The Insults - Population Zero

Review by Ellie McElvain

Population Zero by The Insults: A Punk Rock Gem from '79 That Still Kicks Ass Alright, let’s talk about Population Zero by The Insults. If you’re into raw, in-your-face punk rock with just enough grit to make your ears happy, this album’s for you. Released way back in 1979 (yeah, the same year disco was still a thing), it’s one of those records that feels like it came straight outta some sweaty basement gig in the US. Props to Ric-Mar Records and Last Laugh Records for putting it out there—this isn’t the kinda stuff mainstream labels would touch back then. First off, can we appreciate the lineup? You’ve got Richard Sikk doing double duty on vocals and guitar, Johny Tomaro holding down the bass, and Richard Trigger smashing the drums. Add Mark Leach and Steve Loveless on engineering duties, plus producers Mark Leach and R. Shively keeping things tight, and you’ve got yourself a scrappy crew that knew how to deliver the goods. Now onto the tracks. I gotta say, “Zombie Lover” is an absolute banger—it’s actually listed twice on the tracklist, which either means they really wanted you to hear it or someone messed up at the pressing plant. Either way, it works. It’s fast, loud, and has this killer riff that sticks in your head like gum on a hot sidewalk. There’s something about the way Richard Sikk spits out the lyrics; it’s not polished, but that’s what makes it so damn fun. This song screams teenage rebellion and bad decisions, and honestly, who doesn’t love that? Then there’s the title track, “Population Zero.” It slows things down just a hair but hits harder because of it. The bassline from Johny Tomaro is all kinds of groovy, and Trigger’s drumming keeps everything grounded while Sikk lets loose on the guitar. Lyrically, it’s apocalyptic as hell—like, end-of-the-world vibes—but instead of feeling preachy, it’s more like a big middle finger to whatever’s dragging us down. It’s the kind of tune that makes you wanna grab a beer, crank the volume, and scream along. What’s wild is how fresh this record still sounds today. Sure, production-wise, it’s got that lo-fi charm that screams DIY ethic, but that’s part of its magic. These guys weren’t trying to be perfect—they were just trying to rip it up, and they succeeded. So yeah, if you’re looking for something real and unapologetic, give Population Zero a spin. Just don’t blame me if your neighbors start complaining. Oh, and here’s a random thought—what if zombies really did show up during this recording session? Would they have joined the band? Punk rock needs more undead members anyway.

Artist: The Insults
Album: Population Zero

Rock

Punk

1979

Rating: 5.0

Review
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Tracks
Video
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Catalog Numbers
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Listen online
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Notes
About Artist
Interesting fact
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Filename: the-insults-population-zero.zip

MP3 size: 13.5 mb
FLAC size: 138.3 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Zombie Lover
Population Zero
Zombie Lover

Video

Insults - Zombie Lover

The Insults - Population Zero

Images

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Catalog Numbers

HAW-032
V46159

Labels

Last Laugh Records
Ric-Mar Records

Listen online

escuchar en línea
online luisteren
lyssna på nätet
kuunnella verkossa
ouvir online
online anhören
écouter en ligne
ascolta in linea
lytte på nettet

Formats

Vinyl
Reissue
7"
Green

Companies

Role	Company
Recorded At	Twilight Studios, Moss Landing, CA

Credits

Role	Credit
Bass	Johny Tomaro
Drums	Richard Trigger
Engineer	M. Leach, Steve Loveless
Guitar	Richard Sikk
Vocals	Richard Sikk
Producer	Mark Leach , R. Shively

Notes

First 200 on green vinyl (this).
Few bands have been named more fittingly than The Insults. All of their songs (and this 7" is the tip of the ol' iceberg, pal) are an affront to "good" taste, "good" manners, "good" musicianship...in other words, the perfect band for you and me. A long-time collector-fave finally reissued in it's proper form here, this two-songer from the prides of Watsonville, CA still sounds as wonderfully ignorant today as it did in 1979 and makes an excellent introduction to the world of Richard Sikk & his cohorts. "Population Zero" is a plea to eliminate the entire human race, a prayer we're much closer to answering in 2013. "Zombie Lover" is....well, just what you think it is. Special guest appearance by Cher. Buy or cry.
All analog reissue from masters of this California KBD punk classic circa 1979. First 200 on green vinyl (just like the original pressing).

About The Insults

Punk Rock band from Del Ray Oaks, California formed in 1977

Name Vars

Insults

Members

Richard B. Shively
Richard Watts
Brendan Tracey
Johny Tomaro
Brian Frus

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s a cool fact: The Insults' 1979 punk rock album *Population Zero* features a track called "Zombie Lover" twice. It’s listed twice on the album, which is either a quirky mistake or a bold artistic choice. The band, hailing from the US, brought together raw energy with Richard Sikk handling both vocals and guitar, while Johny Tomaro and Richard Trigger nailed bass and drums. Produced by Mark Leach and R. Shively, this underground gem was released under Ric-Mar Records and Last Laugh Records. Punk rock at its unpolished best!