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.
One Manometer Away From Mutually Assured Relocation
The Locust Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's not Earth's first contra coup,
Or first astral projection experience with mesomorphs.
One can't resist these surges.
One can't resists these carbon copy species, like us.
Power failure pandemonium
And whoever handles these loose electrons
Could you please modify your geiger counters
To reveal planets morphing.
Blanket retribution completely blocked out by a
Nimbus indicates it's time to stray from the nucleus
"There is just something about cloud-cuckoo land"
Minimaly conscious, hairy quadrupled.
Scientists, save us.
Scientists, SOS.
The Locust's song One Manometer Away From Mutually Assured Relocation is a very interesting and enigmatic song that requires an insightful interpretation. Upon a careful listening of the song, one can discern that the lyrics are a meditation on the state of humanity and our relationship with technology and the environment. The song begins with the instruction to "feel, free, fornicate," which may be interpreted as an invitation to indulge in human pleasures and desires without inhibition or constraint.
The next two lines, "It's not Earth's first contra coup, / Or first astral projection experience with mesomorphs," suggest that humanity has experienced similar crises and upheavals in the past and is facing another critical moment in its history. The repetition of the phrase "one can't resist" highlights the idea that we are helpless in the face of these surges and the carbon copy species that surround us, which may represent the homogenization of our culture and the loss of individuality.
The lyrics then veer into a discussion of power failure and plutonium, warning us of the potential dangers of nuclear disasters and their impact on the environment. The call for scientists to save us and the urgency of the SOS signal at the end of the song is a plea for humanity to recognize the dangers of our actions and make changes to prevent disastrous consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
Feel, free, fornicate.
You're free to do what you want. Go ahead and have sex.
It's not Earth's first contra coup,
This isn't the first time there's been a rebellion on Earth.
Or first astral projection experience with mesomorphs.
It's not the first time we've had an out-of-body experience with beings of a similar shape to us.
One can't resist these surges.
It's impossible to resist these powerful waves of energy.
One can't resists these carbon copy species, like us.
We can't help but be drawn to species that are similar to us.
Power failure pandemonium
Chaos caused by a loss of power.
Proudly perverts plutonium.
We take pride in manipulating dangerous elements like plutonium.
And whoever handles these loose electrons
Whoever is dealing with these unstable particles...
Could you please modify your geiger counters
Can you adjust your radiation detectors...
To reveal planets morphing.
...so we can see how the planets are changing.
Blanket retribution completely blocked out by a
Retaliation has been completely blocked by a...
Nimbus indicates it's time to stray from the nucleus
...cloud that suggests it's time to move away from the center.
"There is just something about cloud-cuckoo land"
"There's something inexplicable about an idealized place."
Minimaly conscious, hairy quadrupled.
There are creatures that are barely alert and covered in hair that walk on four legs.
Scientists, save us.
Scientists, please help us.
Scientists, SOS.
Scientists, we need your help urgently.
Contributed by James O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.