17th January 2025: A Night of Beautiful but Brutal Music at Its Peak
We found ourselves packed into a very hot and sweaty Marble Factory for an unforgettable night filled with chugging riffs, high-pitched dissonant chords, tapping guitar parts, and mosh pits that looked like orchestrated chaos from the busy balconies above.
Better Lovers, a supergroup formed from members of the disbanded metalcore giants Every Time I Die—Stephen Micciche on bass, Clayton “Goose” Holyoak on drums, and Jordan Buckley on guitar—were joined by music producer and Fit For An Autopsy guitarist Will Putney, who took up duties on second guitar. Of course, Greg Puciato, known for his work with The Dillinger Escape Plan, Killer Be Killed, and The Black Queen, handled the vocals. Formed in 2023, the band quickly made a name for themselves with the EP God Made Me An Animal and the full-length album Highly Irresponsible. With a lineup like this, it goes without saying that their live performance was something not to be missed.
At 9 p.m., the lights dimmed, and what seemed like an FM radio flicking through stations began to play, with snippets of songs from Steve Winwood, Led Zeppelin, and the Spice Girls—all referencing the word “love” in some way.
The band took the stage one by one, leaving a hooded Greg Puciato to enter last. They smashed headfirst into the first song of the night, “Lie Between The Lines,” setting an energetic and heavy tone for the evening. They played songs from both their album and EP with absolute perfection.
Each band member was so captivating that it was hard to decide where to look. Whether headbanging together, standing on stage monitors, or jumping like acrobats, their energy was relentless. It was mind-boggling to see how they managed to move so dynamically while playing intricate, fast riffs and complex drum parts.
They continued through the set with precision, performing tracks like “Become So Small,” “A White Horse Covered In Blood,” and “Flowering.” My personal favorite, the title track of their EP God Made Me An Animal, whipped the crowd into a frenzy, turning the Marble Factory floor into a massive circle pit, which from above looked like a mesmerizing whirlwind.
Near the end of the set, Greg Puciato introduced the band and welcomed back drummer Clayton “Goose” Holyoak, who had recently taken time off the tour due to a family illness. Greg led the crowd in a chant of “GOOSE, GOOSE, GOOSE” before the band broke into an impromptu jam.
As the set wound down, guitarist Jordan Buckley took one of the stage monitors, stood it on its end, climbed on top, and called for a mosh pit, which the audience eagerly obliged. He then leapt from the speaker, landing effortlessly despite the height.
The band concluded with a sample of the children’s song “If You’re Happy and You Know It” playing over the PA before launching into their crowd favorite and first single, “30 Under 13.” Once again, Jordan Buckley showcased his acrobatic skills, leaping into the audience with his guitar, where he was carried around for quite some time before disappearing towards the merchandise area.
What a way to kick off a new year of incredibly memorable gigs in Bristol. Thank you, Better Lovers, for the most insane show I’ve attended in a long time.
Stay hardcore, people.
I am a self taught Photographer and an aspiring reviewer.
I have been in and out of bands for the past 15 years and some, so thought it only makes sense to stay in the scene that has been the most important aspect of my life since I can remember, live music.
Available for:
I am available for small gigs, larger concerts, recording sessions and festivals.
First attended gig:
The first proper gig that went to that I can actually remember was Muse supported by a then lesser known Elbow and I think the main reason I remember that is because it was the first big concert that I was allowed to go to with just my friends. Obviously Muse were fantastic by the way.
First gig shot:
Im pretty sure the first gig I shot was for a friends band at a local social club with some sort of £30 Argos camera. You can only imagine the fantastic quality of the shots.
Dream gig:
My dream gig to shoot would most definitely be either Tool, not just because they are amazing but their stage and lighting is magnificent. Or I would love to shoot another one of my favourite bands which is Explosions In The Sky and that’s just because they are incredible.
