A while back I got talking to Kent based crossover band Locusts. With their style of thrash crossover mixed with their love of Ringworm, Nails & Napalm Death really stands out in a growing scene.

I wanted to know more about the guys and find out how they all started to collaborate. From their early beginnings and being in previous projects together, to focus more on the style of music they loved being a part of. Not to forget how they met eachother along the way and being fellow Peep Show nerds (Where’s the Turkey?.

Now they are looking to broaden their horizons outside of their county and hit up the rest of the UK.

I’ve been speaking to guitarist Robin over the last couple of months and he had the below to say on what Locusts has been through and what we can see them getting up to in the future!

FIRST OF ALL WHERE ARE YOU GUYS BASED & HOW DID YOU ALL MEET?

We are based in the South East of England. I’ve known Jay for years as we originally met playing in a band around 12 years ago. I met Mark purely my accident when he asked if I know anyone looking for a bassist and I’ve known Speedball for a number of years as we used to play the same circuits in Kent in our other bands. 

WHAT WAS THE SCENE LIKE WHERE YOU WERE GROWING UP & HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN IT?

The hardcore scene was amazing when I was growing up. I used to be at as many hardcore shows as possible, especially in Canterbury, Chatham and surrounding areas. We’ve had some incredible bands pass through here such as Converge, Parkway Drive, Twitching Tongues, As Blood Runs Black, Eyehategod, Crowbar and many more that escape me currently. But trust me when I say the hardcore scene in Canterbury back in the day was the place to be. 

THIS MIGHT SOUND LIKE A DUMBASS QUESTION BUT HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE NAME LOCUSTS?

Ever played Gears of War?

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND TO SOMEBODY WHO HASN’T HEARD YOU BEFORE?

It’s hard to pigeon hole our style as we’re very much a crossover band. But if you’re into Napalm Death, All Our War, Ringworm, Nails and similar you’ll enjoy our stuff. 

WHAT HAS BEEN SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU’VE BEEN FACED WITH?

Gatekeeping is a huge problem.

The hardcore scene has always been a very accepting and left thinking genre, but from time to time, egos and gatekeepers raise their head and it can become very tiresome. 

WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR ALL TIME FAVOURITE ARTISTS?

For me personally, I am a huge Ringworm fan.

If I can ever write a song similar to that, I’ll be happy.

I’m also a diehard Misfits and Danzig fan. I know the guys in the band have slightly different tastes such as Pig Destroyer and Bolt Thrower along with a multitude of others, which are incredible bands respectively. 

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SHOWS YOU’VE REALLY ENJOYED BEING A PART OF & DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE VENUE?

We really enjoyed our first show, which was supporting King Parrot.

Having those guys say they really liked our stuff meant a lot. I don’t necessarily have a favourite venue, but I’ve enjoyed playing at The Burstin Basement, Prince Albert and Daltons, both in Brighton, along with The Forum in Tunbridge Wells.

It’s a shame it no longer offers shows, but I great venue was the Style & Winch in Maidstone. That place was a dive but absolutely perfect for DIY punk & hardcore shows.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DREAM TOUR TO GET LOCUSTS ON? 

For me, it would have to be supporting Ringworm.

I just can’t fault anything they’ve done. 

WHAT HAS BEEN SOME OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES YOU’VE HAD TOGETHER?

I nearly got stabbed by a Deliveroo driver in Hackney which was interesting… 

HOW HAVE YOU FOUND THE HARDCORE SCENE IN KENT CHANGE IN RECENT YEARS?

The scene has really started to expand over the past year which is great. It’s not uncommon to see “first show” under a bands name, which I love.

I do feel there was some downtime for the Kent hardcore scene for a while but it’s certainly thriving now, even with adjacent bands playing deathcore, doom and sludge. 

HOW IMPORTANT IS REPRESENTATION IN THE HARDCORE COMMUNITY?

I find it incredibly important. I don’t have any names to drop, but I think it is very important to be inclusive of all backgrounds, no matter what. 

WE MEET A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS SCENE. DO YOU HAVE A GREAT CONNECTION WITH ANYONE IN PARTICULAR AND WOULD RECOMMEND WORKING WITH?

I will always recommend Jason Frye at Century Audio and Dan “Bonzo” at Messiah Riff Audio, both in Thanet, Kent.

Also, check out Bad News Press in Canterbury for merch printing.

We have a lots great promoters down here too including Do It Ourselves Collective, Parasite Promotions, A Bunch Of Shows, Hellbound Promotions, New Youth Promotions, Chinwag Promotions and more that escape me. 

WHO HAS BEEN SOME OF THE LARGEST INFLUENCES IN YOUR SOUND?

I love the guitar tone that All Out War have dialled in an I try to emulate that in a similar way. 

WE CAN’T ALL BE MUSICIANS 24/7 SO WHAT JOBS/CAREERS DO YOU GUYS HAVE?

I’m a guitar tech, I own and run 138 Guitar Tech, so if you or anyone you know needs work on their guitar, get in touch! The other guys have pretty ‘normal’ jobs. Warehouse work, postal work and labourer/yard work. Nothing too exciting. 

HAVE YOU GOT ANY HOBBIES/INTERESTS THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE PEOPLE?

Two of us are die hard Peep Show fans, we’re always referencing something. I also am a graphic designer, although that has taken a backseat due to launching my guitar tech business. 

YOU RELEASED YOUR DEBUT EP ‘LAPSUS AB INFERNO’ LAST WINTER. WHAT WERE YOUR INFLUENCES FOR THESE TRACKS AND HOW HAPPY WERE YOU WITH HOW IT CAME TOGETHER?

Firstly, I did the artwork.

The image is an edited version of a Gustave Doré piece. It works perfectly with what we were trying to convey with this EP. 

We’re extremely happy with how these songs came out, although we’re still finding our sound, so maybe our newer stuff will sound a little different. 

Jason Frye at Century Audio recorded and mixed our EP. I’ve worked with Jason in a couple of previous projects and he’s one of the best. Great drummer too.

My favourite track from the EP is probably Thy Flesh Consumed as I really enjoying the riffs. But we have a song that is only known to me as “Track 5” which is my current favourite overall.

You’ll have to come to a show to hear it becuase it’s not recorded…yet. 

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE FROM YOU GUYS FOR THE REST OF 2026?

We’re focusing on playing shows outside of Kent this year. We already have a number of shows booked that are out of Kent, such as Bristol, Chelmsford, Hitchin, Stratford, Brighton and undoubtedly more to come. 

HAVE YOU GOT ANY SHOWS COMING UP THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO PLAYING?

All of them. I love playing shows. 

FINALLY, HAVE YOU GOT ANY OTHER ARTISTS/FRIENDS YOU THINK THE PEOPLE SHOULD CHECK OUT?

Yes of course. I will always support my friends in Harrowed, Coder, Warden, Convulsion, Glowing Faces and many more. 

See below for the upcoming show dates for Locusts where they will be hitting up Brighton, Lincoln, Guildford and many more.

For further show information keep an eye out on their socials @locuststrash

Until next time, I’ll catch you in the pit!

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