Better Lovers, Full of Hell, Spy & Cloakroom
November 14, 2024
The Opera House, Toronto, ON
Canadian Beats Passport
Metalcore supergroup Better Lovers exploded onto the scene in 2023 after the tumultuous breakup of Every Time I Die. Featuring members from Every Time I Die, Dillinger Escape Plan, and Will Putny on second guitar, this group had a lot of expectations that they fulfilled and then some. Better Lovers just released their first full-length album Highly Irresponsible and to celebrate this momentous occasion they have embarked on a North American tour. This tour made a stop at the Opera House in Toronto on November 14th, 2024 with Cloakroom, Spy, and Full of Hell.
Opening the show was shoegaze/rock outfit Cloakroom. The music of Cloakroom would prove to be a rather sombre start to a show filled with musical chaos. Their sound is loud sonically, but the tempos are slower, the melodies are dreamy and float above densely layered guitars while the drums lay down a simple groove. For me, this was a pleasant surprise and a great opener to introduce a night of music. However, I’m not sure the rest of the audience was in the mood for their chilled out music. That being said, it was nice to see an opening band be such a contrast to the rest of the show. I wasn’t familiar with Cloakroom until seeing their performance but overall, their atmospheric vibes won me over.
Spy has been a very hyped band within the hardcore punk scene for the past couple of years. Rather than taking a beatdown influence, Spy takes more of an influence from the 80’s and 90’s pre-beatdown hardcore sound. Their songs barely hit the 2:00-minute mark, the riffs are simple and catchy and the vocals are just some dude yelling into a mic. Quite frankly, it’s awesome. It creates such a contrast from the contemporary hardcore sound that it feels fresh despite their influences being cliched by today’s standards. Spy is a band that packs a deadly stage presence. All the members were jumping around and kicking the air. It was exhilarating to see and I loved it. I hope they come back to Ontario soon.
Full of Hell is an acquired taste. They’re loud as hell and very bizarre to even the most seasoned heavy music fan. For the uninitiated, they are borderline noise. I don’t mean that as an insult, I mean that they are heavily influenced by the DIY noise scene. The vocalist has a high-pitched screech while operating a noise box that creates ambiance and creates dense interludes. The instrumentals are a mix of hardcore punk and black metal while appealing to both metal and hardcore fans. I have followed this band for many years but this was my first time seeing them live. Admittedly, I wasn’t sure if their music was going to translate well to the live setting given how abrasive and loud they are. Rest assured, it’s a vibe. A true experience and it sounded sick. If you can stomach their style, I highly recommend seeing Full of Hell live. They shred.
Better Lovers put on a mind-blowing show. I saw them perform in Buffalo, NY last year when they were brand new. Within that brief window of time, they have gotten so much better. The overall production of their live show has immensely improved and their confidence is so captivating. Their music is constantly changing feel and mood while remaining catchy and easy to sing along to. Anyone that is familiar with vocalist Greg Puciato knows what to expect. He is a remarkable talent and a wickedly entertaining performer. The whole band was moving around and interacting with the crowd in ways that are rarely seen. The setlist consisted of songs from their debut EP and the full-length album. All these songs translate to the live show flawlessly and I was hooked right from the first note. This might be one of my favourite live bands, hands down. They are so good and I can’t recommend them enough. If you are aware of them, go to one of their shows. They will win you over and I feel like we’re on the ground level of something amazing.
This bizarre tour package made for an excellent concert-going experience. I couldn’t recommend this show enough. All the bands had their place within the lineup and it’s to see this large of a tour with a good mix of styles and genres. Better Lovers might be one of the next big things. Watch out for them in the coming years.