Adrenalin O.D.

Adrenalin O.D. is a punk band from Elmwood Park, New Jersey, active from 1981 to 1990. It forms from the remains of late 1970s punk group The East Paterson Boys Choir and is associated with hardcore punk, crossover and punk rock, with a sound built on fast tempos, sarcastic lyrics and comic stage banter.

Early recordings and label work

The band’s first recordings appear on the New York Thrash cassette compilation on ROIR cassettes in 1982. That release also features the first recordings by the Beastie Boys, along with Bad Brains and Kraut. Adrenalin O.D.’s first vinyl release is the six-song 7-inch EP Let’s Barbeque, issued on its own Buy Our Records label in 1983. The recording is made in a very limited studio session, with all six tracks cut in a single take and no overdubs.

Buy Our Records becomes one of New Jersey’s larger independent punk labels and helps launch the careers of bands including Flag Of Democracy, Raging Slab and Pussy Galore.

Albums and style

The band’s first album, The Wacky Hijinks of Adrenalin O.D., presents the group’s speed-punk style and humour-driven songwriting. The record includes songs such as “Middle Aged Whore”, “Trans Am” and “Rock n’ Roll Gas Station”, and also contains a hidden backmasked section in which the band members speak in unison. Other tracks show the group’s comic approach to punk through material such as a cover of Henry Mancini’s “Baby Elephant Walk”, a surf-rock version of “Hava Nagila” called “Surfin’ Jew”, and “Masterpiece”, a punk reworking of Jean-Joseph Mouret’s “Rondeau”, known to the band from Masterpiece Theatre.

The group’s third release, Cruising With Elvis In Bigfoot’s UFO, brings in producer Daniel Rey, who has worked with the Ramones, Misfits and Iggy Pop, to help move the sound from extreme speed into a more mid-tempo melodic punk style. Songs including “Bulimic Food Fight” and “My Mom Can’t Drive” appear on the album, which Stereo Review ranks among the funniest records of all time and which is also described as formative for the pop-punk sound associated with Fat Wreck Chords.

Live reputation

Adrenalin O.D. tours nationally and builds a strong following through live performances. Its shows are described as falling somewhere between Minor Threat and Don Rickles, reflecting the band’s mix of hardcore energy and stand-up-style humour. Fans come to describe this approach as “funny-punk”.