Album Review - Nothing More - Carnal
Texan outfit Nothing More take the listener on a nuanced journey of the human condition.
Nothing More the Texas rock outfit popped on my radar a few years ago with ‘You Don’t Know What Love Means’ in 2022. Since then, I’ve been a fan, and their latest release is the best I’ve heard them.
Carnal opens with a spoken-word introduction Carnal, a style that will repeat throughout the album. With the scene set the album truly kicks off with one of my favorite tracks ‘House of Sand.’ Featuring the vocals of I Prevail’s Eric Vanlerbergher, they go hard with an invigorating intensity that is still fun.
The intensity of that first hit does not stop, with vocalist Jonny Hawkins blending soulful sincerity with bombastic emotion. A finely tuned balance to present a nuanced perspective of humanity. The lyrics are a powerhouse, especially when it comes to the spoken-word intervals that add depth and meaning to Carnal’s concept.
Nothing More showcases their versatility to not pigeonhole themselves like other hard rock bands, with bombastic heavy tracks like ‘House of Sand’ to softer sounds, that work, of ‘Give it Time.’
Carnal is a fantastic record that captures the essence of humanity, brilliantly produced with a crisp variety of sounds, style, and tempo. This is more than an album, Carnal is an experience. One that needs to be heard from start to finish.