Alice Cooper was always the king of shock rock. At 76, he shows us why he’s worth the horror, the commanding persona and a brand that will continue to live far after he has gone.
As a narrator of nightmares, it is no shock (ironically) that Alice Cooper is diving into the genre one more time. He is the Stephen King of rock music, banking on horror and fear. No wonder he’s got an Eyegore Award (2011), is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and all around nice guy. As long as the performer in him goes, there’s nothing scarier than seeing an animated man with mascara running down his eyes.
After his previous album ‘Road,’ some could have assumed he’s talking about the end of it. There were lot of mentions of journeys, some emotional appreciation as well. Death, of a fulfilling lifetime of fearsome performances. Now he’s back from the “dead” in typical Alice fashion. The Revenge of Alice Cooper is definitely better than any horror movie you would have watched recently. That’s because he’s tapping into your imagination—with his words.
The longevity secret
The band’s name was derived from an Ouija board. Is this just a tale that’s so on brand? Doesn’t matter, for gore became Alice Cooper’s lifelong dream-and other’s nightmare. Egregious rock performances, guillotines flying, blood spraying and ghouls dancing every night. When he opens this album with Black Mamba, he’s the snake under your bed.
A riff that is groovy and characteristic of his 70s persona, you’re taken back all the way to the era. He doesn’t shy away from advancement, sound hits harder than anything he’s ever got produced earlier. Depicting the snake from inside and outside—that was enough for my ophidiophobia (fear of the slithery creatures).
The next track? It doubles in tempo to generate a classic rock bluesy joy that shows how agile Alice Cooper is as a band. Not just Furnier’s voice, its how the band attacks you with all their might. Melodies are the kinds you can sing along to—like it has always been with their music. Have a look at this music video. Here is an ageing band, that’s been rocking out for decades together. The zeal? Something even bands now can’t match. That’s how you know a band was meant to rock out till the end of days.
The shock rock king
You must remember, who you’re listening to has introduced theatrics to rock, employing props like guillotines, electric chairs, fake blood, snakes, and baby dolls. It was like watching a great horror movie with even better music in the background. Descriptive, horrifying in some moments but always interesting. Alice Cooper was the band from which production improved for rock bands throughout the world, without a doubt.
When you listen to Up All Night, you can feel the insomnia setting in. The beat takes over from the opening-with a riff that I have made an effort to learn IMMEDIATELY. That’s not happened for several years, and I can’t believe I didn’t write something that groovy and dance-y. Like the 80s, Furnier’s voice hasn’t aged a year, and he brings it to the very razor’s edge. Like those AC/DC years, you’re looking at a singer taking you through a tale with passion. This is retro rock preserved by the blood caked from all his years of making you piss yourself. Either from fear or excitement—or perhaps both.
Stories of lore-Alice Cooper
You must remember, when Frank Zappa discovered this band-something about their talent took him aback. Yes, there was notorious theatrics, but the band represented another niche of rock. He has inspired several artists in metal—Rob Zombie practically worships this man. His tales of chaos with Keith Moon of The Who are legendary. Want to know? Of course:
Moon reaches Cooper’s home for a week-long stay. When Cooper goes to attend business, he returns sometime later to find Moon dressed up completely-head to toe-as a French Maid. Surprising? I didn’t think so. One person was, and that was Alice Cooper’s wife.
So when you listen to the absolute drama of Kill the Flies, know that they have owned the genre for so long-there’s only going forward from there. The Revenge of Alice Cooper is the band getting back their powers, for they’ve barked at the moon and created that scary bond that gives them superpowers.
An album worth obsessing over
From harmonics to supercharged rock riffs—you can hear Furnier and the band coming together like they never spent a day away after 50 years. In this landscape where complexity sets rock bands apart, or weird off-stage antics, Alice Cooper keeps their energy very much for the stage. The band finds themselves alive and well, and obsessing over death and creepiness to this day. God bless Alice Cooper, and the majestic throne of horror they continue to sit on:
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