Post by jptheprofessor on Mar 30, 2006 18:06:04 GMT -5
BRAIN SURGEONS NYC – DENIAL OF DEATH (Cellsum Records) The original drummer of Blue Oyster Cult, Albert Bouchard, formed the Brain Surgeons with his wife, musician and music critic Deborah Frost, in 1994. The group’s earlier albums were more eclectic in nature, showing Bouchard and his bandmates experimenting with different styles, and referencing Blue Oyster Cult from time to time (including a tongue-in-cheek Spanish language update of “Cities On Flame” called “Casa Del Sol” from their 1996 album Box Of Hammers). After losing their two guitar players (one of them, Billy Hilfiger, died from brain cancer in 2000) and going it as a trio temporarily, the group eventually hooked up with former Manowar guitarist Ross the Boss, and created their new album, Denial Of Death. The difference is immediate; over the album’s dozen tracks, the Brain Surgeons embrace a more thunderous heavy metal direction that recalls the power and might of Ross’ former band, as well as the darker mystique of Bouchard’s former band. Ross’ guitars roar and sizzle throughout, and Bouchard’s drumming is more aggressive than ever; the sound fleshed out by Deborah Frost’s rhythm guitar work and David Hirschberg’s beefy bass. All four band members sing, with Frost’s sly, acid-tinged voice standing as the most distinct. Fans of heavy rock will savor the assortment of hard-hitting flavors offered up here, from the metal battle hymn leaning of “Constantine’s Sword” and the mini-epic “Tomb of the Unknown Monster” to the Motorhead-like speed assault “1864;” plus impressive mid-tempo rockers such as the opener “Rocket Science,” “Dark Secrets,” “Jimmy Boots Fetish,” “Plague Of Lies,” “Swansong,” “Verboten,” “Lonestar” and “Change the World Henry.” The Brain Surgeons throw an interesting curve on the album’s lone acoustic-geared number, “Strange Like Me,” peppering the song with flamenco-like guitar work against a prominent drum beat. The performances are robust and charged, and executed with ample swagger. The production gives the Brain Surgeons a sharp, thunderous and towering wall of metal sound. The strength of the song material, might of the performances and overall consistency and focus makes Denial Of Death a powerful and compelling listen. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out that Albert Bouchard hasn’t rocked out this hard since “Cities On Flame” and “Godzilla.”