Seattle Metalcore Band Pulls Back the Curtain on Independent Touring Life
Seattle progressive metalcore outfit Oathbound has released a stark new music video that lays bare the financial and emotional pressures facing independent touring musicians, as the band continues to promote its latest full-length album, Colors In Grey.
The video for “Set Adrift”, directed by Brandon Hartsock, arrives as the fourth visual release from the band’s latest record, which was issued on 6 March through Eclipse Records. Rather than relying on the glamour and excess traditionally associated with touring rock bands, the production presents a far more grounded portrait of life on the road — one shaped by exhaustion, financial uncertainty and prolonged separation from loved ones.
The release comes at a time when many independent artists continue to face mounting economic pressures across the live music sector. Rising travel costs, inconsistent venue revenues and the growing expense of maintaining national touring schedules have made sustainability increasingly difficult for emerging and mid-level acts. Against that backdrop, Oathbound’s latest visual project serves as both a personal statement and a broader reflection on the realities of modern touring.
“Life on the Road is a Grind”
The music video places heavy emphasis on isolation and emotional fatigue, using long stretches of highway travel and behind-the-scenes moments to contrast sharply with the energy audiences typically witness during live performances. The band said the concept was drawn directly from their own experiences on tour.
Speaking about the inspiration behind the video, guitarist Taylor Harper said:
“Life on the road is a grind. It’s a lifestyle that isn’t suited for everyone nor can many relationships stand the test of long stretches without calls and extended time apart. Schedules are flipped, meals are communal at wherever the van happens to be whenever hunger strikes. It’s the ultimate dichotomy of life as a touring musician and what most deem normal. This video aims to show the difficulties in maintaining a grounded connection with those that we love, both on the road, and waiting for us back home.”
For vocalist CJ Brunke, the project represents a deeply personal reflection on the sacrifices required to sustain a career in independent music.
“This video is deeply personal, born from real experiences that each of us have had during our time on the road. I think a lot of people have a very skewed view of what the reality of touring is. In large part, there’s no partying… It’s constant driving and grinding and carrying gear back and forth and making real connections with people night after night. It’s the best part of being in a band, but it’s also the hardest part of being in a band. It takes its toll mentally and financially, yet we keep driving – every single day and night toward the hope of living our dreams.”
Colors In Grey Expands the Band’s Emotional and Technical Scope
The single forms part of Colors In Grey, a nine-track album that further develops the band’s emotionally driven approach to progressive metalcore. Since its release in March, the record has helped strengthen Oathbound’s standing within the genre, blending technically complex arrangements with themes centred on trauma, heartbreak, addiction and emotional resilience.
Several tracks on the album focus on broader social and psychological issues. “Searching for an Answer” explores the struggle for objective truth in a highly manipulated information landscape, while “False Ideals” examines herd mentality and blind faith through intricate progressive arrangements. Meanwhile, “Insomniac” addresses mental exhaustion and sleeplessness, offering one of the album’s most vulnerable moments.
The album was produced independently by Oathbound and mixed and mastered by Aaron Chaprian, whose previous credits include work with As I Lay Dying, Bleeding Through and Chimaira at Iron Audio. Artwork for the album and associated singles was created by Aaron Varshay.
West Coast Tour to Begin in June
Founded in Seattle, Oathbound channels themes surrounding the human condition into a progressive metalcore sound that combines aggression with emotional depth. The current line-up features Brunke on vocals, Harper and Viktor Schultz on guitars, Steve Schwarz on bass and Travis Morlan on drums.
The band is scheduled to begin a US West Coast tour on 18 June in Eugene, Oregon, with additional dates planned across California, Nevada and the Pacific Northwest before concluding in Portland on 28 June.
Both the “Set Adrift” music video and Colors In Grey are now available through digital streaming platforms and CD formats via Eclipse Records.
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