Alice In Chains

[simonn]

There's not much I don't like about this album. Drone is fairly unique for latter day AIC, great groove in there, and the breakdown is great once it arrives, and I'm really digging that one. But there are a ton of great ideas/songs on this album. I've liked the majority of the AIC output post Layne, and this continues the legacy very well. Of the 3 'singles' it appears I'm alone in finding Never Fade a bit too one-dimensional, although not a bad song.

[chuckrh]

Jerry is the lead singer now. William just harmonizes on the songs and gets one lead spot per album (Last of My Kind, Phantom Limb, Never Fade). And I'll vouch for him; I've seen AIC 2.0 about four times now and William does a fantastic justice to the old stuff, as well as the new. Plus, he's incredibly humble and honoring of both Layne and the legacy of the band before him. To say it's not the same band isn't necessarily fair; they still sound like the 90s AIC and Jerry wrote about 80% of the band's stuff even before Layne died.

I agree though, there is indeed the feeling of the band coasting with this new album. I've listened to it about a dozen times through now and at least half of it just doesn't resonate much. I was a huge fan of TDPDH and hold that album in the same esteem as Dirt and S/T. BGWTB isn't far behind, either. Both of those albums had some gargantuan riffs, a fair amount of experimentation (by AIC standards) and had songs like Your Decision, Voices, Hollow, Stone, Private Hell and numerous others that were as good as anything the 90s albums put up.

Rainier Fog isn't bad, but it definitely gives the impression that the band is spinning their wheels here. Especially after a five-year layoff in between records. I've heard people say TDPDH sounded like AIC just making an album for the sake of it, which I don't agree with at all; that album gives up a TON if you spend the necessary time with it.

That being said, this album still has its share of gems. Maybe, Fly, Deaf Ears Blind Eyes and the title track are all keepers..

"Fly" is my favorite track on the record.

[GulDukat]

I would really like a live album/blu-ray from this tour.

[Twiggy]

I've seen AIC 2.0 twice since they reformed an absolutely loved both shows.
I really liked the last two albums with William. This one is still quite new so i'll give it a few more spins before deciding but its not grabbing me as much as the last two so far.

Obviously with Layne it was a completely different beast but i'm glad the band are still going and moving forward. I think the way the harmonies work they are still able to keep it sounding like the old and new Alice.

Unfortunately I don't think it's possible for a band like Soundgarden to do the same who were my favourite group of them all from Seattle. I still can't believe his gone and I wonder how much if any music was recorded for the new album.

[sonic_discord]

I've seen AIC 2.0 twice since they reformed an absolutely loved both shows.
I really liked the last two albums with William. This one is still quite new so i'll give it a few more spins before deciding but its not grabbing me as much as the last two so far.

Obviously with Layne it was a completely different beast but i'm glad the band are still going and moving forward. I think the way the harmonies work they are still able to keep it sounding like the old and new Alice.

Unfortunately I don't think it's possible for a band like Soundgarden to do the same who were my favourite group of them all from Seattle. I still can't believe his gone and I wonder how much if any music was recorded for the new album.

I'm in complete agreement with everything you said. I'm still going to give it more time, but so far, I think Black Gives Way to Blue and The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here are superior albums. It seems like I'm in the minority, but I remember those albums both making a much bigger first impression on me (especially BGWtB). That being said, there are certainly some great songs that I love on Rainier Fog and maybe it's a grower for me and I'll come around to some of the others that haven't really grabbed me yet...

[GulDukat]

Pitchfork gives the new album a shitty review. What a surprise.

[henryeatscereal]

Pitchfork gives the new album a shitty review. What a surprise.

Why read a Pitchfork review on the first place?

New album is awesome, i rate it above "The Devil Put Dinosaurs..." but underneath "Black Gives Way..."

[LaneSax]

I really like the new album and would rank it the 2nd best among the DuVall albums.

TDPDH is still my favourite, I still listen to it on heavy rotation

[GulDukat]

AIC are up for a grammy for best rock album:
https://www.guitarworld.com/news/ali...rammy-nominees

[henryeatscereal]

See trailer for Alice In Chains Sci-Fi Movie "Black Antenna"

[AThousandDaysBefore]

See trailer for Alice In Chains Sci-Fi Movie "Black Antenna"

Nice!!
I like that concept a lot, maybe the phantom limb video gave them the idea

[sonic_discord]

Interesting. I'm very intrigued.

[henryeatscereal]

Nice!!
I like that concept a lot, maybe the phantom limb video gave them the idea

Probably, i also think "Your Decision" it's already a mini-movie...

I'm glad they aren't letting this album "fade" (pun intended), this idea gives the album new life and it's a cool experiment...

[deadwinterskies]

The new trailer for the new season of The Punisher features a remixed version of Would?.

[armogi]

New trailer looks tasty, its better without music actually...

[sonic_discord]

New trailer looks tasty, its better without music actually...

For those who haven't seen it, here's an article.
And here's the trailer:

[GulDukat]

William Duvall will be releasing solo debut One Alone in October.

https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/al...um-in-october/

[AThousandDaysBefore]

William Duvall will be releasing solo debut One Alone in October.

https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/al...um-in-october/

The song is beautiful

[LaneSax]

That new DuVall song kinda sounds like "Dust in the Wind"

[GulDukat]

William DuVall's new album One Alone is pretty good. Acoustic and lowkey. I'd like to hear him bring some of this sound to a new AIC. I could absolutely see them doing something like another SAP or JOF:

[GulDukat]

Jerry Cantrell is working on a new solo album.

https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/al...TVpPgng9JujHh8

[onthewall2983]

[allegate]

https://www.wearethepit.com/2020/08/...own-in-a-hole/

[picketyp]

http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2020/0...view-premiere/

[AThousandDaysBefore]

I didn't know that jerry played last year, and the setlist looks fantastic (Black Gives way to blue, don't follow. gone, hurt a long time, over now)
I hope AIC Play bigger setlists 24-25 songs each night, 12 songs old songs and 12 songs from this lineup, their 3 albums are great, and maybe 1 song from jerry or william.

[allegate]

[GulDukat]

Facelift anniversary boxset.

[barkhammer]

Facelift anniversary boxset.

Pretty disappointing to be honest. Zero bonus tracks? There are tons of demos from that era floating around, and surely there are some live recordings they could have included.

Not to mention they're including a cassette and no CDs.

Hope Dirt gets better treatment in a couple of years....

[Helpmeiaminhell (is now in hell)]

LMAO what a joke. They don't even have the B side 'Killing Yourself' from the We Die Young EP

[Pillfred]

I’m gonna pass on it. Maybe if I had a tape deck. The hoodie they are selling I’m thinking about getting.