Rainier Fog. On Music Lists. Add a Comment. Mikesn Emeritus October 3rd Comments. Altmer October 3rd Comments. EVedder27 October 3rd Comments. StrizzMatik October 3rd Comments.
Meatplow October 3rd Comments. Nagrarok October 3rd Comments. Zip October 3rd Comments. Roach October 3rd Comments. Greggers October 3rd Comments. Relinquished October 3rd Comments. You have to be logged in to post a comment. Login Create a Profile. Site Copyright Sputnikmusic. When that member is the lead singer, the most visible member of the group, it makes the decision even harder. Some bands carry on, some decide to break up. There is no right answer, no wrong answer.
There is simply a choice that has to be made, and fans will always second-guess what happens. Alice In Chains was, unfairly, identified with Layne Staley. He was the image of the band, and a tremendous voice, but the heart and soul had always rested in Jerry Cantrell.
The dark power of the band's music, from the thundering minor key riffs to the somber acoustic underpinnings, all flowed from his guitars. His harmonizing was as much a part of the band's sound as Layne. Despite this, when Layne died, Alice In Chains was believed to have died with him. A decade later, Cantrell was tired of ignoring who he was. He was Alice In Chains, even if the band lay dormant.
Paying tribute to Layne could be done in ways other than leaving the band's legacy in place. Instead, Cantrell brought the band back together, and recruited new singer William Duvall to take over the mic. He didn't replace Layne, no one could. He simply became the singer of a band that happens to be the same.
Black Gives Way To Blue marks the return of the heaviest of all the grunge bands, at a time when their influence has become so corrosive on the modern rock world. So many bands that have followed have used the template, ignoring the heart.
Slow, tuneless, and unsure of its footing, the song kills four minutes of time before the real Alice In Chains steps out of the shadows. Much like the opening act at a show, it's there, but no one is going to pay attention. But when "Check My Brain" comes on, with the droning bent chords Cantrell fashions into a horribly addicted riff, attention must be paid. Those chords barely sound like notes, let alone music, but are hypnotic.
This is really stronger than the other review though, it should be featured. I might check this out. Very good review, sounds like it was written by a longtime fan. Can't wait for this release. And I love the Check My Brain remix in the beginning. This album just continues to grow on me. The acoustic songs are especially awesome. I may have to give this a 4.
What a great surprise this was. Review Summary: The biggest compliment that can be paid to Black Gives Way to Blue is to listen expecting a whole new story to be written. And what a story it is. Rank: for Alice in Chains is not the same without Layne Staley.
But then again, who could really except them to be? Bands change in fifteen years. People change in fifteen years. And in the tragic case of Layne Staley, people die in fifteen years. Surely we can't expect new addition and lead vocalist William DuVall to suddenly peel away a mask and reveal himself as the second coming of Staley.
Layne's story and legacy was spread magnificently through five albums, and lives on today. It is not the band's intent, nor is there a reason to try to add a chapter, edit or mimic it in any way possible. Album Rating: 4. Insane how a band can go through all that and come up with this. Getting this soon, I heard one of the neww songs on the radio awhile back and dug it. Digging: Discarnated - Deus Misereatur. Solid review.
Yeah, this is awesome so far. I'm up to A Looking In View. Don't agree on one point though: "A Looking in View" and "Last of My Kind" are two of the band's heaviest songs to date, and sometimes borrow from metal. I find that AiC have always been metallic sounding, and with Staley's death, they've become even less of a grunge and more of an alt metal act. Listened to this earlier today. Wasn't impressed but I'm going to give it a few more listens.
Honestly it sounds pretty typical to me, though. At least "Private Hell" was tight. They've incorporated metal influences in the past for sure, but I've always felt they played second fiddle to the alternative sound, or whatever.
They're pretty pronounced on some of the songs here though. Album Rating: 3.
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