RECAP: Nothing More / Kingdom Collapse @ Empire Live, 4/3/2025

Words by Skye Rickman.

A little background on the band Nothing More. Their musical style has been described as hard rock, alternative rock, metal, and many things in between. They have worked with many artists, including Disturbed and Daughtry. 

They formed in 2003 in San Antonio, Texas. Jonny Hawkins started out as their drummer, but as the years went on, he pivoted to being their lead vocalist, and that was what helped the band take off. Their first album, “Shelter,” came out in 2004. Since then, they have released six more albums, including “Carnal,” which came out in 2024. 

Here is my review of their April 3, 2024 at Empire Live. 

This has been one of the best metal shows I have gone to, starting off at the VIP meet-and-greet at 5 pm.  Things went smoothly, and the staff at the venue were super professional. Adults and kids alike showed up to meet this fantastic band. They took time with each fan, making sure to autograph, take photos, and talk with everyone.  No one was rushed. They were so kind, which really impacted me. They treated us like we were their extended family.

Soon after, the house was packed. You could barely move, but it didn’t matter. Everyone was singing, headbanging, and just having an amazing time. 

The opening band, Kingdom Collapse, put on an amazing show. They are a fantastic metal band. You could feel the music shake not just your body, but your soul. I didn’t know any of the music ahead of time, so I was pleasantly surprised. They have to be one of the best openers I’ve seen. They got the crowd pumping, and everyone was singing along. They were the perfect warmup for what was to unfold later that night. “Payback” was definitely the crowd favorite. It’s a song about revenge. It got the crowd pumping. I relate to that song, because I went through so much, but that’s a story for another day. I look forward to seeing this band again soon. 

Once Nothing More came out, the crowd went wild. 

Jonny’s vocals were on point and made the entire room electric from the first song to the last. His range is just incredible. You could feel the crowd move with the music. The venue echoed with the sound of the fans singing every word. Everybody was on their feet. Some of my favorite songs were “Angel Song,” “If It Doesn’t Hurt,” and “Spirits.” If you haven’t checked out this band, you are definitely missing out. All in all, this was an incredible show and was exactly how you want a metal show to be.

Exciting, energetic, and unforgettable.

I felt lucky to experience this band live for the first time. I hope they choose to come back to Albany.

Photography by Jill Camillo and Sara Kwolek.

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