Pacific Northwest metalcore crew Oathbound has released its debut EP. Until It’s Gone showcases the newcomers’ gilt-edged riffs—a technical framework laying a foundation for a rounded contemporary metalcore soundscape that fluently balances heavy and melodic. Hailing from Seattle, Oathbound bears the honest emotion that lay fundamental to the human experience. Heartbreak, loss, addiction, trauma and more are given center stage amidst a backdrop of progressive metalcore riffs and anthemic synths.
“Unexpected Return”
“Unexpected Return” was composed specifically with the intent of including a very “anthemic and melodic” chorus to really let the vocals come through. The guitars are layered with an orchestra section and accompanying choir to provide a beautiful sonic depth to the song. The solo in the intro of the song was added late in the production of the EP. After listening to early mixes of the song, it was felt that something was missing. “We played around with a few ideas when out of literally nowhere, Viktor came up with the shreddy run that’s in the final mix,” Harper says.
When it came to the lyrics of this song, Lopez tapped into an experience he had with his ex, where, after over a year of being apart, she showed up at his doorstep drunk wanting to reconcile. “At that point in my life I had already processed all that happened and came to peace with how it all ended,” Lopez says. “Her showing up so unexpectedly proved to me that she hadn’t changed at all and that things ending between us was for the best.”
“All for You”
Staying with the themes of toxic relationships, the lyrics Lopez penned for “All for You” recalls a situation he lived through where there was some level of mutual feelings between him and another person, but they refused to commit. Instead, they would flip between “I love you” and “I’m not interested” in nearly the same breath, leaving him frustrated and confused.
The music for “All for You” is a solid barometer of Oathbound’s signature sound. It blends heavy chugs with clean melodies seamlessly before switching to a progressive 7/8 time signature. “If you held a gun to my head and forced me to choose, “All for You” was probably my least favorite song of the EP in the demo phase,” Harper says. “But when Kalyan put his vocals to it and it was recorded and mixed properly, it became one of my favorites”.
“Until It’s Gone”
In stark contrast to the lyrical themes of the EP thus far, “Until It’s Gone” deals with the inevitable loss that we all have or will experience. The lyrics, in large part, were inspired by Padgett’s experience of losing one of his childhood friends—specifically how he learned of it. “I was scrolling on Facebook one day when the mom of one of my childhood best friends posted that they couldn’t believe it had been a year since [my friend] had passed,” Padgett says. “I was utterly shocked because I didn’t even know that he had passed away.” He continues, “We drifted apart after high school and we hadn’t spoken in a while, but the whole experience left me full of regret for not staying in touch.” The lyrics are a reminder to try and fully appreciate the people you love in your life because one day, you lose the ability to do so.
“Anxiety”
Harper and Lopez originally pieced the demo of this song together in the fall of 2023 after Lopez demoed a few riff ideas. Harper took those ideas, filled in the gaps and together they arranged everything into the composition that you hear today. Strangely enough and although you probably can’t tell, the main verse guitar melody was actually inspired by a Brazilian Phonk melody that Harper heard and couldn’t get out of his head. “I was sitting watching YouTube and I heard this cool beat and I tried to recreate it on guitar and out popped the guitar line. Strange how that works sometimes.”
“The lyrics essentially embody how I have felt over the years about my own mental hurdles and how they have sometimes stopped me from chasing my goals and dreams.” Lopez says.“The theme really hammers down on the concept that, at times, I feel as though I’m a prisoner in my own mind, and no matter how much pain it causes me, I perpetuate a cycle of feeling helpless and having no control of my own life.” Ultimately, the song culminates in a message of affirmation that urges one to rise up and seize opportunities rather than watch the world around you fly by. It’s a song about pushing through struggle and digging deep to believe in yourself.
“Reflections”
Similar in nature to “Anxiety,” the closing song of the EP, “Reflections,” deals with mental illness in the form of addiction. “I often reflect on the wasted years of my life I spent inebriated in one way or another,” Harper laments. “The reminders of the pain I caused myself and my loved ones are plentiful, but every day I remind myself of how far I have come. I am proud of my sobriety and I want other people who hear this song to know that it’s possible to rise up from the depths that drugs and alcohol can take you and overcome addiction.”
“Reflections” was the first song demoed on this EP and was the first song Lopez heard from Harper in the formative months of the band. “I really wanted to add something to this song that gave it my own personal fingerprint while still retaining the signature Oathbound sound,” Lopez explains. “The addition of the trap beat towards the end of the song was my way of making it feel like my own.”
OATHBOUND
https://linktr.ee/oathbound
Oathbound is:
Taylor Harper
John Padgett
Viktor Schultz
Kaylan Lopez
Rishan Thadani
