Mention the name Turbonegro to most punk rockers and wait for the drool to start running down their chins. The ’90s glam/punk/metal over-the-top Norwegian act was hardcore in every sense of the word, creating an army of underground followers who worshipped the ground it spat on. Turbonegro dressed like denim daddies, rocked fast enough to leave flesh wounds, and usually rotated one of three lyrical themes: humping young boys, getting a good piece of ass, and erections. It’s the kind of stuff that makes the PC police squirm in their bunched panties while getting the twisted fucks’ panties wet, and on the way influencing everyone from Sweden’s Hellacopters to local boys Three Years Down.
Hopeless Records recently gave 26 bands the chance to kiss some Turbonegro ass with its tribute to the group, Alpha Motherfuckers. The disc is packed through the alphabet with some stellar acts — everything from the Adolescents’ spinoff ADZ to Zeke. Highlights include Nashville Pussy ripping through a wild rampage of “Age of Pamparius,” the Supersuckers doing “Get It On,” and Scott Free’s version of “Rock Against Ass.” It’s hard to mess with punk rock perfection, though — these songs were great in their original form. Not every band can match the Turbonegro fury, and a few too many end up dropping the ball. And although some might say you can never get too much Turbonegro in one sitting, the 75 minutes (26 bands) of covers of varying quality definitely puts that theory to the test. But listening to songs by this Norwegian trash act would be nothing if not spiked with a little discomfort.
