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.
Full Frontal Obscurity
The Locust Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Poverty on Pangaea can polarize plenty more.
Till there are only two classes left: dick and serf.
That's not all, next step is
Entire countries without running water or food
Right next to vast fields of golden toilets
With guards protecting bad ideas.
Sacrifice or the selfless without selfish consent.
This hegemony is hard at work.
Get back in line, you'll fit in fine.
Rank and file, reconcile.
Questionless people do you
Think you can think any less?
The lyrics of "Full Frontal Obscurity" by The Locust present a scathing critique of the prevailing social and economic structures that perpetuate inequality and oppression at a global scale. The first line, "Questionless outweigh the collective's sensible side," suggests that the majority of people are content to blindly follow the status quo, without questioning the injustices and imbalances inherent in the system.
The second line, "Poverty on Pangaea can polarize plenty more," invokes the image of a prehistoric, unified continent to highlight the absurdity of contemporary divisions based on race, class, and nationality. The irony is that the more society fragments into different groups, the more it reinforces the power of the elite and widens the gap between the rich and poor.
The final line, "Till there are only two classes left: dick and serf," portrays a dystopian future in which wealth and power are concentrated in the hands of a tiny minority, while the rest of humanity is reduced to a state of servitude. The lyrics imply that this outcome is not an inevitable result of human nature but rather a deliberate strategy of those who benefit from the current system. The reference to "dick and serf" suggests that the ruling class treats their subjects with contempt and cruelty, reducing them to mere objects of their pleasure and control.
Line by Line Meaning
Questionless outweigh the collective's sensible side.
The absence of questions or doubts can override the logical side of the group.
Poverty on Pangaea can polarize plenty more.
Poverty on a global scale can create even more division and polarity.
Till there are only two classes left: dick and serf.
The extreme economic conditions will lead to only two classes remaining: the oppressor and the oppressed.
That's not all, next step is
The problems don't end there.
Entire countries without running water or food
The rising inequality will result in entire nations lacking basic necessities such as water and food.
Right next to vast fields of golden toilets
At the same time, there will be those with immense wealth and resources.
With guards protecting bad ideas.
These privileged few will have means to protect their harmful policies and practices.
Sacrifice or the selfless without selfish consent.
The only options for those outside the top class will be to self-sacrifice or submit to these conditions without any say.
This hegemony is hard at work.
This system of domination and control is actively at work.
Get back in line, you'll fit in fine.
Anyone who doesn't conform to the status quo will face consequences.
Rank and file, reconcile.
In order to maintain this oppressive system, people will need to fall in line and make peace with their subjugation.
Questionless people do you
People who don't question the status quo,
Think you can think any less?
do they really think they can think any less?
Contributed by Aaliyah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.