Tarmac Adam completed the new incarnation of the Tarmac Adam rhythm section. Recording was completed in Melbourne, Australia by April, 2012. The album was then mixed in by Rob Feaster at Quad Studios Nashville, and mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound in New York. "The History Effect" was released in January 2013, marking the ten-year anniversary of the release of Tarmac Adam’s first album. The endless road vista of the album's cover reflects this ten-year journey, and the name of the band, as O’Donnell explains: "Tarmac Adam is our play on the original name for tarmac. But also that sense of
The Fine Art of Surfacing around America leading up to "The Fine Art of Surfacing", drumming up publicity for the band in the States. During this time the Rats learned much about both American life and breaking into the American music market. This is a recurring theme on the album, sometimes taking a serious approach in looking at American society, in songs like "I Don't Like Mondays" and "Diamond Smiles," while other times looking at it in a downright silly and mocking manner in songs like "Nothing Happened Today" and "Having My Picture Taken," the album takes aim at 1979 life in classic punk style.