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.
Keep Off the Tracks
The Locust Lyrics
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An effortless tension waiting to spark.
Truth will only be looked at as lies.
A lesson to learn, which road to travel.
In this world they can decide your fate.
Don't you hear the screaming locomotive.
Can't you feel their hate grinding.
Stupid earth trodden creatures, yourself.
The Locust’s song “Keep off the tracks” is an intense commentary on the ways human beings tend to blindly follow the paths that are deemed ‘safe’ or ‘popular’ without giving thought to their consequences. The first line of the song, ‘Keep off the tracks, still be severed’ can be interpreted as a warning to the listener to choose their own path and not follow the tracks that have been laid out for them. The second line, ‘An effortless tension waiting to spark’ speaks to the sense of unease that comes with breaking free from the norms and conventions that dictate our lives. The chorus, ‘Truth will only be looked at as lies. A lesson to learn, which road to travel’ points out how the notion of truth is subjective and how it is up to us to decide what we believe in.
The lyrics of the song also highlight the consequences of blindly following the norms set by society. ‘In this world they can decide your fate’ speaks to how those in power have the ability to shape our lives, and how our choices can be limited by these forces. The lines ‘Can't you feel their hate grinding. Stupid earth trodden creatures, yourself’ is especially poignant, as it points out how we, as individuals, are often pitted against each other and how our own actions can lead to our downfall. The final line, ‘Sowing the seeds of rot, to death’ is a warning of how blindly following the ‘safe’ path can lead to a stagnation of growth and ultimately death.
Line by Line Meaning
Keep off the tracks, still be severed.
Don't go down the same path as everyone else and risk being separated from your true self.
An effortless tension waiting to spark.
There is a sense of unease brewing, ready to ignite at any moment.
Truth will only be looked at as lies.
Even when you speak the truth, it may be perceived as a falsehood by others.
A lesson to learn, which road to travel.
There are multiple paths to choose from, and it takes trial and error to figure out which one is right for you.
In this world they can decide your fate.
Others may have control over parts of your life, leading you down a predetermined path.
Don't you hear the screaming locomotive.
The warning signs are there, but some people choose to ignore them.
Can't you feel their hate grinding.
There is an intense negativity and animosity brewing beneath the surface.
Stupid earth trodden creatures, yourself.
Humans, despite their supposed intelligence, are capable of making grave mistakes and harming the world around them.
Sowing the seeds of rot, to death
Our actions and choices have consequences, and if we continue down a destructive path, we will cause our own downfall.
Contributed by Arianna J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.