Surprised? I was, too, when I ran into this CD at a Christian bookstore back in 1995. Alice Cooper? The same man/band that reshaped my view on rock music as I knew it with the opening strains of "Poison" in 1989? The same one that, ironically, my own father listened to when he was my age? In a Christian bookstore? I thought it was a mistake, a visual flux on my part. But, after jabbing myself in the arm with a toothpick a couple of times, I realized that this was real, and not a joke. And later, in a reputed Christian metal/hard rock magazine, and an interview with none other than Pat Boone himself, confirmed it: the godfather of Shock Rock is a born-again Christian.
That aside, I have got to say that this is one of my favorite CDs, garnishing much extensive play in my system. The music is top-notch, hard, heavy and atmospheric. Classic Cooper. And for those asking for proof of a conversion, to quote the late great Keith Green, "the proof is in the lyrics.":
When listened to from start to finish, The Last Temptation works best as a testimonial concept piece, set in a carnival fun house of sorts. "Sideshow" introduces Alice as a bored young man, seeking some sort of thrill. "Nothing's Free" shows him making a deal with the devil, who is disguised as a ringmaster, promising the thrills the boy seeks. The dark side of these thrills are touched on in "Bad Place Alone" and "Lost In America". The boy begins to lament his decision in "My Temptation" ("And so I raise my voice to Heaven/Please hide me in some holy place/my master knows where I'm my weakest/Mercy please, I'm on my knees/You're my temptation") and seeks forgiveness in "Stolen Prayer". "Unholy War" and "Lullaby" showcases the battle for the Boy's soul. The show-stopper, "Cleansed By Fire", shows the boy, eyes opened, confronting the Devil with the lies he bound him with ("What about me? Little me/You lose, I win, you couldn't suck me in/It's over, you have no power/You're lost, and I'm found, and I'm heaven bound/Go back, where you belong, to where you fell/Go to hell"). Still sends chills down my spine to this day.
Most have questioned why I have this in my collection. Certainly The Last Temptation doesn't have the prescribed "Jesus-Per-Minute" that most use to gauge how Christian an artist or CD is. Given interviews and other Christian bands that have toured with him the last couple of years, I have no doubt in my mind that Alice Cooper is a Christian now. The Last Temptation is a reflection of this. And he has stated that he wants to do more Christian-themed albums like this one in the future. We can hope. In the meantime, check this out. You might be surprised. . .
9/10
Other coverage for this album
Heaven's Metal #50Reviewed by Pastor DaveThe king of shock rock is back with the most interesting concept album since Queensryche's Operation Mindcrime. But what may really shock Alice's fans is the intense spirituality that seeps through every crevice of this album. The concept is a Tales of the Crypt-style story line about a young man who is invited to a "free" show at the Theater of the Real. The young man sees quite a show -- the…Similar sounding releases
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