Oathbound Colors in Grey Review: Prog Metalcore Done Right

Progressive metalcore should be an oxymoron.

The complexity of progressive metal, combined with the simpler, commercialised staples of metalcore, shouldn’t be easily accessible to the average fan of heavy music.

Oathbound‘s debut LP Colors in Grey, however, very much proves my initial statement wonderfully wrong.

Hailing from the (fittingly) stormy-grey Seattle, the four-piece release their first album on 6th March, welcoming in the spring with an introspective collection of tracks that retain their uniquely hard-hitting sound. It’s an intense exploration of emotional vulnerability, delivered over distorted, djent-adjacent riffs, synthesisers, and the optimum blend of smooth cleans into shrieking, banshee-like vocals.

If you’re into bands like Periphery, Invent Animate and Silent Planet, then you’re absolutely in for a delight.

The LP opens with ‘Origins’, a melodic instrumental track that sets the cinematic tonal atmosphere for the rest of the album. It’s simple, yet impactful.

We’re then swiftly diverted into the title track, ‘Colors in Grey’, a dramatic shift from ‘Origins’. It’s a fun track: there are elements of breakcore, fast-paced guitars and the dichotomy within metalcore of harsh vocals into cleans. The contrasting soundscapes of pounding drums and heavy bass against twinkling guitars work seamlessly, with the mix highlighting the strengths of each instrumentalist. For a track with so much going on, it somehow still works, which summarises the LP.

‘Misunderstood’ stands out as one of the heavier tracks, with the addition of Patrick Franiuk‘s snarling gutturals giving the track a complementary brutal flair. The synth intro of ‘The Masks We Wear’ that proceeds it takes us back to the early 2000s with crabcore-infused nostalgia. As someone who is particularly fond of this era of music, this track was a pleasant surprise amidst the prog-heavy tunes.

Whilst the secondary half of the album falls into line with the formulaic set-up of controlled chaos, ‘Searching For An Answer’ is still a brilliant pick for the first single. The chugging main riff that runs throughout and the crooning chorus of “this is how we lose our minds” has been stuck in my head since my first listen. It’s catchy, simpler than the previous tracks, and the guitar solo absolutely sings.

Overall, Colors in Grey is a refreshing change of pace from the generic paintbrush of “octanecore” which has plagued heavy music recently. To those who neglect to nitpick at genres and simply allow high-quality music to speak for itself, I would highly recommend this LP!