Rock legend Alice Cooper believes death metal carries on the rebellious spirit of classic hard rock, embracing the genre’s aggressive sound and theatrical imagery. In a recent interview with Metal Hammer, Cooper discussed his appreciation for extreme metal and explained why its darker themes don’t conflict with his Christian faith. Addressing the genre’s anti-religious imagery, Cooper said, “Hey, they’re yelling at God. I think he can take it.”
Cooper’s influence on heavier music continues to span generations. Finnish metal band Children of Bodom covered his song “Bed of Nails” in 2004, while late Death frontman Chuck Schuldiner famously cited KISS as his favorite band, reflecting the influence of theatrical hard rock on extreme metal. Cooper’s guitarist Nita Strauss also shares an appreciation for the genre, naming Swedish melodic death metal band In Flames as her favorite group and crediting Swedish metal’s distinctive chord progressions with drawing her into heavier music.
