ADOLESCENTS ROAR

The Adolescents have grown up--or at least regrouped for the better. One of the top local punk outfits five years ago, the Orange County band called it quits a while back, but it’s returned with even greater fervor and focus.

Playing a show at Fender’s on Saturday, the Adolescents immediately served notice that they aren’t kidding around with this comeback: The quintet opened with a version of “No Way” that roared with blast-furnace intensity. From there, these sonic storm troopers never looked back or let up (except for when an overzealous slam-dancer toppled onto the equipment).

Apparently, neither the hiatus nor the reunion encouraged much change in the Adolescents’ attack. Wise--it wasn’t broken, so they didn’t fix it. They hammered out stuff that was feisty and forceful, if a bit leaner, and while there’s still room in the approach for some hotshot guitar licks and group vocals, basically it’s no frills, plenty of thrills.