Rocker (feedbot)
Platinum Member
Downcast’s ‘Nothing Left To Give’ is a confident and compelling four-track statement from the Bristol emo up-and-comers, showcasing not only their growth as songwriters but also their willingness to push boundaries. Blending punchy originals with bold re-imaginings of well-loved tracks, the EP feels like a band joyfully stretching their creative wings.
The title track, ‘Nothing Left To Give’, kicks things off with a relentless riff-fest that instantly commands attention. Fans of Avenged Sevenfold or Trash Boat will feel right at home with its muscular guitars and hook-laden energy. The opening riff is an immediate ear-grabber, while tapped lead lines give the choruses an added shimmer. Jessie Powell’s explosive feature elevates the track even further, delivering one of the EP’s standout moments.
Their cover of Backstreet Boys’ ‘Just Want You To Know’ is an unexpectedly brilliant detour. Downcast inject the pop classic with soaring chorus vocals and inventively choppy guitar work in the verses, striking a perfect balance between nostalgia and reinvention.
On ‘Home’, the EP’s second original and a collaboration with Sammy Clifford of WSTR, the band leans into their pop-punk instincts. A well-executed key change and an infectious melodic punch make it easy to imagine this becoming a future live favourite. For fans of Neck Deep and, shockingly enough, WSTR.
The band close out the EP with a solid rendition of My Chemical Romance’s ‘I Don’t Love You’, which is a grand undertaking in itself. They do the song justice, but some listeners may still yearn for a little more seasoning on the track rather than a straightforward, by-the-book cover. All in all, though, it’s still a good song done well.
Across heavy moments, laid-back pop-punk tones, and a pair of creative covers, ‘Nothing Left To Give’ presents a band clearly still exploring exactly what they want to be—yet doing so with confidence, excitement, and a sense of fun that’s impossible not to get swept up in. Downcast prove here that experimentation and identity-building can go hand-in-hand. If this EP is any indication, their future is very bright indeed.
MAX DERVAN
The title track, ‘Nothing Left To Give’, kicks things off with a relentless riff-fest that instantly commands attention. Fans of Avenged Sevenfold or Trash Boat will feel right at home with its muscular guitars and hook-laden energy. The opening riff is an immediate ear-grabber, while tapped lead lines give the choruses an added shimmer. Jessie Powell’s explosive feature elevates the track even further, delivering one of the EP’s standout moments.
Their cover of Backstreet Boys’ ‘Just Want You To Know’ is an unexpectedly brilliant detour. Downcast inject the pop classic with soaring chorus vocals and inventively choppy guitar work in the verses, striking a perfect balance between nostalgia and reinvention.
On ‘Home’, the EP’s second original and a collaboration with Sammy Clifford of WSTR, the band leans into their pop-punk instincts. A well-executed key change and an infectious melodic punch make it easy to imagine this becoming a future live favourite. For fans of Neck Deep and, shockingly enough, WSTR.
The band close out the EP with a solid rendition of My Chemical Romance’s ‘I Don’t Love You’, which is a grand undertaking in itself. They do the song justice, but some listeners may still yearn for a little more seasoning on the track rather than a straightforward, by-the-book cover. All in all, though, it’s still a good song done well.
Across heavy moments, laid-back pop-punk tones, and a pair of creative covers, ‘Nothing Left To Give’ presents a band clearly still exploring exactly what they want to be—yet doing so with confidence, excitement, and a sense of fun that’s impossible not to get swept up in. Downcast prove here that experimentation and identity-building can go hand-in-hand. If this EP is any indication, their future is very bright indeed.
MAX DERVAN