From Missouri with Fury: Locked Shut's Hardcore Debut
- indieresistancetv
- Aug 30, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 8, 2024
When anger surges, what soundtrack accompanies your rage? While many turn to the crushing riffs of metal giants like In Flames or Slipknot, or the intense drops of electronic artists like Skrillex, there's one genre that channels fury with unparalleled potency: 90s hardcore. Whether it quells the anger or fuels it remains debatable, but its impact is undeniable.
Enter Locked Shut, a band that has masterfully captured the essence of 90s hardcore while infusing it with modern production values. Their sound evokes memories of genre stalwarts like Downset, Biohazard, and Madball, yet carves out a unique identity all its own.
Sound and Style
Locked Shut burst onto the scene with a four-song demo in 2023, followed by their eight-track debut album in 2024. Their music is quintessential hardcore with frequent forays into thrash metal territory, resulting in a sound that's aggressive, powerful, and unapologetically in-your-face.
For the uninitiated, hardcore punk emerged in late 1970s America, gaining traction in urban centers like Boston, Washington D.C., New York, and Los Angeles throughout the 1980s. Pioneered by bands such as Black Flag and Minor Threat, the genre is characterized by breakneck tempos, concise songs, and vocals that are more shouted than sung. Beyond the music, hardcore fostered a DIY ethos and socially conscious lyrics that spawned a subculture promoting awareness and straight-edge lifestyles.
Standout Tracks
New Chaos," Locked Shut's debut album, is a powerhouse offering for hardcore enthusiasts and even thrash metal aficionados. Across its eight tracks, the band showcases remarkable consistency and a well-defined identity, impressive for a group so early in their career. The album's structure is notable, with most songs at around two minutes, while "Intro" and "Claymores" deliver their punches in barely sixty seconds.
The band released Toothache as a music video, it showcases their versatility within the hardcore framework. It clocks in at under two minutes, featuring radical rhythm shifts that alternate between frenzied drumming and head-banging riffs. On the surface, it sounds like the vocalist really hates toothaches. But in hardcore, there's often more than meets the eye. This could be a metaphor for a toxic relationship or a destructive habit. That line, "Blame my foul mouth"? Pure wordplay gold – works for both dental hygiene and, you know, saying things you shouldn't.
The other video previously released video is for Steel Spine, pure Suicidal Tendencies vibes. Classic hardcore move starting with a location callout. Then it's all about strength, integrity, and giving a big middle finger to corruption. "I'm getting stronger with every move that I make," "I won't be bought for no scratch" – it's like they're daring the world to try and break them.
The lyrics align with hardcore's tradition of expressing personal strength and societal resistance through aggressive, confrontational language. The repetitive structure and use of short, impactful phrases are typical of the genre, designed for easy crowd participation during live performances.
Both tracks exemplify hardcore's tradition of expressing personal strength and societal resistance through aggressive, confrontational language. The repetitive structure and punchy phrases are tailor-made for audience participation during live shows.
Growth and Evolution
Despite limited available information, Locked Shut appears to be a relatively new band. Their evolution from the slightly softer Demo '23 to their more mature and defined full-length album is evident. While they've largely moved away from melodic elements, the few that remain are seamlessly integrated into their harder-edged sound.
Impact and Relevance
Discovered upon the release of their debut album, Locked Shut has seen exponential growth in their viewership. Their potential to ignite a new wave of hardcore is palpable, and intriguingly, this resurgence isn't emanating from the genre's traditional hotbeds, but from St. Louis, Missouri.
Conclusion
Locked Shut, hailing from 573 Boone County, MO, is breathing new life into Midwest Hardcore. Their ability to honor the genre's roots while pushing its boundaries positions them as a band to watch in the evolving landscape of aggressive music.
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