came out of nowhere in 1982, this punk rock/hardcore fireball with the bright yellow sleeve. In one sense, The Zero Boys’ Vicious Circle was yet another example of how U.S. punk seemed to peak coast to coast that year. But unlike most coastal punk, the Zero Boys were pointing the way to a scene that could accommodate heaping helpings of melody, intelligence, and rock ‘n’ roll sus, not just turbo-charged ferocity.
From 1979 into ‘83, the Indianapolis based ZBs were the finest hardcore blitz in the Midwest if not all the lower 48 states. Proof is Vicious Circle and the two decades since of copyists, bootleggers, practitioners and reunion concert pogoers.
Though before and after that LP’s 1982 release they recorded the Livin’ in the 80’s 7”, songs for three comps and released the post-mortem History Of cassette revealing their transformation into a toured band warming to the metaphysical and their demise while still waving torches of rock ‘n’ roll panache.
Track Listing:
Side A
Vicious Circle
Amphetamine Addiction
New Generation
Dirty Alleys/Dirty Minds
Civilization’s Dying
Livin’ In The 80’s
Drug Free Youth
Side B
Down The Drain
Outta Style
You Can Touch Me
Forced Entry
Hightime
Charlies’ Place
Trying Harder
Slam And Worm*
She Said Goodbye*
*Bonus cuts not on original 1982 release