The Re-Emergence of Alice In Chains
Posted By: Buckley | March 2, 2010 | 2 comments
by: Matt Buckley
There’s no going back to the place we started from.
The chorus to the song “All Secrets Known” rings true. The first track on the latest record from Alice In Chains, Black Gives Way to Blue, effectively expresses the aftermath of the last 14 years-worth of events since they last released a full length album. A wonderfully written start to a wonderfully written record, this track dashes away fears and assumptions that AIC was dead and gone along with the late Layne Staley. The Alice In Chains sound is intact, reaffirming guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell’s role as the primary architect of the dark, slow, brooding sound we all know and love. This was and still is the doom metal of the grunge movement.
The first single off the record, “A Looking In View” was released in late June 2009. From the very first moments of the song, one can’t help but think, Wait, did these guys just get heavier? Pounding drums, thick palm muted guitars, and the classic dark, almost creepy mood usher in the new era of AIC. The vocals kick in and the listener is greeted with the familiar perfect-interval harmonies present in so much of their previous work. It’s about that moment that realization sets in: Yes, this is definitely Alice In Chains, and clearly no pretender. When the full album was released in September, I was even more excited to note that the previously-released single might not even be my favorite track on the record. From start-to-finish, Black Gives Way to Blue is a quality grunge release, and an effective re-introduction to Alice in Chains. Not many bands can introduce themselves to a new generation, particularly while not completely reinventing themselves, but rather picking up right where they left off. AIC is pulling it off.
The problem, though, is not the new generation of listeners. It’s the closed-minded purists. I have spoken to many people myself who will not give the record a chance simply because Layne Staley is not on it. I can empathize with the reluctant. The sound of his voice is iconic and went a long way to define the sound of the entire grunge movement, let alone Alice In Chains. But if nothing else, this new record very clearly exposes Jerry Cantrell’s role as the sound of the band. Whether or not it bothers you, the new record sounds like Alice In Chains through and through, and Staley is not on it.
I hear a lot of people say that they would be ok with the new situation if they did not keep the name Alice In Chains and instead started from scratch with a new persona. I cannot argue with this. As far as catering to the original grunge generation, kicking things off with a new band name probably would have garnered more hopeful listeners in the fans of the work of AIC. A lot of people would have been happier if they let the name of the band stay with Staley and move on. I believe less people would have been reluctant to give the new album a shot in that case. Stubbornness can be a very powerful emotion. But along those same lines, AIC stubbornly stuck with it. In a very punk/grunge way, they gave us the finger and reminded us that Alice In Chains is still around, whether we like it or not. And as some of the originators of the movement themselves, who better to take that approach?
The bottom line here is that if you’re letting the absence of Layne Staley prevent you from giving this record a proper try, you’re missing out. The fact that the name “Alice In Chains” is on the record cover does not make it less great. I catch a lot of flak for this, but in a lot of ways, this record is musically a step forward for the band. The classics are the classics, and they always will be, but the band is not afraid to continue crafting their sound. They have never sounded darker, thicker, or heavier, and new vocalist/guitarist William DuVall has moments on this record that really show that he has his own voice as well, and he’s more than just a good Staley impersonator. This record is not only great in its own right, but it should give rock and grunge fans everywhere something to be excited about as a sign for the future. The very first lyrics you’ll hear on the record say it all: “Hope, a new beginning.” The band is proclaiming that they are taking these events on the chin and moving forward. Put this record up against any other rock record to come out in the past few years. It’ll just remind you that there are still bands trying to sound like Alice In Chains, and AIC still does it better. If you’re an old-school fan, I’m not trying to tell you to let go of the skepticism. I’m simply asking you to let yourself listen to the record with an open mind. You will hear good things.
All that said, I’ve been hearing grumblings of a new Stone Temple Pilots record with the original lineup as well. As a huge fan of their early material, to say I’m skeptical that this will work out is about as understated as it gets. I can only hope that I’ll be proven wrong yet again. In the meantime, I’ll be found on May 23rd at the MMRbq watching Alice In Chains and Stone Temple Pilots play the same stage in what will be a veritable time warp. Feedback will surely follow.
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