ALICE COOPER needs no introduction. The man has been making some of the most memorable Rock and Metal for 40 years now. That's 40 years straight with no lengthy layovers or reunions, all while being a nationally syndicated DJ, rabid golfer and occasional actor. And no, there is nothing new on "Along Came A Spider". Sure, the album isn't as heavy as "Brutal Planet", as poppy as "Trash" or as raw as "Love It To Death", but it delivers what every Alice fan expects every few years. This time out Alice has decided to release a concept album about a serial killer aptly named Spider, and Alice assumes the identity flawlessly, spinning yarns about guilt, love, murder and mutilation in his trademarked snarls and howls.

Lyrically, Alice is in top form with endless wit and creepiness. And of the handful of concept albums ALICE COOPER has, it's one of the best in terms of story and style; but what brings this album home is the music. Shifting from Rock to Metal to effective yet eerie ballads, "Along Came A Spider" never gets stuck. Each song is weaved nicely and is chock full of creativity. The opening "I Know Where You Live" is a raunchy rocker with great buzz and heaps of backing vocals. "Vengence Is Mine" is probably the heaviest track on the album and is bolstered by endless soloing antics from the one and only Slash.

Things get poppy with the pulsating, BEATLES-esque "Wake The Dead", "(In Touch With) Your Feminine Side" is a kooky rocker that works perfectly, and things get Grungier with the stomping "Wrapped In Silk." The two ballads are sinisterly subtle ("Killed by Love") and beautifully bombastic ("Salvation"), while "I'm Hungry" has Pop sensibility enveloped by Garage Rock. The album closes expertly with "I Am The Spider", which is a Doom-drenched, atonal affair sprinkled with strings and other haunting noises.

With "Along Came A Spider" Alice shows no sign of wear and is again the star of the show, and drummer Eric Singer (KISS, AVANTASIA) delivers the thunderous goods while guitarists Danny Saber, Greg Hampton and Keri Kelli deliver flawless rocking, rolling and soloing. Sometimes the layers of backing vocals get annoying and some fans of Metal might not get all the praise over ALICE COOPER, but "Along Came A Spider" is awesomely disturbing. Not because it is a perfect soundtrack for both serial killers and admirers of the macabre, but because Alice has been doing this for 40 years and this is one of his strongest, most cohesive releases to date.