Back from an extensive break. Swedish quartet, Tag Your Targets brace themselves stepping onto the banks of the daunting territory that comes with producing a debut full-length, with a wealth of twelve songs, titled Destinations.
Opener This Is What We Do (And This Is Why) reels listeners in with an initial glimpse of the journey down a route pathed by unsettling melodies and conviction. The words "I fell through the right hole and took my chances to change my life..." chart the beginning of the sentimental change throughout the record. Haters Be Learners immediately whirls at exhilarating speed and continues down this aforementioned path.
Destinations then briefly stretches into a dark portion within the record. Apples & Oranges directs listeners to the conviction of vocalist/guitarist Mike Jacobson as he declares "our heart belongs to where the railroad changes track...", where he narrates the notions of uncertainty that are occasionally present in life. During this portion of Destinations the band incorporates nuances of hard rock in the ambiance of twin guitar riff galore on Double Standards. Although the song at times leads to chromatic solos, the band avoids verging on becoming tedious. The crisp production on Destinations also avoids garnishing the band to the point where they appear as over-polished and instead heightens the raw element in the songs.
Third Times The Harm is a slight standstill of progression on the record and could be considered as filler next to the proceeding track and second single, At Any Rate. At Any Rate is an example of cleverly devised wordplay and song craftsmanship matched perfectly in the words of "life is what happens when you wait for moments that never come..." and is a plea enforcing the importance of acting on impulse in life. At times the band draws parallels to Save Your Breath and Set Your Goals, which is evident throughout the record.
The brief instrumental Breathless is a bridge to the second portion of the record, leading on to Surface To Air, which also features vocals from Josef Molin of While Giants Sleep. Surface To Air is cinematic and authentic, offering listeners with an excerpt of speech which incites the significance of social personal change. The speech is a bold call to arms to anyone who has ever felt passion reinstating; to move mountains around you, you must start with yourself. Along with the "foundations" they refer to in the song.
The first single Everything Changes again shows the arcing themes of self-motivated personal change and follows the sentiment present on the album. However, Opposites Attract stands out on the record encompassing a heart-wrenching guitar tones and encapsulating harmonies. It also sheds a melodic hardcore influence, where the band transforms into vessels of an infectious epidemic, proning to palm-muted rhythms and blistering blast-beats before they launch into a breakdown. Opposites Attract ends like the moment after the severing of a wild animal's head. The record then leads on to Wildcard, which is anthemic incorporating the classic call-and-response vocal gang chants, which are set to go down perfectly in a live setting.
Visually painting the scene of the wake after a treacherous battle, Destinations closes with A Bowl Of Goodbyes. The closer ties the knot to this authentic record and fulfilled promise of a journey on the album. The band immerses itself in the last refrain of "here’s where we say goodbye to old habits, here’s where we all say goodbye..." in a subliminal way, prompting you to do the same.
Tracklist:
1. This Is What We Do (And This Is Why)
2. Haters Be Learners
3. Apples & Oranges
4. Double Standards
5. Third Time's The Harm
6. At Any Rate
7. Breathless
8. Surface To Air
9. Everything Changes
10. Opposites Attract
11. Wildcard
12. Bowl Of Goodbyes
Rating:
Written by Aaron Akeredolu
