Tirsdag 11 november 2025
American rockers Nothing More recently kicked off their CARNAL tour in Tampere, Finland on November 7th, and on the 11th, it was Oslo’s turn to host the band at a sold out Vulkan Arena. The size of the crowd stood in stark contrast to the small John Dee audience that greeted them the last time they visited the Norwegian capital, in 2017 (and we were there!).
Frontman Jonny Hawkins immediately took command of the stage: his voice strong, his presence athletic with his torso covered in trademark paint. The band’s connection to their themes—resilience, mental health, catharsis—gives the show emotional depth. The audience, mostly a mix of people in their 20s and 30s, responded not just with head-banging, but with shared emotion during quieter songs. There were moments when the sound was stripped back to let the lyrics and vocals breathe, before launching back into high-octane rock with heavy grooves, all expertly paced by Hawkins & Co. This was particularly well done during the ballad “Fade In / Fade Out”.
Guitarist Mark Vollelunga, bassist Daniel Oliver and drummer Ben Anderson locked in tightly, delivering both the ferocity and nuance the band has become known for. The set‐list blended newer material (from the 2024 album Carnal) such as “If It Doesn’t Hurt” and “House on Sand” with fan favourites from earlier albums including “Jenny” or “This Is The Time (Ballast)”, which gave the show both freshness and familiarity. The band also played their new cover of Nine Inch Nails’ “We’re In This Together”.
Overall, Nothing More proved capable of blending emotional depth with visceral rock energy, offering the crowd both catharsis and adrenaline. While some die-hard fans may have wished for even more deep cuts and a longer set, the songs struck a balance for both longtime followers and newer converts. Tons of Rock would do well to book the band. 4.5/6
Text and photography: Anne-Marie Forker
