Reviewed by Christian Cunningham

Alice Cooper returns to where he left off in the 1975 mega-album with a continuation of that saga's story. With various contributors and collaborators, including KE$HA no less, this is a suitably eclectic mix of sound for the unhinged character that is Alice Cooper. Opening with a song that sounds like a huge album finisher, "I Am Made Of You" carries on with Alice trapped in his own mind, but lyrically it's rather like a biographical soliloquy, intense, introspective and a complete surprise as the first track. As the story unfolds, "Caffeine" with its spiky shock-rock riffing contrasts with the southern country rock of "Runaway Train", where Alice finds himself prisoner! Drama and theme abound, and Cooper hasn't lost his flair for the unusual with the waddle-stomp of a tuba featuring prominently on "Last Man On Earth". It always comes back to the rock though and cuts like "The Congregation" and "Ghouls Gone Wild" are catchy-chorused gems of classic heavy rock that could fuel house parties across the world. You'd be forgiven for thinking the Rolling Stones were guesting at one point with the tongue-in-cheek comedy of "I'll Bite Your Face Off" and check out "Disco Blood Bath Boogie Fever" for a sample of his rock-gone-wrong weirdness that suddenly shifts into all out rocking mayhem to finish with; a truly intriguing track. There is one slight misfire: the ballady "Something To Remember Me By" is strictly by the numbers. However, special mention of "What Baby Wants" is merited, the collaboration with the aforementioned KE$HA, because it's simply an excellent rock/pop crossover track. Varied, interesting and eminently listenable, Alice Cooper's long-awaited sequel is worth the wait for all you rockers who enjoy some horror rock drama in your aural poison of choice.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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