Review: Alice In Chains' 2009 release, Black Gives Way to Blue, marks a significant moment for the bandia poignant farewell to the late Layne Staley and the beginning of a new chapter with vocalist William Duvall. The album opens with 'All Secrets Known,' a track that signals a fresh start, with lyrics like 'Hope. A new beginning,' underscoring the band's evolution. Jerry Cantrell's guitar work remains as powerful as ever, driving the album with emotional intensity, particularly in tracks like 'Your Decision,' where the raw honesty in the lyrics is striking. Duvall's contributions shine, especially on 'Last of My Kind,' where he brings a new energy to the group without attempting to replicate Staley's iconic voice. The title track, 'Black Gives Way to Blue,' is a heart-wrenching tribute to Staley, featuring a sparse yet haunting arrangement with piano by Elton John. The song's quiet fade-out leaves a lasting impact, a fitting close to an album that balances grief with renewal. Black Gives Way to Blue not only honours Alice In Chains' legacy but also sets a strong foundation for their future, proving that the band's creative spirit remains unbroken.
Review: Alice in Chains' Jar of Flies from 1994 is a masterful album that showcases the band's versatility and songwriting prowess across an acoustic-driven collection of tracks. They deliver plenty of haunting melodies and introspective lyrics that make for a deeply immersive listen. There is a real melancholic beauty to 'Nutshell' while a gritty intensity pervades 'No Excuses.' Each song offers a glimpse into the band's emotional depth and musical complexity, always with raw emotion and captivating performances that make this one a standout release in Alice in Chains' discography.
Review: For people of a certain age, their teenage years were defined by the edgy grunge, alt and punk rock sounds of bands like Alice in Chains. Three decades later their seminal sophomore effort, Dirt sounds as good as it ever did and gets an anniversary reissue to mark the occasion. It comes with plenty of powerful drums and big-ass basslines as well as yelping vocals and fuzzy textures that take in a range of emotions and even bigger riffs. This issue features a special insert and comes across four sides of vinyl so it's nice and loud, just as intended.
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