Carnal
Nothing More
Nothing More put a lot of faith in a big chorus on Carnal. The guitars are heavy, the arrangements are detailed and Jonny Hawkins sounds fully committed to every emotional turn. The album's strongest quality is the way his voice makes the larger gestures feel connected to a person.
House on Sand provides a forceful opening after the introductory piece. I Prevail's Eric Vanlerberghe adds a harsher vocal contrast, and the low riffs give the song a clear physical drive. The guest has a purpose inside the arrangement, which helps the track avoid feeling like a simple exchange of names.
If It Doesn't Hurt is more direct. The hook arrives quickly, the guitars give it weight, and the song makes its point without needing a complicated structure. Nothing More understand the value of that kind of clarity when the performance has enough character to carry it.
Angel Song brings in David Draiman over a stomping rhythm. His voice fits naturally alongside Hawkins, and the chorus has plenty of lift. It's one of the more obvious arena-rock moments, but the delivery makes it effective.
Freefall is a stronger example of the emotional side. The melody gives Hawkins room to convey vulnerability without losing the song's energy. Existential Dread works through a more anxious verse before opening into a much larger chorus, while Stuck adds Sinizter's rap delivery as another change in texture.
The album is divided by short, sample-based interludes, including material from philosopher Alan Watts. They give the record a wider conceptual shape, though the songs themselves often make the emotional point more clearly. The repeated movement towards a triumphant chorus can also make some of the messages feel simplified.
That doesn't take away the quality of the performances. The band keep the arrangements active, and Run for Your Life gives the later stretch a darker finish. Carnal is an accessible, strongly sung rock album with several excellent hooks. It works best when the feeling comes through the song directly, without needing the surrounding explanation.
