Wiltwither, the South Carolina genre-warping heavy outfit who announced the Halloween release of their debut full-length, Pure Light. “’Obsolete’ takes place towards the end of the album and its story, with multiple characters telepathically projecting feelings of abandonment, betrayal, and resentment onto each other,” vocalist Nick Rendelman shares. “It was really important for us to find a certain aggression for this track, as it’s the most abrupt callout-of-a-song we’ve ever written. This one is for anyone who has been harmed by someone they care for, and for the human reactions that come with it.”
The 12-track record pushes extreme metal into new territory, blending hardcore intensity with nü-metal, R&B, hip-hop, shoegaze, and beyond.
Building on their earlier DIY EPs, Wiltwither expand their sonic and conceptual scope with Pure Light. The record imagines a government experiment in which test subjects are dosed with a mysterious drug called Pure Light, unlocking telepathic bonds that are exploited and manipulated until the subjects lose their humanity. Across its twelve tracks, Wiltwither narrate this descent with unflinching heaviness, cinematic interludes, and fearless experimentation.
“We took a lot of steps in order to define who we are musically,” explains drummer/producer Tyler Syphertt. “Much of my background is in hip-hop, R&B, and jazz, so those elements seep through the record. The influences were all over the place—from Kendrick Lamar to Jesus Molina. We got these slight undertones of retro mid-century futurism by researching classified projects like MK Ultra and other historical events. Instead of just being heavy, there’s a ton of ear candy. We took leaps into new territory.”
Vocalist Nick Rendelman adds: “This record discusses the good, the bad, and the ugly of life. It also shows humans coming together and sharing their experiences, thoughts, and perspectives with one another at a level they had never imagined. If you’re experiencing the record as a whole, I’d love for you to walk away caring about your neighbor a little bit more. For as heavy as it is, the message is to be kinder and more compassionate.”
Pure Light tracklisting:
- Act I
- New Pain
- Front Door Phobia feat. Johnny Booth
- Worst Case Scenario feat. Joshua Rendelman
- Act II
- Can I Live In This Moment Forever
- Wiltwither 2
- Black Pearl
- Act III
- Obsolete
- Sink Until You Reach The Bottom
- Pure Light
About The Author
