Following up on my praise for Matthew Konradt’s previous work (under the Relentless Pursuit moniker), I’m thrilled to go into his upcoming release, the fourth album titled Mechanisms of Destruction. As a self-proclaimed concept album fanatic, I adore how artists craft a central theme and make it into a cohesive story across the entire record.
Mechanisms promises just that, and from my initial listen, it absolutely soared beyond expectations. Not only is it incredibly creative, but it stands as one of the best genre-fusing efforts I’ve encountered all year. Buckle up, because I can’t wait to dissect this amazing record.
The album explodes out of the gate with ‘Fortress.’ Gentle piano sets the stage here, a fragile beauty soon engulfed by powerful harmonies that intertwine with some string like sounds. He unleashes a torrent of emotion, pained cries adding a haunting atmosphere. Just past the minute mark, the mood shifts dramatically. Drums erupt in a martial rhythm, heralding a transition into a dark, almost doom metal soundscape.
Brutal growls trade off with spoken word sections, creating a nice duality. Around the four-minute mark, the energy morphs again, venturing into groove metal territory. Ghostly harmonies flicker through the aural onslaught before the song explodes in a final burst of aggression. “Fortress” is a thrilling opening to this album, a masterclass in building tension and delivering a satisfying pay-off. I absolutely loved it.
I think this track grapples with the search for meaning and salvation in the face of darkness and despair. He feels a spiritual emptiness, a void that cannot be filled by earthly things. Haunted by past transgressions, they yearn for solace and guidance. They plead with someone, to be their fortress and guide them through a shadowy existence. The song has this almost like desperate need for purpose and a fear of time running out. It expresses a deep desire to be closer to God, to embody their goodness and escape a hopeless existence.
And it feels like, you have this humble and meek individual pleading for salvation and the inheritance of eternal life. There’s a shift towards a more militant tone as the song progresses. The protagonist calls upon God to strike down evil and immorality, to bring light into the darkness. It’s your classic battle between good and evil.
“Nirmata” hit my earbuds with a dizzying stereo effect, a brief but effective trick that instantly establishes the song’s atmospheric intent. And this is the kind of thing I’m a sucker for. A monstrous, infectious riff grinds into motion, punctuated by tasteful bursts of counterpoint from a second guitar lurking in the shadows. Just past the two-minute mark, the song explodes into a furious speed metal assault, delivering the raw aggression fans have come to expect.
Yet, amidst the sonic carnage, “Nirmata” reserves a surprising final act. The song fades out on a curiously vaudevillian note, a haunting acoustic string section that injects a touch of theatricality into the proceedings. This unexpected twist left me pretty happy, because again, it’s little out of nowhere twist like this in music (epically metal) that I love.
“Nirmata” appear to explore themes of guilt, redemption, and a yearning for divine intervention. He acknowledges their creation in the image of a powerful deity, a being with boundless power and eternal existence. This deity seems to possess a deep understanding of his worldly burdens and scars.
The song talks about this sense of failure, a fear of not living up to some ideal. There’s a plea for mercy, a desire for solace and healing in the face of a dark and oppressive atmosphere. I mean, at the end of the day, it’s about a broken heart, a soul in need of mending. He feels paralyzed by an internal struggle, a battle against sin. There’s a desperate plea for a cure, a longing for absolution.
This album is overflowing with impressive moments, making it hard to pick just one to gush about. But “Automated Catastrophe” is impossible to ignore. It kicks off with a drumroll that hits you with a whirlwind of brilliance. Here’s the thing: this song feels triumphant, almost epic – something entirely new for this project.
The heavy guitars intertwine with the vocals in a way that defies easy description. Imagine the soaring, fist-pumping energy of power metal combined with the raw brutality of a hardcore outfit. It’s an enigma, unlike anything I’ve ever heard before. He deserves special praise for this tightrope walk between epic and brutal, keeping you energized and unsettled in equal measure.
Clocking in at under three minutes, “Automated Catastrophe” is a masterclass in efficiency. It packs a mighty punch, leaving you wanting more as it fades out on a signature touch. This time for the ending, we get that old time feel with some sorrowful piano work, adding a layer of melancholic grandeur to the song’s final moments. It’s a perfect example of how this album keeps you guessing, offering unexpected twists.
It’s a song about societal collapse and a loss of faith. The song suggests a world that has strayed from its core values, taking blessings for granted. There’s a sense of impending doom, a fear of some inevitable mechanism failing to keep everything in check. The lyrics question humanity’s ability to uphold a higher power’s will, a growing arrogance that disregards divine grace.
