Album Review: Alice Cooper - Raise Your Fist And Yell

Alice Cooper - Raise Your Fist And Yell

MCA - 1987

8.5/10

Following the complete rebranding, Raise Your Fist And Yell may mark what I see as Alice Cooper’s most metal album. Hiring the beastly Kane Roberts on guitar, the riffing itself very much reflects him with some of the most dense rhythm sections. Continuing on with the horror and rebellious nature of Constrictor, this one feels just a bit more polished, acting as something of a sequel, and embellishing on the revolting attitude. I may not have the same biases here, but this still very much reflects the rock ‘n roll sound of the time.

Following all of the PMRC nonsense, it should be obvious that there’s a lot of attitude to be had. Opener “Freedom” hits this immediately, with one of the most powerful opening riffs of the shock rocker’s career. Speed metal permeates the whole thing. Matter of fact, “Give The Radio Back” and “Lock Me Up” take the same approach in tone, but without as much speed. The heavier bottom is still present, thanks to one Kip Winger on bass. Because of the loud drums and bassy thumping mixed with really hooky lines, I’d easily compare this to KISS’s Creatures Of The Night.

And with that, Raise Your Fist And Yell also continues to drench us with fear and trashy horror delights. “Roses On White Lace” was the perfect closer, going out on a speedier note following the creepy “Gail.” This serves as a tighter reminder of Alice’s foundation. An obvious one is “Prince Of Darkness,” raking in steadeir licks to achieve the same unsettling feel. If that’s not enough, it’s the second album in a row to feature a song for a horror film. 

Regardless of which angles of attack that you prefer, this is a record that very much holds a lot of weight. Between the heavy licks, the relatable lyrics, the general attitude, or the loud atmosphere, this record breathes as much life as ever. It may have taken longer to grow on me than others, but I’m thrilled that it did. Different itches for hard rock get scratched, and most importantly, the consistency is on point as ever.