Formation and early independent releases (2000–2010) Band member Jonny Hawkins began playing drums as early as the seventh grade, which is around the time he met guitarist Mark Vollelunga, by hearing him play guitar at a church camp. The two became friends, and would hold informal
jam sessions together with other students throughout their middle and high school years. In 2003, Hawkins and Vollelunga officially formed the band. Around the end of high school, the band began recording music and touring locally, which they did for years, plagued by lineup changes and the inability to garner a contract from a
record label. In 2004, the band released the more
funk-influenced album
Shelter with vocalist Josh Klaus, bassist Matt Reynolds, and second guitarist Josh Kercheville. Klaus, followed shortly by Reynolds, were replaced in 2004 by Travis Cox and Daniel Oliver, respectively; they recorded and released the
EP ''Madhatter's Bliss
in July 2005. A compilation album, Vandura'', largely consisting of the tracks from the first two releases, was also released in May 2006. Cox was later replaced by singer Trey Graham, who had previously toured with
Kelly Clarkson. In 2009, the band released their first album with Hawkins as the lead vocalist,
The Few Not Fleeting. While Hawkins performed drums on the album,
Mainstream breakthrough with Nothing More (2011–2015) After the two years of touring in support of
The Few Not Fleeting, the band turned to working on recording new music in 2011. After a successful show on the first day of the festival, they were asked to come back and perform on the second day, to replace a bigger-named band at one of the show's larger stages. In March 2014, the band decided to sign a contract with
Eleven Seven Music, not only ending their long-term search for record label support, but securing a five-album deal.
Nothing More was then given a much wider release by the label on June 4, 2014. This time, the album charted, debuting at number 33 on the
Billboard 200 and selling 8,600 copies in its opening week. The band also found much success at rock radio from the releases, with multiple singles charting from the album. The lead single, "
This is the Time (Ballast)", hit number 1 on the
Mediabase Active Rock chart. It also peaked at number 2 on the
Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. Follow-up singles also performed well on the Mainstream Rock chart, including "
Mr. MTV", peaking at number 12, "
Jenny", peaking at number 6, and "
Here's to the Heartache", peaking at number 4. Notably, this included a tour with
Chevelle prior to the album's release, an arena tour with
Five Finger Death Punch,
Hellyeah, and
Volbeat in 2014, a tour with
Shinedown in 2015, and the
Monster Energy Outbreak tour with
Marmozets in 2015. However, by September 2015, O'Brien amicably chose to leave the band, with the extensive stadium touring being too stressful for him, causing him
depression and
anxiety. He was replaced by Ben Anderson, who finished out the 2015 touring and became a permanent member of the band. By September 2016, the band had 17 fully developed songs, and were contemplating whether or not any songs should be trimmed from the final track listing. The band took a break from recording at this point to tour with
Disturbed and
Chevelle throughout the end of the year, before returning to complete the recording of the album in early 2017. In June 2017, the band officially announced the title of their fifth studio album,
The Stories We Tell Ourselves, and that it would be released on September 15, 2017. The album debuted at number 15 on the
Billboard 200 all-format album chart, selling approximately 20,000 copies in its first week. Prior to the album's release, the band released its first single, "
Go to War", and a number of other promotional songs, including "
Don't Stop" The band performed at the
Alternative Press Music Awards and the
Loudwire Music Awards in the latter half of 2017. In November 2017, it was announced that the band was nominated for three
Grammy Awards for the
2018 Grammy Awards; "Go to War" being nominated for
Best Rock Performance and
Best Rock Song, and
The Stories We Tell Ourselves for
Best Rock Album. In the same month, "Go to War" topped the
Billboard Mainstream Rock song chart as well. The band toured heavily in support of the album in 2018, including a headlining North American tour in February and March, and a North American tour with
Papa Roach and
Escape the Fate in April and May. Just prior to the 2018 touring, the band released a music video for their second single, "
Do You Really Want It?". The CEO of the band's record label mentioned future plans of releasing "
Just Say When" as a single as well, which was later done in April 2018; "Let 'Em Burn" later received a formal single release in December. The band continued touring in support of the album into 2019 with a headlining North American tour. The band was the opening act for the band
Ghost in the fall of 2019.
Spirits and Carnal (2022–present) Planning for a follow-up album started as early as January 2019, with Hawkins that he was working on prepping a new studio to prepare for new album sessions between legs of touring. Hawkins noted it was difficult at times focusing on touring when he had so many thoughts on creating a new album. He noted that the band would change gears and focus 100% on writing and recording a new album in 2020. This was followed by the announcement of an American co-headlining tour with
Asking Alexandria in March which would stretch across May and June, with
Atreyu and
Eva Under Fire as supporting acts. Two weeks later, they released their first promotional song, "Turn It Up Like (Stand in the Fire)". The first official single, "
Tired of Winning", was released in late April, and the band were announced as a special guest on
In This Moment's Blood 1983 tour in late June, celebrating the 10-year anniversary of their 2012 album
Blood. Three days later, Nothing More's new album title,
Spirits, was revealed alongside its title track. Set for release on October 14, another song from the record, "You Don't Know What Love Means", was released in advance of the album in mid-August. In July 2023, Nothing More dropped off an upcoming tour with
Godsmack and
Staind after it was publicized that Jonny Hawkins violently ejected his girlfriend out of a truck in December 2021 before running her over, hospitalizing her with a "collapsed lung, broken spinal bones, and severe road rash". Hawkins was initially charged with "hit and run driving causing death or serious injury” and "vehicular negligent injuring" and released on $10,000 bond in March 2022, pleading guilty to the latter. About the domestic incident, the band said "One terrible night does not define a person’s entire life. Jonny has taken responsibility for his actions in his personal life, and he has been held accountable in the eyes of the law." On January 19, 2024, Nothing More released the single "
If It Doesn't Hurt". The song was used prominently by
WWE in of
WrestleMania XL. The band released their seventh album,
Carnal, on June 28, 2024. == Musical style, influences and impact ==