When former Wolfsblood and Swear Down member Robin Graves decided to leave the former to focus on his own music, he was returning to the style he holds closest to his heart. And what did that sound like? Well, I’ll tell you. His new band, Locusts, sounds like getting beaten to within an inch of your life with high-speed riffs, machine gun drumming, and one of the best vocals in the region.
Locusts have spent most of their formative year playing any show they can jump on, honing their craft, and late last year, laid down their blistering debut EP, Lapsus Ab Inferno. So naturally, I wanted to grab a moment of Robin’s time to find out all about his band.
Lapsus Ab Inferno has been out for a couple of months now. Can you tell us the meaning behind the title and the subject matter?
“Lapsus ab Inferno” translates to Fall from Hell in Latin. I was looking into the imagery of John Milton’s Dante’s Inferno and found Lucifer’s fall from heaven, which made me think, what if it happened again, but in Hell? I’m far from religious, but I found the concept interesting.
How did the EP come together? Was it a collaborative writing effort in a rehearsal room or a studio project?
The EP came together in parts. I originally wrote two songs ("Last Chance to Die" and "Fall from Hell") when I was in Wolfsblood, but they didn’t come to fruition when the band broke up. So, they were restructured and used as a basis for the band’s direction. We are still finding our sound.
You had a busy 2025, with plenty of shows under your belt already. Is 2026 looking to be the same?
2025 was great for shows; we played on some killer lineups, our first show was supporting King Parrot following their run with Pantera, and we supported Kaonashi a few months later, too. We’re aiming to break out of Kent and London in 2026. We already have several shows booked that are well outside those postcodes, which is great. As much as we love seeing our mates at shows, it’s good to play at new venues and to new faces.
As a band, all the members have a decent amount of experience, having played in numerous successful local acts. How did this lineup come together?
I was playing for Swear Down and wasn’t gelling with the beatdown scene as much as I should have been, and wanted to create something that would reflect my style of writing, so I spoke to my best mate, Jay, and asked if he’d want to jam a few songs I’ve been working on. We had a couple of rehearsals with just the two of us, and we really needed a bassist to fill out the sound. Mark messaged me one day asking if I knew anyone looking for a bassist, and seeing as we were, we decided to give him a shot.
Regarding vocalists, we had a few teething problems with several people trying out and running into problems with different musical directions, so I messaged Speedball (Jack, the vocalist of the band Convulsion) one day, asking if he’d be interested in filling in for a few shows we have booked up, and he was! My original idea for this band's sound was dark, gritty, dirty, and just nasty, and with Speedball onboard, I feel we’ve nailed it. I’ve known him for a few years through our other bands, gigging frequently together, and it felt like a no-brainer to get him on board.
Can you tell us what to expect from a Locusts live show?
Loud. You’re gonna want to bring earplugs. You’ll see the usual moshing and turmoil that hardcore and metal shows bring to a show.
We have covered the scene in the South East of England quite a bit recently, and it is safe to say it looks as healthy as ever. Are there any bands you think we should keep an eye on?
Yes, of course. You should check out Harrowed, Warden, Solis, Iron Slug, Detriment, Burner, Coder, Broken Lungs, Mob Handed, Malicious Compliance, Swear Down, Convulsion, One Step Down, and Blood Hex.
What is next for Locusts?
We’re going to record again very soon. I think, in total, we have maybe eight or nine full songs, not to mention about five unfinished tracks in Logic. I think the plan is to record a double single next. I don’t know if we’ve fully decided on which songs to release, but I know I have my favourites.
Do you have a message for our readers?
If you’ve made it this far down, thank you!
Start a band, learn an instrument, make new friends!
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Locusts on social media: Instagram
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