Better Lovers Empower With Blossoming Single ‘The Flowering’
“No Roots Can Hold You Down.” – Greg Puciato, Better Lovers, ‘The Flowering’ single, 3 April 2024.
What a powerful and significant statement Mr. Puciato aggressively harmonises repeatedly at the midpoint of the math-metalcore quintet’s new single ‘The Flowering’. Those six words harness almost immeasurable magnitude for practically each musician’s history in Better Lovers and it is uncanny. Whether it is a deliberate part of the lyrical penmanship or not, only the quintet would know. One thing is certain though, the articulation is empowering.
In January 2022, Buffalo’s adored southern metalcore five-piece Every Time I Die officially disbanded after a tumultuous few weeks leading up to their annual TID The Season event in 2021. In April 2023 it was announced that guitarist Jordan Buckley, bassist Stephen Micciche and drummer Clayton Holyoak had formed Better Lovers with guitarist and producer extraordinaire Will Putney (Fit For An Autopsy); the voice of this unbelievable project was revealed to be Greg Puciato from the also disbanded The Dillinger Escape Plan. The rest as they say, is history.
There is undoubtedly an engrained DNA in these musicians. Their artistry is recognisable in all their output, and thankfully so. Let it be known, this is not a restriction; it is a projection. The members are not letting their “roots” hold them down one iota. Check Better Lover‘s previous releases God Made Me An Animal EP and single ‘Two Alive Amongst The Dead‘.
This element blossoms in ‘The Flowering’ – the just over three-minute stomper that is in all probability, the new single from BL’s heavily anticipated debut album due out later this year. The song uppercuts the listener instantaneously with Municipal Waste inspired hammerings of raging rhythm and slamming guitar punishment. After 12 seconds of crossover intensity, Greg blasts an entrance with his quintessential screaming of the words: “The blossom needs her pollen” – the combination is virtually predatory, one can easily sense that this track will make rooms move!
A mathcore-beatdown-driven chorus (of sorts) allows Puciato to showcase his enticing melodic singing which hosts equal parts fire; however, this is just momentary. The chaos ensues and hits faster and harder than what has been witnessed thus far. If this single is a flower, it must be the species Hemlock, as it provokes vertigo in a delightfully dangerous way (hopefully not in the actual poisoning though).
Characteristics of ETID and DEP are evident. Moments of ‘Colossal Wreck’ and ‘Manufacturing Discontent’ creep in quite marvellously. This is where Better Lovers’ roots lie though, and the quintet blooms with it.
The song follows a cycle to some extent, which enhances its infectiousness and feels like a stop/start cardio workout – excited yet moshpit enthusiasts? Although, at about the 2-minute, 16 seconds mark, the tempo changes become astonishingly superhuman, to practically a mathematical impossibility. Then comes the concluding thunderclap that repeats with punk vivacity, jangly guitars, gang-vocals and Greg’s severe screams: “All the bodies are fuel for the fires. All the flesh is the food for the flames.”
CLAP – its done.
The extravaganza all seems perhaps a bit too crazy, doesn’t it? Well, wait until you see the film clip, it is so magnificently maniacal, you may reconsider your thoughts on the “daisy” flower. (This writer is aware the plant is more along the lines of a venus flytrap, but then the “rhyme” would not have worked).
Can we uproot this debut full-length into the world already please?
Words by Will Oakeshott @TeenWolfWill
Stream ‘The Flowering‘ here
