The Hardcore Supergroup Delivers An Incredible, Fiery Performance On Their ‘Highly Irresponsive‘ Album Release Tour – Photos and Review of the Better Lovers Concert at the Orpheum in Tampa, FL

The Orpheum in Tampa was abuzz with energy last night as Better Lovers, the supergroup formed by members of Every Time I Die, Dillinger Escape Plan, and Fit for an Autopsy, brought their searing live presence to Tampa, with a lineup of guests as intense and diverse as their own sound. The night was supported by the ferocious Full of Hell, with Spy and Cloakroom opening up the festivities and setting a powerful tone for the mosh-filled night.

Cloakroom opened the night with a slow-burn set that fused shoegaze and doomy riffs, creating a layered, atmospheric vibe. Their sound washed over the early crowd in waves, the slower pace showcasing a textural contrast to the aggressive acts to follow. Cloakroom’s heavy, introspective sound, blending melancholy melodies with crushing riffs, held the audience in a hypnotic state, providing a contemplative calm before the storm.

Next up was Spy, an explosive hardcore punk band whose raw, stripped-down energy ignited the crowd. Known for their brief, powerful tracks and politically charged lyrics, Spy’s set was fast, furious, and utterly visceral. Their performance included favorites like “Service Weapon” and “Bootlicker”, delivered with an unrestrained intensity that primed the crowd for the chaos ahead.

As direct support, Full of Hell ramped up the brutality, unleashing an unrelenting wall of noise with their brand of grindcore fury. With pulverizing tracks like “Deluminate” and “Crawling Back to God“, Full of Hell combined guttural screams, chaotic drumming, and eclectic guitar work into an impressive sonic show of force. The band’s presence filled the venue with an almost primal energy, pushing the audience into a frenzied state as they danced around the venue in a circle pit. Full of Hell’s set showcased a stark intensity, showing why they’ve built a reputation for unrelenting live performances that feel as cathartic as they are punishing.

Finally, Better Lovers took the stage, cheerfully welcomed by fans eager to witness this fast-rising band’s explosive chemistry. They launched into their set with the incendiary “Lie Between the Lines”, the first track from their brand new album “Highly Irresponsible“, instantly uniting the crowd in chaos. Their performance combined the technical precision of Dillinger Escape Plan with the raw emotional energy of Every Time I Die, creating a unique soundscape of aggression and groove that melded the contributions of its members into the best of both worlds. The synergy among the band members was unmistakable, with Greg Puciato’s searing vocals and Will and Jordan’s crushing riffs and live energy adding an intensity to the songs that thrilled the crowd.

From the brutal breakdowns of “A White Horse Covered In Blood” to the moments of melodic reprieve before the storm in “At All Times“, Better Lovers demonstrated why they’ve quickly gained a dedicated following despite only being around for a short time. Fans responded to the incredible audio-visual barrage with constant crowd-surfing and mosh pits, embodying the primal energy that permeated the room as the band played nearly every single song they have written so far, giving the crowd everything they had. The night culminated in a blistering encore featuring their first single “30 Under 13”, with Greg literally spitting fire during the finale of the song and leaving fans exhilarated and longing for more. Better Lovers proved they’re more than just a supergroup—they’re a force to be reckoned with, breathing new life into heavy music and I am super excited to see what they come up with next.