Seattle progressive metalcore heavyweights Oathbound have pulled back the curtain on the grueling reality of independent music with their cinematic new video for “Set Adrift”. The track serves as a standout centerpiece from their freshly unleashed full-length album, Colors in Grey, out now via Eclipse Records. Directed by Brandon Hartsock, the visual completely dismantles the worn-out cliches of rock-and-roll excess, trading glamorous backstage backdrops for a sobering look at the true currency of modern touring: mental exhaustion, financial strain, and isolation.
The music video masterfully maps this suffocating internal atmosphere onto the physical landscape of the open highway, a concept guitarist Taylor Harper notes was pulled directly from their reality. He stresses that life on the road is a relentless grind that tests relationships during extended stretches apart. The visual aims to highlight the acute difficulties of maintaining a connection with loved ones back home while living out of a van.
Ultimately, for vocalist CJ Brunke, the project functions as an archive of the band’s collective sacrifices rather than a fictional piece of performance art. Serving as an honest reality check for audiences who only witness high-energy, 30-minute sets, Brunke notes that the mental and financial toll is immense. Yet, the quintet keeps driving toward the hope of living their dreams, proving that the heaviest thing about the modern scene isn’t the breakdowns, but the honesty.
The nine-track record, which initially dropped on 6th March 2026, represents a critical pivot point for the Seattle outfit. Thematically, the release dives headlong into trauma, addiction, and heartbreak, delivering technical progressive arrangements on tracks like “False Ideals” and raw, intimate portrayals of exhaustion on “Insomniac”. The effort was produced by the band and mixed/mastered by Aaron Chaprian at Iron Audio, with striking artwork handled by Aaron Varshay.
Don’t fancy Patreon? Buy us a one-off beverage!
Header image by Liam Zachry
Oathbound:facebook|twitter|instagram|tiktok|youtube
Related
Published by