Relentless Pursuit – “Not Alone”

Relentless Pursuit – “Not Alone” – Single Review

Wait…what?

When considering the…umm…let’s say ‘adverse reactions’ that I’ve had in listening to some of Relentless Pursuit’s previous music…this new single “Not Alone” seemed like…I dunno…kind of pleasant to listen to from the moment I put it on?  Listen to the atmospheric way that this song begins to build up at the very beginning – that’s perfectly executed!  Beyond that – how about those very first tones from Matthew Konradt, the sole person responsible for everything you hear in the music of Relentless Pursuit?  In the first words you hear from the guy, he’s clear, he’s melodic, he’s…not screaming at us or buried under ten tons of audio effects?  Did I click the right song?  Am I in the upside down?  What’s going on here?

I ain’t gonna lie to you – I braced myself the entire way through listening to “Not Alone” the first time, somewhat waiting for the other shoe to drop, as the old saying goes.  It’s not that I doubted Konradt – I just know he loves to…hmm…do things differently, let’s say that.  So did I expect to find some moment of absolute audible savagery that would threaten to punish my ears or have me reaching for the Immodium at some point along the way?  Of course I did!  This is my sixth time reviewing the music of Relentless Pursuit – how would I not expect something bizarre to come outta left field?  If my memory serves me correctly, I’ve even drawn comparisons to Matthew and the Cookie Monster at one point in time, if not a couple in the past as I’ve made my comments on his tunes…

…but there was none of that here.  “Not Alone” is like…something I’d listen to?

Congrats to you Konradt – this is the way dude.  Ultimately, we both know this is a cover song from the band Red…and I get that…it can actually be a lot easier to handle a cover in comparison to original music in some respects, not necessarily the technical stuff, but the melodies that drive a version can come to us a lot more naturally, usually because we’ve already been singing them for years by the time we go to record something.  So yes…I know Matthew’s got the blueprint for success here, but credit where credit is due – he FOLLOWED it, he delivered, and in my opinion, he’s created a whole new map for the way forward from here.  Like, with this singular move here in releasing “Not Alone” in advance of his next upcoming album, I not only believe he’s raised the stakes & standards about a hundred percent, but he’s essentially thrown down the gauntlet and proven that we should actually expect the unexpected.  As in, I don’t think the next Relentless Pursuit album will be as static and unflinching when it comes to the direction of its ideas, or sound overall.  If I’m basing my hunch on what I hear in “Not Alone,” then I’d tell ya that we’re about to be in-store for the most diverse and unique record that Relentless Pursuit has put out to-date.

And you know what?  I’m actually a little excited to hear that!  Based on this experience, it SOUNDS like Konradt is embracing the moment and ready to spread his wings more than he previously has in the past – and heck yeah, I’m here for it.  Kind of reminds me of my own path in that regard…in fact, many of us tend to bury ourselves deep in the music or in the effects long before we’re comfortable enough to break out of our shell and really give the people out there a true glimpse of what we’re capable of.  I feel like I’ve been to that place where Matthew is at right now, and I can tell him firsthand that this next chapter ahead is some of the most exciting stuff he’ll go on to experience in his music career, because a song like “Not Alone” opens doors in ways that are practically impossible to describe in terms of creativity.  I mean, first and foremost, let’s be clear here – the most impressive thing about “Not Alone” is the dude’s voice!  I recognize that part of that is the shock value that comes along with hearing something totally different than you’d expect, but that’s also why I listen to things several times before I write about’em too – and I can assure you that no matter how many times I listened to this single, it was always the vocals that carried the most weight.  Konradt did a stellar job on this cover and he should be proud of not only what he’s accomplished, but what it potentially hints at for his music going forward.

Now…I’m not saying I remember EVERYTHING I’ve heard from Relentless Pursuit that I’ve heard along the way – but this IS the clearest we’ve ever heard Konradt so far, is it not?  It’s nothing but impressive if you ask me…I really think he’s done a stellar job in singing “Not Alone” and really got to the heart of the emotion that drives this tune.  I’m not saying that it’s completely flawless…but it’s commendably close.  I might want a little more of the focus he put into the first verse to be as present for the second, but I’d still tell ya this is a huge leap in his artistic evolution by any measure.  Musically, I think he did a great job too…he didn’t really try to mess around with the original recipe of “Not Alone” so much as preserve its essence and adapt it to the fringes of what you might think it would sound like in a Relentless Pursuit version…and that’s the right way to go about it, from my perspective.  There are a couple spots here and there where the drums and timing of stutter steps can feel like a bit of an awkward fit for a second or two, but aside from that, the main meat of the song in the guitars, synth, and vocals is undeniably intact.

It feels like Konradt is really starting to find himself within the music he’s making.  To pull off a song like “Not Alone,” you need the boldness he’s applied to this moment, because that’s precisely what makes it work.  It’s a declarative anthem that’s built on the strength to remind us that we’re never really alone, and through the mist of the confusion expressed at the start, you need the contrast of how the song goes on to find solid ground you can rely on as it shifts into the meaning and message within the hooks.  Konradt did all the things that the core of this song is calling out for, and you all know how I feel about that – that’s all you’ve ever gotta do.  Listen to what the song is telling you to bring to it, and then do that.  That’s what Matthew has done with this latest Relentless Pursuit single, and that’s why it works.

Find more music by Relentless Pursuit at Bandcamp here:  https://relentlesspursuit.bandcamp.com

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