Alice In Chains - Black Gives Way To Blue

Welcome back Alice In Chains! After a nearly fourteen year period since their last album, 1995's self-titled release, Alice In Chains returns with Black Gives Way To Blue. This release also comes after the death of original lead singer, Layne Staley, who died back in 2002 of an overdose; bringing in new lead singer, William DuVall, who actually shares leads with AIC's other frontman, Jerry Cantrell. Has Black Gives Way To Blue been worth the wait? Or should Alice In Chains have been laid to rest?

Like many Alice In Chains fans, I was quite skeptical of the band returning, especially without Layne Staley, who arguably made Alice In Chains sound what it is today. But, to my surprise, new member William DuVall fits Layne's shoes quite nicely. As many fans will remember, quite a lot of Alice In Chains best tracks were because of the harmonies between Jerry Cantrel's and Layne Staley's clashing vocals, not to mention the nice mix of both hard and acoustic sounds.

Fourteen years later, it's as if nothing has changed. Sure, Jerry's voice is much more prominent this time around, having written most of the tracks on the album himself, but when he and DuVall sing together, it's like being back in 1992. But as with all my movie reviews, it's best to analyze this on a track by track basis:

The album opener, "All Secrets Known," sounds a lot like "Dirt" (from the 1992 album of the same name), featuring Cantrell's classic moan-like vocals it pretty much is the classic AIC sound you've been waiting to hear in forever. "Check My Brain" follows up with more of that classic heavy grunge sound, and more apparent inclusion of DuVall's voice, but the constant chanting of "California..." reminds more of that annoying Phantom Planet song than it should Alice In Chains, even if the sound is nothing alike.

The next song, "Last Of My Kind," is the only track on the album co-written by both Cantrell and DuVall, and thus, is one of the few tracks that actually features William on true lead vocals. Right away you'll know he's not Layne Staley, but despite that he sound's damn close enough that this sounds like any other Alice In Chains track, and musically is one of the album's stand out tracks in my mind. But with the hard sound of AIC also comes the acoustic, and "Your Decision" delivers just that, with really nice harmonizing between DuVall and Cantrell.

Then there's "A Looking In View," this seven minute face-melter was the the first track released the album, and is the only track on the album that was written by the whole band. And while it's prettiest much the heaviest, loudest track on the album, it's also the longest... a bit too long for my taste since the riffs never really change. Next are the acoustic, "When The Sun Rose Again," and the broody "Acid Bubble," both are classic Alice In Chains in their sound, but aren't as memorable as other tracks on the album.

Following them are "Lesson Learned" and "Take Her Out," which like the rest of the album sounds like Alice In Chains should, but these two, at least to me, sounded like they directly came from Layne's days, and Cantrell/DuVall do a near perfect harmonizing on both of these tracks to create that feel.

As Black Gives Way To Blue comes to a close, the tone of the album becomes much slower. "Private Hell" sounds much like "God Am" from the band's last album, and overall just sounds like it came from that 1995 release. The final, eponymous track, "Black Gives Way To Blue," really is the main attraction here, as it's the one track on the album that clearly is about the late Layne Staley, and sounds like a really personal track. Even more interesting the that the band got Elton John to provide piano on the track, but sadly I felt the three minute track could have used more time to close out the album because it's just so good.

Overall, Black Gives Way To Blue is a really good album on its own, but what makes this album all the more special is that despite the fourteen year gap, and loss of the original lead singer, Alice In Chains sound just like they did back in 1995. I honestly can't think of any other band that has returned with a new lead singer and still sounded just like they used to, and I think the band should be commended for overcoming the hurdle of losing Layne, and coming back to play just like they used to without missing a beat. Alice In Chains are back!

Overall Score: 9/10

Alice In Chains discuss Black Gives Way To Blue

It's short film documentaries on MySpace are new thing for grunge bands, as Pearl Jam had one last month. This time around however, Alice In Chains discuss their reformation and the making of their first album in fourteen years, Black Gives Way To Blue, following the passing of lead singer Layne Staley.

Alice In Chains "Black Gives Way to Blue" Short Film


I can't explain the reasoning for the KISS make up though (I keep thinking of this)... otherwise the video is pretty insightful regarding the band's motivations for starting again and how new singer, William DuVall, got involved.

Black Gives Way To Blue releases later this month on September 29th.

Black Gives Way To Blue track listing

Not that we have any idea how each of these tracks sound (other than "A Looking In View"), Alice In Chains have gone and released the track listing for their first album in fourteen years, Black Gives Way To Blue, releasing at the end of next month.

1. All Secrets Known
2. Check My Brain
3. Last Of My Kind
4. Your Decision
5. A Looking In View
6. When The Sun Rose Again
7. Acid Bubble
8. Lessons Learned
9. Take Her Out
10. Private Hell
11. Black Gives Way To Blue

Hey, at least in name, they sound like they should be Alice In Chains songs...

via Alice In Chains' MySpace Blog

A Looking in View

Earlier this month I reported about Alice In Chains' new album, Black Gives Way To Blue. Well, as of today you can now hear the first track from the album, "A Looking in View," and even download it for free by heading to AliceInChains.com and filling out the form that comes up when you first visit the site. For those of you who don't feel like signing up for newsletters, you can hear the track via the website itself by skipping the form.

After listening to the seven minute track a few times, I can say that I'm pretty excited to hear more. At first it sounds much heavier than the band's last work from over thirteen years ago, when their self-titled album released. And, I'm pretty everyone wanted to hear how new material sounds with William DuVall on vocals instead of the late Layne Staley. Thankfully, more so in part to Jerry Cantrell's backing vocals, "A Looking in View" sounds like the Alice In Chains I remember, and that can only be a good thing.

Update: Turns out the new track is also available on the band's MySpace

Alive In Chains reveal new album title, release date

Pearl Jam won't be the only grunge band releasing new material this September, the newly fronted Alice In Chains will be releasing their first new material in nearly fourteen on September 29th, 2009 in a new album titled Black Gives Way To Blue, as reported on their blog.

Black Gives Way To Blue will be the band's first studio material with new lead singer William DuVall, who joined the reformed band in 2006, four years after the death of original Alice In Chains lead singer, Layne Staley. I've seen some live videos with DuVall on vocals, and while he isn't exactly Layne Staley, he's not terrible. I'm just curious how this new material will sound in comparison to the band's original three albums.