This is a concept record with a very central theme that’s all well connected. But I like how the individual songs stand out on their own. And I also love how they’re open to interpretation. Like for example, this song in particular, could be referencing the use of AI. And how robots are just taking over.
But here the central theme appears to be the inherent imperfection of humanity, a doubt about their worthiness in the eyes of this higher power. The lyrics of “Kill the machine” is ambiguous but potent. It could symbolize a rejection of a flawed societal structure, a call to dismantle the systems that have led humanity astray. It could also represent a more literal destruction of the machines that keep order, a descent into chaos. Or, AI as I mentioned.
“Reason Beyond All Comprehension” throws another welcomed curveball. This track injects a shot of old-school street punk energy into the album’s established doom and gloom metal. The inclusion of a robotic voice adds a cool layer of atmosphere, instantly transporting you to a world teetering on the edge. This song is a nice showcase in genre-bending.
For extended stretches, it feels like an instrumental, building tension before the brutal vocals return with vengeance. A sharp percussion shift ushers in the reappearance of the robotic voice, now accompanied by a mournful guitar wail. Just when you think you have a handle on things, the song careens into thrash metal territory.
This album isn’t afraid to throw everything but the kitchen sink at you, and “Reason Beyond All Comprehension” perfectly embodies that spirit. It’s a chaotic symphony of sounds, and somehow, it all works beautifully. You can’t help but get swept up in the maelstrom, loving every unexpected twist and turn.
Ah, “End Wave.” This track throws a celebratory punch to the face of expectations. Gone are the crushing riffs and pummeling drums that dominated the album – at least for now. Instead, the song comes in with a jolt of electronica, complete with handclaps and a funky bassline that grooves like a prime mover.
This track is all about the vocals. They take center stage, bathed in a spotlight that lets them truly shine. The instrumentation and overall vibe flirt with a nice blend – late-80s goth rock swagger meets doom metal’s brooding intensity. It’s a super cool fusion that keeps you guessing.
But fear not, metalheads. This farewell isn’t a complete betrayal. “End Wave” swerves back into familiar territory, weaving those darker, doom metal threads back into the mix. The tempo picks up, the rhythm section gets more aggressive, and a surge of energy injects the track with a workout-ready vibe.
“End Wave” is the ultimate encapsulation of this album’s spirit. It’s a genre-bending experiment, a song that refuses to be defined by a single label. This song is a desperate plea for salvation in the face of a desolate, unforgiving world. He feels trapped in a cycle of deceit, isolated and tormented by inner demons. They look for spiritual refreshment but feel perpetually out of reach. It expresses deep regret and a crushing sense of guilt for past transgressions.
There’s a fervent prayer for forgiveness and a plea for God’s presence to offer solace and strength. Despite the overwhelming darkness, a glimmer of hope emerges in the final lines, urging to seek renewal and the spark that might guide them out of despair.
“Unending Convergence,” the final track on the album comes in with an otherworldly intro that pans across the stereo field, creating a sense of disorientation. This brief intro gives way to a brutal assault of guitars and vocals, a signature sound of the album. However, “Unending Convergence” isn’t content with pure aggression. There’s a beautiful melody woven into the background, adding a layer of unexpected complexity. While not a full-fledged symphonic metal track, it incorporates symphonic elements that elevate the song’s mix of goodies.
It incorporates well-placed breaks that create moments of tension and release. Just past the halfway mark, the track takes a surprising turn, veering into fantasy-like folk territory. Lush choirs enter the mix for a brief moment before the song explodes back into its brutal core. The song fades out with another panning guitar tone, mirroring the intro. And thus concludes, this amazing album.
This is it. The pinnacle. Relentless Pursuit’s fourth album, Mechanisms of Destruction, it’s an adventure into a meticulously crafted world. This concept masterpiece feels like it thrives on being open interpretation, yet its narrative core remains powerfully defined. Remarkably, the album achieves this intricate balance while brimming with an astonishing array of elements.
It’s a genre-bending triumph, showcasing countless twists and turns on what it means to be metal, flawlessly weaving them into a cohesive world of sounds. For those who crave exploration, this is a dream come true. Mechanisms of Destruction is a fusion symphony, masterfully uniting diverse styles into a singular, unforgettable experience.
As metalheads who live for groundbreaking music, we can’t recommend Mechanisms highly enough. It’s, without a doubt, one of the year’s most rewarding listening experiences. Mark your calendars for the April 30th release – this is a masterpiece no one should miss.