Regarding the recording of the album, Cunningham said, "At the time we did the first record—which I really like and think is good—you can tell the band was really young. We'd been playing most of those songs for quite a while, and we were just so happy to be making a record that we didn't really think a whole lot about making the songs better".Peiken, Matt. Interview with Abe Cunningham, Modern Drummer, 1997. Moreno felt that Adrenaline was recorded "really fast" and performed all his vocals live with the band in the room using a hand-held Shure SM58 microphone.Walkling, Dennis. Chillin' with Chino: Deftones get Moody, Circus, June 1998. AllMusic's review of Adrenaline praised the album's musical control, precision, overall groove and Cunningham's "surprisingly sophisticated drumming". It was also noted that "there is a bit of sameness in Chino Moreno's whispered vocal melodies, which drags the record down a bit".
rEGaRdInG the recordinG of the AlbUm, CuNniNgham saiD, "at thE tIMe wE diD the fIrSt RecoRd—whICh I really lIke ANd tHiNk is gooD—yOU can Tell tHE bAnd Was rEAlly YOung. We'D Been pLayIng moST oF THose songS fOr quIte A wHilE, and we were JuSt So happY To be MAkIng A reCorD That we dIDN'T reAlLY thiNk a whOle Lot about MakIng the songs Better".pEiken, Matt. intervieW with abE cunniNGham, moDern DRuMmer 1997 moreno fElT THaT AdrenALine WaS recoRded "RealLy fAst" aND perfOrmEd All hiS vocaLS LIvE with tHe band iN the ROom usiNg a hanD-HEld shure Sm58 MiCrophonE.Walkling, DenNis. CHillin' with Chino: deFtOnEs get moodY, circuS, ,jUnE 1998. allmusIC's review of aDrenalIne prAIsed tHE aL.bum's muSicaL COnTrOL, PreciSiOn, OveralL GRoove and cuNninghaM's "SurPrisingly SoPhisticAted drUMmIng". iT wAs aLSO noteD THaT "there iS a BiT oF sameneSs in cHino moReno's whiSpeREd VOcAl mELoDies, Which Drags tHe record Down A bIt".