REO Speedealer is the type of group that might be found headlining a Monster Truck demolition derby or a Harley Davidson rally. It is the type of group that is energized by high octane diesel and thrives in environments reeking of motor oil, exhaust and sweat.

But most importantly, REO Speedealer is the type of group that could beat the crap out of the entire NFL with its bare hands. To put it simply, this is one group that enjoys living hard and playing harder.

This is obvious on the group’s self-titled second recording, released on Royalty Records, which was unveiled publicly a little over a week ago. With song titles like “Screamer,” “Double Clutchin’ Finger Fuckin’,” “Cocaine Dave,” “Pussy,” “Pig Fucker” and “Ain’t Fucking Around,” it promises listeners a fistful of aggression.

Of course, it also doesn’t hurt that the CD was produced by Daniel Rey (White Zombie, L7, Misfits, Ramones) or that the group toured nonstop across the entire continental United States for over two years perfecting its “Monster Truck Rock Meets Hi-Octane Punk Twang” sound.

The group’s influences are evident in its live performances. It effortlessly mimics The Ramones (“REO Speedealer” features 15 songs and clocks in at under 20 minutes), while infusing the rawness of Motorhead, Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top.

Fortunately, if the group was inspired in any way by REO Speedwagon, its music doesn’t show it.

Vocalist Jeff Hirsberg admits that his group’s name is more of an inside joke than a tribute. The group was named by a friend from Lubbock, Texas, who has a flair for mixing up and changing real band names.

But this man from Lubbock isn’t the only friend who has helped the group out since its inception almost four years ago at Texas Tech. Back then, the group was called Sexcellent, and it was having a lot of trouble keeping a regular drummer.

“We’re like Spinal Tap,” Hirsberg said, “in that we’ve had three or four different drummers before settling on Todd. We’ve even had one drummer die on us.”

But that didn’t stop Hirsberg, bassist “Hot Rod” Skelton, guitarist Mike Noyes and drummer Todd (no last name available) from marching toward its goal of making it as musicians.

Unfortunately, breaking into the music industry wasn’t as easy as the group thought it would be. Just when the quartet was about to throw in the towel, along came a good friend to stoke the band’s fire.

Babes In Toyland drummer Lori Barbero had an offer that the group didn’t dare resist. Barbero owned a small music label, Spanish Fly Records, and offered to help the group release its debut CD. Shortly thereafter, the group entered a studio and recorded “Double Clutchin’ Finger Fuckin'” (that CD’s title track is re-released on “REO Speedealer”).

Then a strange thing happened — people started to take notice of the group. It was voted “Best New Act” by the fifty million readers of the Dallas Observer. It was suddenly on tour with such high-profile acts as the Reverend Horton Heat and Nashville Pussy. Last March, the group was well received by the South By Southwest music conference. It even managed to land a guest spot on this summer’s WARPED Tour.

These accomplishments garnered the attention of record labels larger than Spanish Fly Records. The group eventually ended up signing with Royalty Records after several of the company’s representatives caught a show last Halloween in Kansas City.

The representatives were extremely impressed with REO Speedealer’s live performance, which can best be described as a break-neck, super-speed romp through the group’s songs with hardly more than a breath of fresh air in between.

REO Speedealer will be playing at the Safari in Des Moines this Friday. Tickets are $5 and the show starts at 9 p.m.