“Keep calling my name till them streetlights sing.“
In the world of modern metalcore post-Loathe and Silent Planet, there are waves of bands trying to replicate that sound, all of which to varying success. Columbia, South Carolina natives Wiltwither have been one of the few who have successfully taken influence from these bands and created something original and hard hitting of their own. Having released a slew of strong standalone singles, and a fantastic EP entitled The Yellow Wallpaper, the band announced their signing to Periphery’s label 3DOT Recordings, and along with it, announced their debut album Pure Light.
So, what is Pure Light all about, then? Telling the story of a group wellness session presented in three acts, Pure Light is an emotional experience, designed as a window for the listener to experience what the unnamed characters are experiencing. Act I explains the concept: each person has three emotional variabilities (represented by the colours red, green, and blue), which once aligned form a singular Pure Light. This story is led by a female narrator, who acts as an anchor throughout the entire record, along with an instrumental motif that expands and grows with each act. As the story progresses, each act unfolds, detailing the characters’ progression in overcoming past traumas and experiences, as well as exploring varying perspectives.
Whilst not a wholly new concept, even in this genre, Wiltwither presents it in such a way that it becomes their own. Laying things out in a very simple presentation, it’s accessible for the average listener to be able to follow along, which, for some, may come across as a tad lazy, or too on the nose. Whilst for some this may be the case, for many, this conceptual approach will feel much more grounded, allowing those who don’t want to constantly analyse every second to still follow along. In fact, we’d argue that Wiltwither’s approach perfectly aligns the concept for those who wouldn’t typically listen to concept albums. Not everybody wants to sit and delve into heavy concepts, and in this case, there’s been the forethought to set things out in a simplistic presentation which allows for casual listeners to participate, whilst not over-simplifying things into feeling dumbed down and childish. Now, onto the album.
“New Pain” immediately hits you with a signature groove filled riff that brings you right into the style you’ve known to love from the band for years. Nick Rendelman brings you right back into the story when he shouts, “The first thought I had of death, I was just the age of 10. And I’ve dealt with it ever since”. As the song continues to grow, we’re treated to one of the best breakdowns on the entire album, all thanks to some insane duelling guitar work from Dakota Brown and Joshua Davis. While Brown and Davis shine on the whole record, their finest moments are on tracks like “Front Door Phobia” (featuring Andrew Herman of Johnny Booth), “Obsolete”, and “Wiltwither 2“, which also beautifully showcase the band’s heavier side.
Of course, we’d be remiss to forget the superb production from drummer Tyler Syphertt as well. Throughout the album’s duration, Syphertt perfectly encapsulates what it is that the band is trying to convert, whether through uncompromising breakdowns, or warm, smooth instrumentals. Whilst a lot of this album comprises mind-boggling breakdowns and riffs, there’s also plenty of experimentation that sets it apart from many of its peers.
Sprinkled throughout Pure Light, Wiltwither showcases influences from R&B, jazz, and hip-hop, each of which in intriguing ways which many may not pick up on upon the first listen. Syphertt cites a variety of influences, ranging from Jesus Molina to Kendrick Lamar, which whilst completely unexpected, makes complete sense having listened to the album. “Worst Case Scenario“, for example, wears some of these on its sleeve. Arguably may be the heaviest song on the record, ending with a screaming match and some intricate drum work from Syphertt. It’s the inclusion of a gorgeous saxophone solo which sets it apart and makes it something truly special, showcasing outside influences from unexpected genres which are infused into their signature sound. Another example of this would be “Black Pearl“, which includes a surprise vocoder ridden bridge. Quickly becoming an earworm, it provides the listener a brief breather between the track’s much more intense moments. There are plenty of other moments like these sprinkled throughout the album, as well as some killer cleans from Rendelman, who also deserves praise in his own right. While Rendelman has experimented with cleans before with The Yellow Wallpaper, he has truly explored his range here, showing off just how strong of a clean vocalist he’s grown to be. It’s perhaps these moments sprinkled in across Pure Light which elevates it above the band’s previous material and makes for a truly special listen.
Pure Light shows immense growth from their past material. On the album’s title track, and closer, Pure Light, this growth is perhaps at its clearest, encapsulating not only the story, but also exploring all the different styles the band has to offer. Pure Light truly is the epitome of what Wiltwither’s sound thus far, and it’s hard to argue otherwise, comprising some of the most intricate drum work from Syphertt to date, as well as some beautiful bass work from Anna (last name). Not to mention some magnificent piano work too, especially in its final moments as it fades out, acting as a perfect bow, tying the whole thing together. Moments like this will leave fans of the band, and genre, with their jaws on the floor in awe of what they’ve just heard.
There truly is a lot to love on this album, however that’s not without its pitfalls. At times, it can feel remarkably heavy and dense, which for some will be a lot to take in, and will most likely be off-putting to some. On top of that, whilst most of the album is clearly original, with its own distinct sound, there are some contrasting moments, like “Can I Live In This Moment Forever“, and the clean melodies on “Sink Until You Reach the Bottom“, where the band wears their influences on their sleeve. While this isn’t a bad thing, and both tracks are still fantastic, it’s hard to argue that perhaps these influences could have been further expanded upon and truly made their own.
Overall, Pure Light is an absolutely outstanding, and extremely promising modern metalcore debut, which still leaves heaps of room for growth in future projects. Pure Light shows an unbelievable amount of potential, as well as pure talent from Wiltwither, which will undoubtedly make the band a force to be reckoned with as they continue to expand upon and further hone their sound.
9/10
Pure Light drops on Friday, 31st October through 3DOT Recordings.