DOWNCAST: NOTHING LEFT TO GIVE EP REVIEW
- Nov 27, 2025
- 4 min read
Emo-Alt-Rock Bristol, England band Downcast have "Nothing Left To Give" with their latest EP drop. The four piece have been releasing music since their 2019 debut EP "Downcast". They have since added the Album "i saw hell when i was with you" (2022) and EP "WTF HAPPENED???" (2024) along with a plethora of singles to their discography. The four track EP
features two covers, "Just Want You To Know" by Backstreet Boys (including video featuring the iconic white outfits and boy-band choreography) and "I Don't Love You" by My Chemical Romance, as well two mammoth features in the forms of Jessie of Dream State and Sammy of WSTR. We have quite a bit to go over so let's jump into the EP break down.
The first song off the mark is single "Nothing Left To Give" featuring Jessie (Dream State), hitting the scene on October 16th. "This song is about how the constant struggles of life have, at times, left me feeling unrecognisable to myself. I find that the modern expectations of us as humans can often feel comparable to selling your soul. Life moves so fast that you rarely get a chance to pause and reflect, but during the times that I’ve been able to do so, I’ve often found myself asking “What am I even doing it for?” The lyrics explore the mental spaces that my brain has
taken me when I've been feeling low. Often during these moments, even places that once felt like home and brought me comfort have left me feeling like I don’t belong." 'Nothing Left To Give' is hard hitting lyrically, vocally and instrumentally. From the very beginning I was thrown into the emotional turmoil of something akin to a track off of Escape The Fate's 'Dying Is Your Latest Fashion' album. Devastating and beautifully honest, this song will hit you hard to the core. Liam and Jessie's voices work perfectly together, hitting all of the clean and harsh aspects that a song like this should. Musically it digs down through the grittiest parts of the soul to touch on the aspects of human-hood that people generally don't have the stomach to talk about.
The tone shifts dramatically from there to Downcast's own rendition of Back Street Boy's "Just Want You To Know". This cover features all of the original tone and style of the original release while breathing in quirky,
silly, fresh and modern life into the song. I would be lying to you if I told you I wasn't singing along, being prime age for the BSB craze back in the day. To say their goofy charm in the video for this track won me over is an understatement. While Blink 182 had poked fun at the boy-band before with their "All The Small Things" video, Downcast approached this song in such an original way, you wouldn't connect the two, even knowing both bands history.
The third track for the EP is "Home" featuring Sammy (WSTR). Frustration, angst and longing are the first words that come to mind when listening to this track. "Home" speaks on reminiscing about a simpler time, without the stress and worry of adult life; of being stuck in a job you hate, not having time for the things you enjoy in life and wishing to slip back into the person you used to be, carefree and unaffected. The general tone of the track has a forelawn attitude to it, musically and vocally. Liam and Sammy hit the similar energies from different sides,
almost feeling like one is from frustration that the adult world isn't what it is cracked up to be, while the other is almost a Peter Pan "I never want to grow up" energy.
The final track for N.L.T.G is the cover of "I Don't Love You" by My Chemical Romance. I was slightly worried coming into this track, knowing that most people try to copy the sound of My Chem and Gerard when they are covering their tracks, but I needn't have worried. While the song lets you know that it is "I Don't Love You" the boys took the track in a way that presents it as "This is how I would have made it if it was mine." It feels like appreciation not replication. Liam changes the key and annunciation to something more fitting his own voice, while adding the customary grittiness to the song. This is a refreshing take on the song and I have already added it to several playlists.
My final thoughts, Downcast have managed to hit the nostalgia button in several ways while simultaneously giving us fresh music that you can connect with on a multitude of levels and I am so here for it.
For Fans Of: Trash Boat, The Wonder Years, Spanish Love Songs and Boston Manor
My Favourite Song: Nothing Left To Give
8.75/10
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