A suburban thrash foursome from New Jersey, Adrenalin O.D. debuted on a 1982 compilation from ROIR Records which also included Bad Brains and the Beastie Boys. The group, including guitarists Paul Richard and Bruce Wingate plus bassist Keith Hartel and drummer Dave Scott, signed to Buy Our Records the following year, releasing an EP and their debut album, The Wacky Hi-Jinks of…Adrenalin O.D.
The LP was a piece of prime hardcore punk, though recorded with no discernible production values. Adrenalin O.D.’s third proper album, Cruising with Elvis in Bigfoot’s U.F.O., saw the group change their attack from thrash to more manageable rock & roll tempos, revealing their knack for melody and off-beat themes. After signing to Restless…
…in 1990, Adrenalin O.D. released Ishtar that year and Theme from an I two years later. Still active in 1996, the group issued their sixth overall album, Sittin’ Pretty.
1984 The Wacky Hi-Jinks of Adrenalin OD
Over the years, Adrenalin OD’s 1984 LP The Wacky Hi-Jinks of Adrenalin OD has become a serious cult classic. Bands as diverse as NOFX, Screeching Weasel, Anthrax, Bouncing Souls, Night Birds, Municipal Waste and S.O.D. name them as a major influence. Wacky Hi-Jinks was originally released on AOD’s own Buy Our Records label, but now, to celebrate its 35th anniversary, it’s getting the Millennium Edition treatment from Beer City Records. This coincides with the New Jersey quartet becoming and active band again, and even doing their very first tour of Europe in 2020.
Adrenalin OD started out in 1981, and their first recordings were on the popular and now classic New York Thrash compilation that same year. (Back in the early ‘80s, the terms thrash and hardcore were pretty much interchangeable.) Their low budget six song EP, Let’s Barbeque, followed in 1983. Wacky Hi-Jinks was their first full length, and it really solidified their sound. What exactly was their sound? It was defined by two key elements: speed and humor. In other words, it was fast as hell and funny as hell.
Wacky Hi-Jinks was 15 songs in less than 24 minutes. The speed and intensity of the music was undeniable. Even 35 years later you can feel the energy and power pouring out of the grooves. It will probably make you want to jump around and smash things. As a matter of fact, if these songs don’t pump you up, it’s likely nothing will. Instrumental opener “AOD Vs. Godzilla” started out slow and heavy, like Gozilla’s stomp, before jumping to light speed. “White Hassle” told the pitiful tale of a late night trip to a certain notoriously bad 24 hour burger joint. Next up was the stark contrast of the extremely dark “New Year’s Eve”.
“Small Talk”, “Going to a Funeral” and “Corporate Disneyland” poked fun at the absurdity of modern life and social norms. Early Screeching Weasel and Bouncing Souls tracks clearly borrowed heavily from this formula. “Trans Am (The Saga Continues)” was the song that inspired the Dead Milkmen classic “Bitchin’ Camaro”. “Sightseeing” and “Middle-Aged Whore” lampooned the suburban, middle class lifestyle. You could definitely see the post apocalyptic lyrics of “World War lV” having a big impact on a young Municipal Waste. “Clean and Jerk” was the obligatory ‘80s punk, anti jock song.
On “I’d Rather Be Asleep”, not to be confused with the similar 1985 DRI song “I’d Rather Be Sleeping”, Adrenalin OD captured the boredom and restlessness of youth. “Rah-Jah!” even dared to attack beloved children’s icon Mr. Rogers! “Rock and Roll Gas Station” might have been AOD’s best known song, and 11 second album closer “Paul’s Not Home” was somehow a minor college radio hit. As great as the darkly comedic lyrics were, it’s important to remember that they were delivered at Minor Threat level intensity. You can easily hear that combination of sarcasm and near speed metal in the music of fellow New Jersey residents Anthrax and New York City neighbors Stormtroopers of Death.
Most punks over 40 are probably already familiar with The Wacky Hi-Jinks of Adrenalin O.D.. At least they should be. Honestly, it’s one of those albums that every self respecting punk should have in their record collection. The Beer City Millenium Edition faithfully reproduces the original from the master tapes, and comes complete with the same artwork and inserts. This press is limited to 1000 on three different colors. Don’t miss out on your second chance to own this undisputed classic from Adrenalin OD.
01 – AOD vs Godzilla 03:06
02 – White Hassle 01:27
03 – New Years Eve 01:20
04 – Small Talk 01:36
05 – Going to a Funeral 01:50
06 – Coorporate Disneyland 01:13
07 – Trans Am (The Saga Continues) 01:44
08 – Sightseeing 02:47
09 – Middle-Aged Whore 02:04
10 – World War IV 01:15
11 – Clean and Jerk 01:40
12 – I’d Rather Be Asleep 01:22
13 – Rah-Jah! 00:37
14 – Rock and Roll Gas Station 02:21
15 – Paul’s Not Home 00:11
If anything, Humungous was the next logical step beyond Wacky Hi-Jinks. There was somehow even more humor and more speed. Like its predecessor, the record opened with an instrumental. A sequel even. “A.O.D. vs. Son of Godzilla” set the stage for the goofiness and intensity that would follow. Songs like “Office Buildings”, “Yuppie”, “Pope on a Rope”, “Bugs”, “Survive”, “Crowd Control” and “Fuck the Neighbors” are insanely fast and mostly seem to lampoon suburban life.
“Pizza-N-Beer” never picks up any speed, but delivers some comedy relief. The fake jingles on “Commercial Cuts” are among the album’s catchiest tunes. “Untitled” is either a short skit or a studio outtake. “Surfin’ Jew” incorporates “The Hora”, the familiar Hebrew wedding dance song. “Masterpiece” goes one step further and is actually a punk/hardcore version of “Fanfare-Rondeau”, the theme song from the long running PBS program Masterpiece Theatre. The best songs on Humungous are among Adrenalin O.D.’s finest work. “Youth Blimp”, “Velvet Elvis” and “Bruce’s Lament” all fall into this category.
While Humungous shares the most prominent traits of Wacky Hi-Jinks, it doesn’t quite capture the same magic. That’s not to say that it’s not good. It is. Really good. Great even. The two are like 1 and 1A. If you haven’t yet discovered Adrenalin O.D., you should probably start with The Wacky Hi-Jinks of Adrenalin O.D.. Chances are good that you’ll love it and want to hear Humungousfungusamongus too. I’m sure that like it was for me, it will be better late than never. Best of all, as of now, Adrenalin O.D. is an active band once again. You might actually get to hear them rip through some of these songs live.
01 – A.O.D. Vs Son of Godzilla 01:41
02 – Office Buildings 01:13
03 – Yuppie 02:24
04 – Answer 01:53
05 – Pope on a Rope 02:01
06 – Fishin’ Musician 02:00
07 – Pizza-n-Beer 01:33
08 – Bugs 02:52
09 – Youth Blimp 02:21
10 – Commercial Cuts 01:59
11 – Survive 01:32
12 – Untitled Stuff 00:28
13 – Masterpiece 01:37
14 – Crowd Control 02:40
15 – Velvet Elvis 02:09
16 – Fuck the Neighbors 01:01
17 – Surfin’ Jew 01:14
18 – Bruces’ Lament 02:41
19 – The Nice Song 01:12