BETTER LOVERS A supergroup featuring former members of The Dillinger Escape Plan and Every Time I Die Tear Down The Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids, Michigan

12/6/2025

By: Ashlee Lannon

What’s a better way to warm up on a cold December night than dodging flying bodies in front of a stage packed with amazingly chaotic talent, tearing down the walls in my favorite Grand Rapids venue: The Pyramid Scheme?

The first opener, Fuck You Hong Kong, showed us exactly what to expect as they came out and somehow made a stage that has been home to many household names feel like a DIY fire hazard with a $5 cash cover. They describe themselves as “third world fight music,” and I honestly can’t sum it up better than that. They’re a blend of industrial and hardcore with the kind of energy that demands aggressive mosh pits and stage divers in droves.

Next on the bill was Johnny Booth. It’s always a treat to see these guys. A metalcore band that truly recognizes the

genre’s hxc roots. They’re heavy, aggressive, and a spectacle to behold, especially as frontman Andrew Herman cosplays getting attacked by bees, with the rest of the band (and the crowd) following suit.

After that came Soul Blind, bringing a different (but far from unwelcome) type of energy. Their sound is more versatile, with influences ranging from grunge to shoegaze to hxc. They delivered a less chaotic yet more emotionally charged set that still didn’t shy away from the heavy riffs.

And lastly, the moment everyone was waiting for: Better Lovers. A supergroup featuring former members of The Dillinger Escape Plan and Every Time I Die, plus a current member of Fit for an Autopsy. These guys are technically a metalcore

band, however, I prefer calling them “noisy and chaotic metal,” because that’s the only label that truly fits. Sporadic and almost too loud... BUT only almost, because anything less wouldn't really do them justice. If the energy was intense for the openers, it absolutely multiplied once the crowd started feeding off Greg Puciato’s feral screams.

For the first Monday after Thanksgiving weekend, this show was an incredible way to release all that pent-up aggression. Wielding a camera in the carnage these guys unleashed was a true challenge... but one that was worth every second!