Give way to Alice in Chains

As a band, Alice in Chains has been through a lot, chiefly the death of its lead singer, grunge god Layne Staley in 2002. After Staley’s death, there didn’t seem to be much of a future for the rest of the band. Yet here we are with a new Alice in Chains album – one that is possibly the best record the band has done.

“Black Gives Way to Blue” is dark, but Alice in Chains no longer lives under the shadow of Staley’s drug addiction and suicidal musings. New vocalist William Duvall matches Staley’s vocal power and gives the album its emotional lift. 

“Blue” is the comeback story of the year, maybe decade, in rock music. It’s hard to think of another band that has fallen so hard and then released such a strong album like this. “Black Gives Way to Blue” was released under the shadow of Staley’s death, but it will be remembered as a record about the triumph of life.