South Carolina genre-warping heavy outfit Wiltwither will release their full-length debut album “Pure Light” on October 31 via 3DOT Recordings. The 12-track record pushes extreme metal into new territory, blending hardcore intensity with nü-metal, R&B, hip-hop, shoegaze, and beyond. To mark the announcement, the band has shared the crushing new single “Front Door Phobia feat. Johnny Booth” alongside its official music video.
“‘Front Door Phobia’ touches on the graphic nature of modern society” the band explains, collectively “It unapologetically explores concepts of isolation, political unrest, and the ever-growing tally of daily war crimes in a visceral, adrenaline-pumping track. Relentless low end crushes against you as you're assaulted by panicked vocals and screeching guitars reminding you that every moment spent amongst ‘the public’ may be your last. The track also features Andrew Herman of Johnny Booth, a truly special moment on the record for us. He and the rest of the Booth guys have helped shape us into who we are both as creatives and people, and it's nothing short of a pleasure to have him join us on such an important song for our career”.
"We think Wiltwither is doing something different than most of the bands in their scene and are pushing the limits of heavy music” adds 3DOT Recordings’ co-founder Misha Mansoor “Their new songs are a complete step up from their previous work, and we can't wait for everyone to hear them”.
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”.
