The Locust are a band formed in 1994 in San Diego, USA. They are known for… Read Full Bio ↴The Locust are a band formed in 1994 in San Diego, USA. They are known for their unique mix of grindcore speed and aggression, complexity, and new wave weirdness. They take inspiration from powerviolence (Crossed Out, Dropdead), experimental rock (Art Bears, Renaldo and the Loaf), and death metal.

The Locust was formed by Justin Pearson, Bobby Bray, Dylan Scharf, Dave Warshaw, and Dave Astor. After a number of personnel changes, they arrived at their current four-piece lineup in 2001, consisting of Pearson, Bray, Gabe Serbian, and Joey Karam. Originally a powerviolence band with a strong tendency towards synth-based passages, they have more recently stripped down much of their past sound, but retained the heavy distortion, synthesizers, screamed vocals, and intense stage presence. On the band's unique sound and live presentations, singer/bassist Justin Pearson has said, "I wanted to change the way people perceive music, or maybe just destroy it in general." Their music is complex, dynamic and fast-paced, often featuring abrupt and inconsistent time-signature changes. These erratic elements are, according to guitarist Bobby Bray, "a reflection of perhaps how our brains have to function in order to be able to do anything in the Western societies we live in."

The Locust have a unique stage presence: costumed in skin-tight, full body nylon suits (which the band refer to as uniforms), they have at times come across to first-time viewers as frightening. The last 5 different suits were designed and made by Ben Warwas. Unlike most bands, which normally have the drums set up behind the other members, the four members of The Locust are usually all positioned in a line at the front of the stage. The group recommends that in order to get the full impact of the music, one should see them live. The Locust boycotts Clear Channel Communications and refuse to play in any Clear Channel-owned venues. This boycott affected a 2005 tour with Fantômas as well as another tour with Yeah Yeah Yeahs. They also have a policy of only playing all-ages shows. The band's lyrics range from stream-of-consciousness poetry to satirical portrayals of mainstream ideas of sexuality to political commentary and critiques of religion.

Bring Your '65 Italian Carbine
The Locust Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh scandal! Oh scandalous! Oh murder! Oh murderous! Loaded gun, open crowd.
I run the riot now that ruby red devil was a cold-blooded killer.
I run the riot now with a high caliber action machine.
Die 'em all dead. I kill, now you die Jackals, now you die.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Locust's song "Bring Your '65 Italian Carbine" depict a scene of chaos and violence. The phrases "Oh scandal! Oh scandalous! Oh murder! Oh murderous!" set the tone of the song by emphasizing the shocking and disturbing nature of the events that are unfolding. The mention of a "loaded gun" in an "open crowd" suggests that something terrible is about to happen, and the subsequent lyrics confirm this by making references to a "cold-blooded killer" and the desire to "die 'em all dead." The singer declares that they are in control of the situation, and they intend to take down all those who stand in their way.

Overall, the lyrics of "Bring Your '65 Italian Carbine" explore themes of violence, power, and rebellion. The song conjures a sense of fear and apprehension, and it paints a vivid picture of a world where chaos reigns and guns are used to settle disputes. The lyrics are evocative and powerful, and they invite the listener to imagine what it would be like to be caught up in such a situation.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh scandal! Oh scandalous! Oh murder! Oh murderous! Loaded gun, open crowd.
What a shocking and outrageous situation! This is a crime of homicide and bloodshed, committed with a weapon ready to be fired in front of the public.

I run the riot now that ruby red devil was a cold-blooded killer.
I am in control of the chaos and commotion, now that the perpetrator of this violent act has proven to be a ruthless and merciless murderer.

I run the riot now with a high caliber action machine.
I am leading the disturbance armed to the teeth with a powerful firearm of exceptional quality and performance.

Die 'em all dead. I kill, now you die Jackals, now you die.
Annihilate them all without mercy. I am the reaper who takes lives, so prepare to face the bitter end, you despicable and treacherous creatures.

Contributed by Benjamin E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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