Huge queues wrap around the Camden Assembly, one general and one VIP. There’s palpable excitement on this cold and rainy December evening as fans gather to see Nothing More, Catch Your Breath and Solence. Three bands with something in common: emotional depth woven through their tracks, paired with clean vocals that let every word land.
Solence open strong. Markus Videsäter (vocals) is locked in with the crowd from the first moment. “Everybody, welcome to the Solence experience,” he announces, and by song two he’s got every hand in the room raised. After introducing his bandmates, the energy becomes explosive. Markus commands the stage with genuine swagger. Solence blend electric rock and metal with tracks that carry real meaning.
“Are you guys ready to sing something with me?” he asks, launching into ‘Where Were You’. The crowd delivers, and when that breakdown hits, it’s electric. This band knows how to handle solos and breakdowns with precision. Tracks like ‘Wish You The Worst’ and ‘Angels Calling’ showcase exactly what I’m talking about.
“From the front to the fucking balcony, to the left, to the right. I want everybody to put their hands up!” Markus calls out. ‘Blackout’ kicks in with its electric heaviness. The crowd might not know every word, but they’re absolutely digging it. When that boom, followed by disco party breakdown lands, I’m boogying along with everyone else! Markus asks the crowd to sing as LOUD as possible, and they absolutely do! Heaviness erupts. David Strääf (guitar) tears through a blistering solo.
“This is our first time ever playing in London,” Markus tells us. “Are you guys excited for Nothing More?” The whole crowd cheers in huge anticipation. The set closes with a cheeky “Who you gonna call? Solence!” which brings with it some Limp Bizkit-style energy, LOTS of crowd participation. It’s so much fun! Solence have been the perfect support, warming up the crowd brilliantly. They’ll be back in April for a headline tour with Dream State and Written By Wolves.
We caught up with Markus Videsäter before the show to discuss the band’s newly released album Angels Calling. We’ll post the link here once it’s live.
The stage bathes in the red light of death (we call it that, as the photos end up being extremely red when this happens, but luckily it changes once they’re live). A female AI voice cuts through: “The world tells you to stay quiet… System cracks…. We’re not theirs to control. We’re not silent…”
It’s a dance party meets dystopian atmosphere as Catch Your Breath launch into their set, reminiscent of the themes used in Bring Me The Horizon‘s headline set at Download in 2023. Josh Mowery leads the crowd through ‘Savages’. “I don’t give a shit what you believe in,” he tells the packed room. “In here, we are one.”
The artificial voice returns between tracks, weaving through themes of identity and isolation: “Have you ever found anyone who made you feel like an animal? Unloved…” It’s theatrical, but it works.
You’ve got to love a good “BLURGH,” and Catch Your Breath deliver. Josh tears through visceral lyrics “I have a vision of how I would die… From a kiss so deadly” with conviction as the band plays ‘Deadly’. This is emo for the soul, metalcore with genuine emotional weight.
The AI narrator continues its thread: “Who am I really? What do I really want? Unseen, screaming inside. Have you ever been left in the dark?”
‘Good in Goodbye’ shifts the mood into something more contemplative, the room swaying along. Then comes the message we need: “You are not broken beyond repair. You are stronger than you think.”
There can’t be any better feeling in the world than singing passionately to a crowd who know your lyrics. ‘Dial Tone’ sees phone torches illuminate the venue as Josh delivers the line “Tell me I’m just like your father.” It’s a powerful track about abandonment and feeling compared to a neglectful parent.
“My god, London is like a second homecoming,” Josh says, before closing with ‘Shame on Me’. The crowd sing every word. Beers fly. Arms flail. People film. People vibe. It’s everything a support set should be.
Between sets, the crew work on the stage setup. From my spot near the merch stand, I catch glimpses of what’s coming: robots, single drums with microphones mounted on mechanical contraptions. The famous Bassinator isn’t visible yet, but anticipation builds.
Nothing More emerge, Johnny Hawkins (vocals) looking like a gold-chained warrior with his signature locks. They open with ‘House on Sand’ and by the time ‘Let ‘Em Burn’ hits, every single person in the room is singing along.
The pit opens immediately, an interlude freestyle situation emerges. Nothing More are absolutely a singalong band with a devoted following, fans who’ve internalised every word. It’s such a release. “If it doesn’t mean a thing, if it doesn’t hurt at all,” Johnny sings, the room hanging on each syllable.
‘Don’t Stop’ triggers another pit. “We fucking love you, London!” Johnny calls out before launching into ‘Go to War’, complete with crowd surfers, including a guy dressed as “Where’s Wally” making his way to the front.
An old wartime voice recording plays, reminiscent of Metallica‘s interludes: “You trust yourself… and this is the situation at play.”
Johnny performs a solo on a single drum while Josh Kercheville (guitar) joins to deliver an extended, mesmerising guitar solo. They’re playing the instrument they invented together, the Bassinator. Dan Oliver (bass, musical contraption creator) built something that exists nowhere else in rock music.
And then there’s ‘Jenny’.
If you’ve ever had a family member or someone you love struggle with addiction, like this writer, this song will have you tearing up when you hear it live. Having someone deliver home truths, saying the things you felt awful for thinking, then finding out you’re not alone… this is an absolutely incredible moment in live music. This is why music exists. This is why our alternative community thrives. It’s the super meaningful moments such as this. I know these moments can be different for everyone, as every person connects with songs in different ways. Lyrics are powerful. The emotion of the song is powerful. The way in which the band performs is powerful. Nothing More have always been able to capture emotion and create an intensity. It’s their superpower.
‘Fade In/Fade Out’ from the album The Stories We Tell Ourselves hits just as hard. The lyrics “I will watch you fade in, you will watch me fade out” are another teary moment for anyone who’s lost someone.
They close with ‘This Is the Time (Ballast)’, and the whole crowd sings their hearts out, going absolutely mental. From everyone at the London show: we love Nothing More! We can’t wait to see them draw bigger crowds and bring more of their epic stage show with more of their unique musical contraptions to larger venues in the capital.
At RAMzine, we love discussing lyrics with bands, so please check out our YouTube and TikTok for some interesting conversations, like this.
