History of the Zero Boys

Shortly after recording what would have been their sophomore album in 1983, Indianapolis’ hardcore band the Zero Boys broke up, leaving only an EP and a debut album in their wake. Fast-forward to 2009 and the good folks at Secretly Canadian release History Of the Zero Boys which comprises these long-lost recordings along with the band’s celebrated Livin’ In the ‘80s EP as a bonus treat. “Drive In” picks up right where the Zero Boys left off on 1982’s Viscous Circle — with fast throttled stop-and-start tempos punctuated by singer Paul Mahern’s hyperactive snarl. “Black Network News” moves with slower verses revealing that the band was inching away from the limiting confines of hardcore punk’s margins, while “Splish Splash” similarly dared to mesh more original sounding verses with punchy textbook-punk choruses. The lengthiest track here at almost three minutes long, “Inergy” flirted with heavy-metal guitar before Black Flag would incorporate the tones into 1984’s My War. Both “Dingy Bars Suck” and “Mom’s Wallet” best exemplify that the band’s sharpened sense of humor was still intact.