
Nearly two decades after its original release, Nerf Herder‘s IV is finally getting the vinyl treatment it has long deserved. On August 14, Oglio Entertainment will release the first-ever LP pressing of the band’s acclaimed 2008 reunion album, giving fans a chance to experience this celebrated release on vinyl for the very first time.
Originally released on CD through Oglio Records, IV marked the long-awaited return of Nerf Herder’s classic lineup—Parry Gripp, Charlie Dennis, and Steve Sherlock. After a few years apart, the trio reunited not to revisit the past, but to prove that the chemistry responsible for some of punk rock’s smartest—and funniest—songs was still very much there.
The result was an album packed with everything that has made Nerf Herder a cult favorite for more than three decades: irresistible power-pop melodies, crunchy punk guitars, razor-sharp wit, and lyrics that effortlessly bounce between the absurd, the heartfelt, and the hilariously relatable. Tracks like “Oh Me, Oh My,” “Golfshirt Pt. 2,” “High School Reunion,” “Led Zeppelin Rules,” and “The Backpack Song” remind listeners why few bands have ever balanced humor and hooks quite as naturally as Nerf Herder.
Long before “nerd rock” became its own corner of popular culture, Nerf Herder helped define it. Their 1996 breakout single “Van Halen” became an unlikely modern rock radio hit, while the band reached an even broader audience after writing and recording the iconic theme song for Buffy the Vampire Slayer—a television anthem that remains instantly recognizable more than 25 years later. Through it all, Nerf Herder earned a fiercely loyal following by doing what they’ve always done best: writing unforgettable songs without ever taking themselves too seriously.
While frontman Parry Gripp has since become one of the internet’s most recognizable songwriters through his wildly successful catalog of viral family-friendly songs, IV stands as a reminder of the band that helped establish his reputation in the first place. It’s an album that captures Nerf Herder at full strength—confident, inspired, and still finding fresh ways to blend punk attitude with undeniable pop craftsmanship.
Mastered at Colorado’s legendary Blasting Room, IV has long been praised for its punchy, dynamic sound. This first-ever vinyl edition finally gives the album the analog presentation fans have been waiting for. Pressed on emerald green vinyl and packaged with a printed inner sleeve featuring the complete lyrics, the release is both a long-overdue collector’s piece and the definitive way to experience one of Nerf Herder’s most more obscure records. Fans can also purchase autographed copies while supplies last, making this historic first pressing an essential addition to any Nerf Herder collection.
Sherlock says, “Oh me, oh my! I never thought we’d see the day when our weird little 2008 comeback record actually made it onto a real, spinning piece of green vinyl. Our fans have been asking, and it’s finally happening!”
For longtime fans, this release fills one of the final missing pieces in Nerf Herder’s catalog. For newer listeners discovering the band through Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Parry Gripp’s later work, or simply a love of hook-filled pop-punk, IV remains one of the best introductions to a group whose combination of melody, humor, and originality has never been duplicated.
Funny without becoming a novelty act, catchy without sacrificing its punk spirit, and endlessly replayable, IV remains one of the hidden gems of 2000s pop-punk. Seventeen years after its original release, it’s finally arriving in the format fans have been asking for all along.
Upcoming shows:
August 27 — San Francisco, CA — Bottom of the Hill (Night 1: Greatest Hits)
August 28 — San Francisco, CA — Bottom of the Hill (Night 2: First Album & More)
October 25 — Gainesville, FL — The Fest
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