run time barely stepping over a minute thirty, giving us a galloping wild horse, buzzsaw riffs and venom in the vocals. Every single released was an intriguing crumb left revealing just enough just to show how adaptable Puciato is as a vocalist. Puciato has been on a pilgrimage in recent years exploring projects of varying styles from groove metal to the electronic, his ability to turn his hand to an already established group and it fit like a glove, giving elite level chemistry. Whether they want to be called a supergroup or not is irrelevant if the output is music of this calibre. It’s effortless listening, chaos harnessed and bottled up, released with great precision.
Having Will Putney not just at the helm but in the machine is what gives Highly Irresponsible such balance in its elegant execution. You can feel the synergy at every twist and turn as the riffs ferret their way around the vocals. Nothing is muddled and nothing is lost, its crystal clear but never losing its impact whether its ‘Superman Died Paralyzed’ where you can feel the meaty influence from Fit For An Autopsy in its crushing breakdown finale where Puciato howls ‘eternal suffering takes many forms’ or ‘At All Times’ which as an all sung rock ballad and is a satisfying moment of reflection anchored by the delicious bass playing of Micciche.
Better Lovers set the bar high but do justice to their past while setting themselves free for an exciting future. So If you are still in mourning for those treasured bands we lost, have faith in Better Lovers as Highly Irresponsible is a sermon to heal even the most broken of hearts.