Wiltwither, the South Carolina genre-warping heavy outfit who announced the Halloween release of their debut full-length, Pure Light (3DOT Recordings), share a second preview of the 12-song album with “Obsolete” (https://youtu.be/cySOsgXmOqY).
“’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. Earlier this month the band released “Front Door Phobia feat. Johnny Booth” (listen and pre-save the album here).
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:
Pure Light
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
Wiltwither is Nick Rendelman (vocals), Dakota Brown (guitar), Joshua Davis (guitar), Anna Harper (bass) and Tyler Syphertt (drums). The quintent have quietly bulldozed their way out of the Carolinas with a venomous vision. Their previous EPs The House I Lived and Died In (2023) and The Yellow Wallpaper (2024) drew early praise from Knotfest (“excellent”) and saw them touring with VCTMS, Heavy // Hitter, and more. With Pure Light, self-produced throughout 2025, the band sharpen their concept-driven storytelling while leveling up sonically and emotionally.
