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It's hard not to feel for Alice in Chains -- all the guys in the band were lifers, all except lead singer Layne Staley, who never managed to exorcise his demons, succumbing to drug addiction in 2002. Alice in Chains stopped being a going concern long before that, all due to Staley's addictions, and it took guitarist Jerry Cantrell, bassist Mike Inez, and drummer Sean Kinney a long time to decide to regroup, finally hiring William DuVall as Staley's replacement and delivering Black Gives Way to Blue a full 14 years after the band's last album. To everybody's credit, Black Gives Way to Blue sounds like it could have been delivered a year after Alice in Chains: it's unconcerned with fashion; it's true to their dark, churning gloom rock; and if you're not paying attention too closely, it's easy to mistake DuVall for his predecessor. There's a difference between desperately attempting to recapture past glories and reconnecting with their roots, and Alice in Chains fall into the latter category. While they'll never be mistaken for a feel-good band, there is a palpable sense of relief that they get to play together again as a band, and what's remarkable is that they still sound like themselves, capturing that weird murk halfway between '80s metal and '90s northwestern sludge, reminding us that we were missing something in their absence. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
more albums by this artist
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- Dirt
- Released 1992
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- Nothing Safe
- Released 1999
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- Unplugged
- Released 1996
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- Alice In Chains
- Released 1995
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listener reviews
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Nice Surprise
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- By mrrkfoster
- 11/4/2009 16:01:00
- I truely thought this band was dead in the water after the death of Lynn Stanley, but this cd has proved me wrong. DuVall is a "good" fit, not great. He gets the job done. Moreover the cd is proof that Jerry Cantrell is the real artistic backbone of this band. It's not thier best, but it's nice to hear them again. Not sure if I really wanna here DuVall sing "Man in the Box" or "Angry Chair" though.
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A very solid cd
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- By toolisnifty
- 10/3/2009 16:32:42
- There is alot of old AIC in this new cd so most fans will have no problem picking it up and nodding right along with it. By far not there best work but not forgettable in the least more than worth a listen. The Crunchy churning guitar riffs are there just like they should be. The vocals in places are eerily similar to Layne but never in a outright copying way. Highlights for me were "All Secrets Known" and "Acid Bubble". with any luck they will putting music of this quality for years to come.
- 1 out of 1 people
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Exceeds expectations
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- By xiphumbra
- 9/30/2009 05:02:22
- Finally, something to break the monotony that has become of rock music. This album proves that Jerry Cantrell is the heart of the band-no offense to the other members of the band, both past and present. It screams Alice in Chains. Ironically, the new singer reveals that this isn't the AiC of yesteryear. Not a bad thing, just don't expect to him to sound like Layne. Approach the album with an open mind, and you'll be pleased. I know I am.
- 8 out of 8 people
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