“Hope, a new beginning.  Time, time to start living, like just before we died” and with those words opening up the bands new album ‘Black Gives Way To Blue’, so begins a new chapter for one of rock’s most influential artists of the modern era.  With former singer Layne Staley succumbing to drug addiction over 7 years ago and it now being some 15 years ago since the band released their last studio album, the release of this, merely their fourth studio album, would come as a shock to many.  In 2009, guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell, drummer Sean Kinney and bass player Mike Inez are now joined by new vocalist William DuVall who you can read all about in our feature interview right here!

So what then have the band come up with in this release?  Well the good news is that Black Gives Way To Blue features all the trademarks that we know and love about Alice In Chains.  Grinding heavy sludgey guitar riffs, Jerry Cantrell’s familiar songwriting style, along with the co-vocalist trade off’s that were existent between Staley and Cantrell.  And of course the $million question on everyones lips is obviously how does new singer William DuVall compare?  Well I am not going to answer that specifically, but what I am going to say is that DuVall brings a definite sense of familiarity, whilst also more than adequately stamping himself as a quality singer in his own right.

Current single ‘Check My Brain’ will indeed imprint itself in your brain with it’s menacing guitar riff and catchy chorus line which proves yet again that almost any song with “California” in the chorus is pretty much always a winner.  ‘Last Of My Kind’ is one of the albums most aggressive moments with DuVall’s vocals almost roaring their way through the speakers during the chorus, a track that he definitely makes his own. 

‘Your Decision’ is simply a stunning track, in all of it’s majestic acoustic driven glory and if released as a single to radio, would almost certainly demand significant airplay.  ‘When The Sun Rose Again’ treads a similarly acoustic path, albeit a darker, less melody infused one.

‘A Looking In View’ which features the whole band from a songwriting view and ‘Acid Bubble’ which both clock in at around 7 minutes each, are as close to the classic Alice In Chains sound as you could virtually get.  Undoubtedly the album’s showpiece moments.  Actually hold that thought and include ‘Private Hell’ in this bunch of classic Alice In Chains moments which channels what is probably my favourite AIC track in ‘Down In A Hole’ off ‘Dirt’.

If you have been reading the significant press about this album, then you couldn’t of but not learnt that none other than Sir Elton John makes a special guest appearance on the album’s title track ‘Black Gives Way To Blue’.  On a track dedicated to the late Layne Staley, it was a fitting tribute to have Elton John guest on the track, as Layne’s very first live music experience was an Elton John concert.  Just as the life of Layne Staley ended all too soon, so does this track at just over 3 minutes, ending with the words of “lay down, I’ll remember you.....”

Overwhelmingly, after living with this album now for nearly 2 weeks, one can’t help but marvel at the stunning return Alice In Chains have made despite all the odds stacked against them.  The band bring back to music something that has been missing for the best part of the last 15 years and in doing so deliver what is undoubtedly one of the years finest metal/rock releases.