On January 26th, 2025,when doors opened at Tilburg’s 013 Main Stage on that crisp November evening, there was that familiar flutter of anticipation. This evening had a rising tension: a four-band crescendo that built from dark metalcore roots to a cathartic blown-out finale.
ANKOR kicked off the evening with a surprisingly danceable, driving set. Sadly, most people from the audience had not made their way in when the band started their set. Slowly, the floor was filling up; their intensity and tight performance quickly showed what they were made of. Entertaining and fun. Quite a good start as a warm-up for NOTHING MORE.
Next up was the Swedish SOLENCE. They did have some that Swedish catchiness mixed with a good dose of electronic undertones. The singer is trying hard to entertain the audience and yelled that we were getting an experience rather than a show. Guess I am too old when they bring out: Who you gonna call? And yell: SOLENCE! A little too much time. But the crowd responded instantly and seemed to love it. They jumped, sang along, shouted “SOLENCE,” and were even moshing along.
CATCH YOUR BREATH followed, shifting the tone toward melodic hard rock with emotional weight. Their set didn’t always match the head-banging intensity that preceded it, but it introduced nuance and depth, featuring moments of softness, melody, and reflection. It felt honest and touching. Not all notes were spot on, but you could feel the emotion behind them. The end of the set felt like the better part.
Finally, it was time for NOTHING MORE. It can be said that it was clear that most people were indeed waiting for NOTHING MORE. They really brought energy this evening; from the moment they hit the stage, the atmosphere shifted from build-up to release. They opened strong. And despite their vocalist, Johnny Hawkins, still recovering from illness, the band didn’t just play — they gave presence. The sound was potent, the light show cinematic, the crowd reaction immediate. Fans sang along, swayed, and raised their hands from start to end. Even when vocal strain was subtly visible, the band’s emotional honesty turned it into power: “Go to War,” “Let ’em Burn,” “Jenny,” “Fade In / Fade Out” — all became communal anthems, which were sung along by many. By the time they closed with “This Is the Time (Ballast),” it wasn’t just a concert ending. It was a release. Check out our photo gallery here…
ANKOR
SOLENCE
CATCH YOUR BREATH
NOTHING MORE
