EP Review: Virtue In Vain – Nothing Is All I Am (Self Released)

Welsh metalcore outfit Virtue In Vain return with their new EP, Nothing Is All I Am, self-released on January 23rd, 2026.

This new release marks the final chapter in a trilogy of EPs that has seen the band explore themes of identity, chaos, and emotional collapse.

Following For All You Know Is The Mask I Wore and Dusk // Dawn, Nothing Is All I Am shifts the focus to breakdown and rebuilding, digging deep into self-reflection and internal conflict. Known for their intense live shows and emotionally driven songwriting, Virtue In Vain look to channel that same urgency here through heavy riffs, pounding drums, and forceful vocals. Ahead of the EP’s release, the band will also drop a new single and video, Between Reflections and Silence, on January 16th.

Speaking about the EP, Virtue In Vain state:

“Each track represents different emotions, from panic attacks and unrelenting anger to catastrophising, and the torment of replaying your failings. This EP dives deep into pessimism and self-reflection.”

Virtue In Vain is Hywel Thomas on vocals, Mason Williams on guitars, and Daniel Bryant on drums.

Nothing Is All I Am comes with five new tracks, starting with Split. It’s a short but impactful opener, clocking in at just a minute and a half. A growing beat, reminiscent of an erratic heartbeat, builds tension before heavy breathing briefly takes over. From there, Virtue In Vain kick into gear in brutal fashion, unleashing an intense blast of crunchy metallic riffing, pounding drums, and venomous, snarled vocals. It’s brief, direct, and effective, setting the scene for anyone unfamiliar with the band.

Blood Eyes keeps the intensity high but introduces a truckload of rhythm and groove into its aggressive attack. The vocals are particularly impressive here, consistently heavy and packed with emotion as they move between different shout and scream tones. Once again, the track keeps things short, landing just under three minutes. Rather than feeling underdeveloped, that brevity adds weight, with Virtue In Vain hitting hard, delivering their message in a burst of brutal passion, and leaving you to sit with the aftermath.

Between Reflections & Silence is up next on Nothing Is All I Am, and the high bar set so far is comfortably maintained. The intro beats are superbly catchy, pulling you straight into the track before the heaviness fully takes hold. As expected, Virtue In Vain deliver another crushing effort, with breathless vocals constantly shifting tone as the drums rain down with relentless force.

What stands out here is a subtle lean into a more recognisable metalcore structure. The chorus introduces cleaner guitar melody and backing clean vocals, still harmonised with growls and shouts, ensuring there’s no drop in intensity. Instead, it adds a welcome touch of variety to the EP. This is a standout track, packed with quality and creativity, and that chorus feels primed to become an anthem within the genre.

The penultimate track, Echoes, delivers another masterclass in balancing intense heaviness, emotion, and catchiness. The riffs and beats bounce with real energy, pulling you along and demanding movement. Vocally, the track tells its story aggressively, yet there’s a clear sense of honesty and emotion shining through.

The near non-stop vocal delivery adds to that sense of urgency, with the energy pouring off the track from start to finish. When the chorus hits, the pace drops slightly, allowing some neat guitar work to come through before its just-over-three-minute runtime is up. It flies by in seconds, which says a lot about how engaging this track really is.

Nothing Is All I Am comes to a close with The Wit & I, and fittingly for both the EP and the trilogy it completes, Virtue In Vain push their creativity further here. A softened piano intro and clean textures open the track before the crushing weight drops, with that heaviness riding over the still-present piano in an expert touch.

The drums assault, the riffs attack, and the vocals are relentless in both aggression and emotional intensity. Brief breaks in the onslaught allow the piano melody to resurface, only to be swallowed again as the darkness pulls you back under. The piano adds a huge amount of atmospheric depth, joined by backing sounds and effects as the closing section shifts into a more post-metal-tinged soundscape. It’s an impressive and stunning listen, not just as a standalone track, but as a carefully written and deeply satisfying closer to the EP and the trilogy as a whole.

Nothing Is All I Am is a tightly written, emotionally charged EP that wastes no time making its impact. Across five tracks, Virtue In Vain balance brutality, groove, and atmosphere with confidence, delivering songs that hit hard, stay focused, and linger long after they end. As the final chapter in their trilogy, it feels complete and purposeful, showing a band that knows exactly who they are and how to translate raw emotion into compelling music. This is a strong statement release, and one that reinforces Virtue In Vain as a growing force within the UK scene.

Pre save  your copy of Nothing Is All I Am from Virtue In Vain at your preferred streaming platform in this link tree.

Track listing:

1. Split

2. Blood Eyes

3. Between Reflections & Silence

4. Echoes

5. The Wit & I.

Virtue In Vain Links

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