The Locust

Plague Soundscapes (2003)

Scott Heisel

I used to hate the Locust.

When I was in high school and just starting to branch out beyond punk rock, all the "scene" kids, for lack of a better term, were always talking about the Locust like they were some sort of godsend. They even sold my older brother on them for a time, and when I heard the absolute garbage coming from his stereo I vowed that the band would never enter my consciousness again unless it was to say "The Locust? They fucking suck, dude."

Well, the band proved me wrong, as bands are wont to do. From the first time I put this album in and was hit with knockout punch after knockout punch eminating from my speakers, I realized that either I missed the boat 5 years ago, or this band has just gotten incredibly better. I think it might be a combination of the two.

Produced by Alex Newport [the man probably responsible for most of your favorite albums, if you're reading this review], the Locust are able to realize the potential they've been trying to mine for the past half dozen years. The sound on this thing is just fucking phenomenonal. Each 30 second burst of spastic, frenetic energy is turned into a 100-megaton bomb detonating an inch from your nose.

And the scariest thing is, this shit is dancable.

I can't analyze the songs individually, because I'd be hard pressed to tell you anything about them besides "Ooh, that song just ended… I think?" If you're really curious, just scroll down and download the MP3s provided.

By and large, the Locust exists solely to piss people off. And with "Plague Soundscapes," by far their largest and most ambitious recording to date, they might just succeed with their goal on a level that no one could have ever expected. I can only hope that Epitaph puts them on their next Punk-O-Rama tour.

MP3s
File Under Softcore Seizures
Pulling The Christmas Pig By The Wrong Set Of Ears