The Brain Surgeons

The thought of crossing Blue Oyster Cult with Manowar sounds about as appealing as a bowl of your favorite ice cream topped with bologna, but New York City's Brain Surgeons, which includes members of both bands, doesn't strive for the sound of either. It's a good thing, too — Albert Bouchard couldn't possibly recapture Blue Oyster Cult's daring spirit on his own. By the same token, it took four guys for Manowar to become one of the cheesiest bands ever to walk the Earth, so guitarist Ross the Boss can't do as much furry-boot wearing and sword swinging here as he would perhaps like. Still, the Brain Surgeons' muscular riffs hearken back to when metal wasn't yet smart enough to be self-conscious. That's a good thing. It's made even better by sophisticated, righteously catchy choruses that pop up out of left field and make it safe to bang your head without shame.