Everything about Nickelback is huge - from their big rock, a more radio-friendly version of Nirvana, to the big truck that brings them to this venue. You wouldn't expect anything else from a band with unfeasibly large sales: 4m in the US for their Silver Side Up album, 800,000 in the UK.

However, an element of smallness has made it into Nickelback's big world. Sheffield Arena is woefully undersold, so a huge curtain has been carefully placed to conceal at least some of the big banks of empty seats.

On stage, though, the problem of how to make average-sized rockers look larger than life in a vast arena has been easily surmounted. Guitarist Ryan Peake and bassist Mike Kroeger stand on enormous platforms.

Kroeger even wears a big Stetson, making him bigger than everyone else. When he clambers up on to the massive drum riser, he must be 30ft tall. A crowd of teens to thirtysomethings make a mighty noise, but it's not big enough for Nickelback. "Let me fuckin' hear you!" shouts girly-haired singer Chad Kroeger (he always shouts - his speaking voice is not big enough).

Then there are big bangs and bigger walls of flames. It's hard to describe the thrill of wondering if that Stetson is about to catch fire. The singer is good at the big, empty arena gesture.

But Kroeger sounds very troubled, as you would if you were dwarfed by everything around you. During Never Again, his big worry is domestic violence. "The living room becomes a boxing ring," he cries, and at the end of the song someone throws a very big bra. "Jesus Christ!" yells Kroeger.

His big lyrical trick is playing the character of an oppressor, although when a big-tuned new song begins, "I love your pants around your feet/ I love the way you say please," he is playing a dangerous game.

Nickelback are on safer ground with their big UK hit How You Remind Me, which is dragged out with an acoustic section and even more fireworks. With too few equally big moments in a briefish, soulless set and a seemingly already dwindling audience, they may have a problem if they want to become even bigger. Maybe they should invest in stilts.

· At the Cardiff International Arena on Friday. Box office: 029-2022 4488. Then touring.