SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: ALICE COOPER – THE REVENGE OF ALICE COOPER

ALICE COOPER
THE REVENGE OF ALICE COOPER
EARMUSIC

Fifty years ago, the original lineup of Alice Cooper broke up, and while the four surviving members would reunite for a pair of one-off shows in 2015 and 2017, and for a pair of tracks on Cooper’s 2021 album, Detroit Stories (“Social Debris” and “I Hate You”), the band has never truly reformed; that is, until now. Cooper returns with his 30th studio album, The Revenge Of Alice Cooper, the first record since 1973’s Muscle Of Love to feature guitarist Michael Bruce, bassist Dennis Dunaway, and drummer Neal Smith across all 16 tracks. Additionally, original lead guitarist, Glen Buxton, who passed in 1997, can be heard posthumously on “What Happened To You” and The Doors’ guitarist, Robbie Krieger is featured on “Black Mamba.”

The Revenge Of Alice Cooper opens with a haunting note, one of lingering suspense that lives of to the title of the opening track, “Black Mamba,” before breaking out into a loose, slinky, wah-drenched riff. Between the choruses of yeah’s to Krieger’s lead lines echoing behind the band, and Cooper’s escalating vocals, “Black Mamba” is a deadly song. This is immediately followed by “Wild Ones,” a jangly rocker that runs at a breakneck pace. There is a hint of redemption that can be heard in the choruses rising vocal melody and harmonies, a fitting tone for the band as they make a triumphant return with a truly killer one-two knockout punch of an opening pair of songs. Without a doubt, “Black Mamba” and “Wild Ones” are the strongest tracks on The Revenge Of Alice Cooper and can stand among some of his most revered classics, proving these two songs to be effortlessly timeless.

Over the course of the remaining 14 tracks, Cooper and company never quite reach the heights of the opening songs again as they ebb and flow between a myriad of ‘70s rockers of differing quality. Songs like “Up All Night,” “Kill The Flies,” “Famous Face,” “What A Syd,” “What Happened To You,” and “See You On The Other Side” are distinctly that of 1972, a time when hard rock was still finding its footing but could evoke a sense of danger. These songs are absolute gems and Cooper sounds revitalised in a more stripped back and slightly experimental setting, especially when compared to the highly produced sound of a majority of his modern work.

Had The Revenge Of Alice Cooper been an EP, collecting the strongest of songs recorded by Cooper and his original band, it would have been a thrilling, short, but sweet, revival of an era long gone, one which would have marked an incredible latter career highlight for the band. While still an exciting affair for Cooper among his legendary career, The Revenge Of Alice Cooper falls short of essential with a massive track listing that fails to justify its length. Despite this, The Revenge Of Alice Cooper is an enjoyable record that, while not necessarily reaching the expectations the story behind the album stokes, captures one of the few remaining quintessential ‘70s bands for what will likely be a final reunion as they bask in greatness for just a few moments.

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