Alice In Chains: Black Gives Way To Blue

Yes its the new record by Alice In Chains. When i first heard that AIC was reforming with a new vocalist, my skeptism was very very high. Im not usually a skeptical person and usually keep an open mind about stuff like that. But since im such a huge AIC fan and have been since the Facelift days, i couldnt help it. The loss of Layne Staley was a huge blow to the band. Of course they were inactive for years. Cantrell grew some bollocks i never knew he had, and reformed the band with Duvall replacing Staley.

After the initial shock of having a different frontman for this band wore off, i gave the song they released a good listen. It was called A Looking In View and it was really good and the general AIC vibe was there. I was very pleasantly surprised how Duvall managed to be his own vocalist yet keep the AIC vibe in there.

Well, the record leaked in its entirety. I got it from a friend and now am listening to it. Track 1 known as All Secrets Known is very impressive with the fact it literally sounds like Duvall is channeling Staley from the depths of the Unknown!!! Its kinda creepy but really awesome at the same time. This happens again and again throughout the record. Cantrell seems to have taken it upon himself to become the "true" AIC frontman. His vocals and style dominate the record. Songs like Private Hell and When The Sun Rose Again are slower but very beautifully done in my opinion. The heavier tunes feel slightly different than the classic AIC, but still are very good in their own right.

Florina gives this record a 9/10. Why the 9? Well because even though he did very very very well, Duvall still hasnt quite settled in to the overall AIC just yet. And I stress yet. I will be purchasing this record upon its release.

No Layne, no gain.


Nothing against Duvall though. He's great, but he's just not Layne. They should rename the band. Staley was just such a big part of it that it just doesn't feel like the real AiC without him.

Originally Posted by Halcyon Hero

No Layne, no gain.


Nothing against Duvall though. He's great, but he's just not Layne. They should rename the band. Staley was just such a big part of it that it just doesn't feel like the real AiC without him.

I thought the same thing, trust me. But id say reserve judgement until you hear the record. Cantrell was the heart and soul of the band anyway.

Indeed, while Staley had an incredible voice and is irreplaceable, Cantrell did most of the writing.

I was sold on the reformed AiC upon hearing "A Looking in View" a few months ago, and I'm looking forward to the album's release.

I'm loving the 2 singles AiC have released so far and I hope the rest of the songs are just as good or better. Knowing AiC, I'm sure the other songs will be excellent.

I really don't understand this whole "without Layne it's not AiC!" thing. Duvall does a good job. People have to keep in mind that Jerry is a huuugee part of the sound, considering he does back up vocals (lead on some tracks), plays guitar and wrote most of the songs. AiC is not just Layne, as much as I love him. It's still 3/4 of the band.

However, without Cantrell AiC isn't AiC.

Originally Posted by p0wnn00b

I'm loving the 2 singles AiC have released so far and I hope the rest of the songs are just as good or better. Knowing AiC, I'm sure the other songs will be excellent.

I really don't understand this whole "without Layne it's not AiC!" thing. Duvall does a good job. People have to keep in mind that Jerry is a huuugee part of the sound, considering he does back up vocals (lead on some tracks), plays guitar and wrote most of the songs. AiC is not just Layne, as much as I love him. It's still 3/4 of the band.

However, without Cantrell AiC isn't AiC.

*claps* Yes. I think alot of people will dig this record. Cantrell is very much in the forefront of the record.

I listened to it yesterday, although I was half-asleep so the last few tracks kinda faded away into nothingness, but what I can remember was really, really great. It's true, it doesn't quite match Dirt, Jar of Flies or Tripod, but its still a really great album. But I do somewhat disagree with him channeling Layne, as I can still very clearly hear it's Duvall, not Layne. But regardless, he captures the spirit of the band amazingly well.

And now, onto listening to it properly!

Originally Posted by F3

Indeed, while Staley had an incredible voice and is irreplaceable, Cantrell did most of the writing.

Yeah, no one's arguing that. But Staley was the voice, and the voice is too big a thing to just change around and expect it to be the same thing.

Again, Duvall's great. But it's just not the same.

Cantrell hasnt lost his touch.

Whoa... They made a new album? Damn, where have I been?

I love Alice in Chains.

I shall check it out.

So, been listening a bit more to it.

I can't really say I like it more than anything they've done before (haven't really listened to Sap, though) but despite that it's really great. And I do like how they do some new stuff, even mix in some acoustics, but still retain that core Alice feel.

Originally Posted by True Sorrow

So, been listening a bit more to it.

I can't really say I like it more than anything they've done before (haven't really listened to Sap, though) but despite that it's really great. And I do like how they do some new stuff, even mix in some acoustics, but still retain that core Alice feel.

Yeah you see, thats the point. It wasnt supposed to top Dirt or Jar Of Flies, it is its own creature, like i told you. If you dont like When The Sun Rose Again, we can no longer be friends.
Yeah and you need to hear Sap.

Regardless of whether anyone regards DuVall as a good replacement, I'm still stoked for this CD coming out NEXT TUESDAY!!

Originally Posted by Florina Belmont

Yeah you see, thats the point. It wasnt supposed to top Dirt or Jar Of Flies, it is its own creature, like i told you. If you dont like When The Sun Rose Again, we can no longer be friends.
Yeah and you need to hear Sap.

Oh God, that's an AWFUL song. Should never have been put on an Alice in Chains album, it doesn't belong there at all! And besides that, it's also just shoddily made all-around, boring and extremely badly composed. Can't see how anyone would like it for anything other than a lullaby D:


hah, had you there, didn't I? Naah, When the Sun Rose Again is actually among my favourites on the album, soooo...

and yeah I gotta go get Sap *trots off to the "store"*

LULZ! but yeah, Sap is painfully short (even for an EP) but oh so worth it!

I got the song off of iTunes and I remember saying last year that I wouldn't get the new CD. I might though. Its not Layne and I still believe it shouldn't be called Alice in Chains. Like Black Sabbath with Dio. They made good music but it wasn't Black Sabbath. Black Sabbath was Ozzy Osbourne, Bill Ward, Geezer Butler and Tony Iommy. Alice in Chains was Layne Staley, Jerry Cantrell, Sean Kenny and Mike Starr (later Mike Inez).

I believe the new album will be great. But I don't believe calling it Alice in Chains is right. Just my opinion =D