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.
Practiced Hatred
The Locust Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
His hate and pain
Drowned in their blood
Collecting slaves
For his afterlife
The Locust's cover of Crossed Out's Practiced Hatred is a track that is full of dark and ominous imagery. The opening lines "His hate and pain, drowned in their blood" immediately set the tone for this song. The lyrics seem to describe a bloodthirsty leader who revels in the suffering of others. The lines that follow, "collecting slaves for his afterlife" paint a picture of a tyrant who is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve power and control, even if it means sacrificing other people's lives.
The theme of hatred and violence is further explored in the chorus of the song. The lyrics "Practiced hatred, practiced violence" suggest that these are not just random acts, but rather a deliberate and calculated strategy. The repetition of the word "practiced" reinforces this idea, implying that these violent acts are part of a larger plan.
Overall, The Locust's rendition of Practiced Hatred is a disturbing and unsettling song that explores themes of violence, hatred, and power. The intense and aggressive delivery of the lyrics adds to the overall feeling of unease and danger in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
His hate and pain
The intense anger and suffering he experiences
Drowned in their blood
His hatred has caused him to inflict terrible violence and slaughter
Collecting slaves
He enslaves others to serve him, likely as a result of his enormous ego and need for power
For his afterlife
He is driven by a desire for eternal life and power, seeking to exert his control over others even in death
Contributed by Muhammad P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
sexy kids
For those who don't know Andrew w.k. has cred in the scene having spent time in wolf eyes and to live and shave in l.a.
Two bands which are even more effed up than the locust.
Rustin Cohle
Man. Gabe really was the best. What a machine. Rest in power Mr Serbian✊
Sam Hunt
Drumming perfection.
Eric Sandoval
Gabe went particularly hard on this one
z0diak
Does this mean Andrew WK listens to Crossed Out?
FatalFlaw2008
THE FUCKING DRUMMER
makeithurtful
AWK gets his own Locust mask too, nice.
bloodybirdbrain
Locust, W.K and Crossed Out.if this isnt a Win then i dont know what is.
Sun_State_88
i saw them when they came through fl. they had on the white uniforms then and that was in 2003
LennyBound
I was there. :-)