The Locust live gets a rating of 4 stars from Uncut Magazine!

Screamo Terrorists redefine hardcore The Locust are fond of claiming that their music - which for the most part resembles death metal as interpreted by free jazz-loving sadists and then pitches up to 11 on a knackered turntable - reflects the times we live in.

You know: encoded information zinging round the globe in seconds, terrorist threats poised to go off in an instant, all that stuff. This analogy is complete bollocks until you actually hear the San Diego foursome. They're disliked among the hardcore community for having a sense of humour and being generally dismissive of the Scene Rules. Another factor, one suspects, is because you cannot possibly get a mosh on to them.

Still you're compelled to do something, from the second they stride onstage in their insectoid bodysuits and launch into lightning blasts of hyperspeed thrash, analogue keyboard splatter and Justin Pearson's psycho-castrato vocals. But you haven't a chance.

They play 25 songs, most under a minute long, with titles like "How To Become A Virgin" and "Anything Jesus Does, I Can Do Better". Someone launch an inquiry: it took under 45 minutes for The Locust to unleash their full arsenal on the poor saps there. And the place got completely flattened.

Noel Gardner
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