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.
Tower Of Mammal
The Locust Lyrics
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Also gently leaning towards the nearest black hole.
And even time reversal, symmetry
Is baffled by the smirkless face of history.
Analytical avenger can't be held back any longer
By these self adhesive shackles
Up the spine of the self appointed
Full time re-arrangers of yester-eon.
Overwhelmed by the repeating pattern,
Yellow rain pisses in the well again
While closing in on rationed out repossession.
The fact remains, this is the wrong time line
The Locust's song "Tower of Mammal" is a complex and cryptic piece of poetry, and the lyrics are challenging to interpret. The first verse conjures up images of human evolution, as "sluggish synapses" (i.e., the brain) are mentioned alongside "Cro-Magnon's first impressions." The next line suggests a more cosmic perspective, as the synapses are "gently leaning towards the nearest black hole." The second verse brings up the idea of time reversal and symmetry, which are seemingly confounded by the "smirkless face of history." The third verse introduces an "analytical avenger" who has been held back by "self-adhesive shackles" arranged in sequential order by "full-time re-arrangers of yester-eon" (maybe a reference to retrograde forces, oppressive institutions or systems).
The music in "Tower of Mammal" is fast-paced and dissonant, which seems to fit the lyrics' themes of chaos and confusion. The words paint a bleak picture of humanity contending with forces beyond their control, unable to escape the "repeating pattern" of their existence. The line "Yellow rain pisses in the well again" evokes a sense of pollution or contamination poisoning the water, while "rationed out repossession" suggests a cruel rationing of resources by those in power. In conclusion, "The wrong time line" suggests that the world has gone off course, and there's no easy way to put things right.
Line by Line Meaning
Sluggish synapses mocking Cro-Magnon's first impressions,
The slow brain reactions belittling humanity's primitive ancestry,
Also gently leaning towards the nearest black hole.
Furthermore, moving closer to an unpredictable and dangerous phenomenon in space.
And even time reversal, symmetry
Even the concepts of time travel and symmetry,
Is baffled by the smirkless face of history.
Cannot comprehend the stoic and unchanging nature of historical events.
Analytical avenger can't be held back any longer
Intelligent hero can no longer be restrained,
By these self adhesive shackles
By the constraints imposed by oneself,
Arranged in sequential order
Ordered in a chronological manner,
Up the spine of the self appointed
Up the hierarchy of those who have appointed themselves leaders,
Full time re-arrangers of yester-eon.
Constantly changing the past and clinging to outdated methodologies.
Overwhelmed by the repeating pattern,
Overpowered by the recurring cycle,
Yellow rain pisses in the well again
Unsanitary and harmful substance contaminates the water source yet again,
While closing in on rationed out repossession.
As resources dwindle, taking control becomes more important.
The fact remains, this is the wrong time line
It is undeniable that this is not the correct sequence of events.
Contributed by Maya M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.