"Locomotive (Complicity)" is one of the most ambitious tracks on Use Your Illusion II, an eight-and-a-half-minute epic co-written by Axl Rose and Slash. The song features four distinct guitar solos from Slash, each contributing to the track's sprawling narrative arc. Beginning at approximately 120 BPM in A-flat, the composition moves through multiple sections with shifting tempos and dynamics, showcasing the band's ability to sustain musical interest across an extended structure. The solos range from brief, punctuating statements to longer, more developed improvisations, with the final solo stretching over thirty seconds as the song builds to its climax. Rose's lyrics address themes of love, obsession, and emotional turbulence with a literary ambition that characterizes the Use Your Illusion era. The arrangement is densely layered, with multiple guitar tracks creating a rich harmonic tapestry that supports the vocal melodies. The rhythm section navigates the song's complex structure with precision, maintaining momentum through tempo changes and dynamic shifts. Locomotive stands alongside tracks like Estranged and Coma as evidence of the band's determination to push beyond the boundaries of conventional rock song structures, creating a form closer to progressive rock while retaining their hard rock intensity.
