Helmet-alikes do good
It can't be easy to be young and grow up in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere. In this case, Crickhowell, Powys in deepest darkest Wales.
The four young men in Locus Of Control did exactly that, and had to kick out, deciding to try the form-a-band escape route from a monotonous life of 9-to-5 with jobs they'd hate. It's a path that's worked for fellow countrymen Lostprophets, Funeral For A Friend, with Bullet For My Valentine now on their way too, so why not?
Lofty ambitions with album and song titles to match – 'A Deeper Harm', 'The Comfort Of Repetition', etc. The music is every bit as angst ridden as the titles suggest, every inch steeped in that need for escapism, and a need to believe in a higher force. A lot of lyrics focus on either or both of these subjects, as a means to grasp that control that the band are aiming for. Locus Of Control manage to get through the preachy lyrics of 'Red' without turning into the pious, self-righteous likes of Creed or POD. Instead, it is more understated in the way other bands with strong beliefs like Norma Jean, Underoath, or any band on Tooth & Nail Records.
The instrumental '-jwtbh-' and 'Saltwater Smile' draw heavily, as does most of the album, on a distinct Helmet/Deftones influence. Downtuned melodies, leaden guitars and growling vocals. It all gets a bit too nu-metal at times, but luckily the songs reel themselves in, just in time rescuing them from the near Fred Durst/Korn-isms.
Having played support slots with a random assortment of bands such as the ska-punk stylings of Goldfinger and indie waifs The Bluetones, Locus of Control just need a decent tour and some exposure to give them the boost they need to put their plan of escape into action. It'll be their turn soon.