Alice Cooper
“Along Came A Spider”
(SPV)

Does this guy need an introduction?! Perhaps if I just mention classics like ‘I’m Eighteen’, ‘School’s Out’, or ‘Under My Wheels’ then you’ll know the iconic figure of shock rock who’s just released his 25th album marking his remarkable career. Judging by his recent performance at the Magic Circle Festival in Germany he's lost none of his touch (“...we’re carnivores, not dinosaurs!!..” as he says). Bearing the same title as the Morgan Freeman movie that also coincidentally (?) dealt with the theme of serial killers, “Along Came A Spider” is another concept album with Alice taking on the identity of a serial killer imagining himself to be a predatory spider, with an interesting twist at the end - classic Alice Cooper theatre! But musically is where this album excels simply for the range in styles spanning the different eras in rock history from the trippy 60s (‘Salvation’), to 70s rock (‘Catch Me If You Can’) to 80s straight metal (‘Wrapped In Silk’) to 90s power rock (‘Vengeance Is Mine’ - complete with Slash guest guitar solo). Alice has been thru it all - like Ozzy, Iggy and Tyler he’s a survivor - and has co produced this superb album to have a sound reflective of each of those eras. The dark legend is back in “Along Came A Spider” with psycho drama still very much in his mind, and there is no escape.

-Shan Siva