There is an endless debate over who was ultimately the king of Grunge Rock in the early ‘90s. Some would say Nirvana, others would say Pearl Jam and select listeners would turn to Soundgarden. Each is a fair selection, and they are impactful in their own way, but arguably the best choice would be Alice in Chains.
Out of Seattle, Washington, Alice in Chains formed in 1987 and featured a sound unique to any other around. Highlighted by the haunting vocals of Layne Staley and down-tuned guitars of Jerry Cantrel, Alice in Chains had a heaviness that appealed to Metal fans and a darkness that turned on the growing Alternative Rock scene of the time. Exemplified by their impressive 1990 album Facelift (which featured such “Man in the Box,” “We Die Young,” and “Bleed the Freak”), Alice in Chains had an edge far sharper than any of their contemporaries. Something that grew moodier with 1992’s Sap EP and Dirt album, to follow was 1994’s Jar of Flies EP, before the 1995 self-titled full-length. A collection of music that showed the band is truly special, sadly, Staley’s battle with addiction staled steps forward for minus two songs (“Get Born Again” and “Died”) released in 1998 as part of the compilation Nothing Safe: Best of the Box.
A tragedy on main levels, Staley became a recluse and owned his missteps until his untimely passing in the early Spring of 2002. Only 34 years old at the time, many wondered if this would be the final chapter in Alice in Chains story. A thought that swirled around for a few years, seemingly out of nowhere the surviving members (Jerry Cantrell, Mike Inez, and Sean Kinney) came together to perform for the first time in nine years at K-Rock Tsunami Continued Care Relief Concert in Seattle. Utilizing the assistance of several vocalists (Pat Lachman of Damageplan, Maynard James Keenan of Tool, and Ann Wilson of Heart), clearly, the experience of being on stage together again reignited a flame for Alice in Chains.
The start of a new chapter, what ensued was some shows, before a full-blown reunion tour in 2007 with the recruitment of William DuVall on vocals. At the time something many might have been spectacle about, DuVall quickly won over followers. In fact, it would be a disservice to call him a copy of Staley, but it should also be noted that DuVall’s voice was fitting for Alice in Chains. Feeling like a stone had turned, the obvious next step would be for the guys to get in the studio and carve out their first new music together in nearly a decade. Doing just that, in the Fall of 2008 the guys came together to create the comeback album Black Gives Way to Blue.
Released on September 29, 2009, the sessions of Black Gives Way to Blue took place in a nearly five-month period, DuVall not only immediately became an immediate member of the family, singing duel vocals with Cantrell, but even contributed to some songwriting as well. Giving fans a taste of what they had, “A Looking in View” arrived nearly three months before the album on June 30, 2009, and the overall consensus was this was Alice in Chains firing on all cylinders. This was followed by the first official single “Check My Brain” on August 14, 2009, solidifying that Black Gives Way to Blue was an album to be reckoned with.
Naturally, the buzz was high, and Black Gives Way to Blue not only debuted at number 5 on the Billboard 200 but sold 126,000 in its first week. At a time when the physical format was not completely dead yet, over 500,000 copies were shipped in the U.S. alone, and Black Gives Way to Blue would go on to sell over one million copies worldwide. All important to draw out, this success led to more touring, 2013’s The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here, 2018’s Rainier Fog, and inevitably the long-term continuations of Alice in Chains.
A vital piece of the band’s history, while the CD edition remained available for many years, the vinyl pressing of Black Give Way to Blue has been long out of print. Something select fans have sought out in local record shops or on eBay, you can probably scoop up an original print for around $200. Rather steep, fortunately in honor of the album’s 15th anniversary Craft Recordings’ special vinyl reissue is now available.
Released on September 24, 2024, this exciting new pressing is presented as a 2-LP release, and available in standard black, or three limited edition color pressings: “Black Widow” (available exclusively through the Alice In Chains store), “Black Smoke” (via the Craft Recordings store), and “Electric Smoke” (available at Revolver). Each is rather lovely to gaze at, with persistent color, the double LP set is presented with the original artwork in a solid gatefold sleeve. Beyond this, the pressing is to a quality wax, and the sound pops magically when spun on any respectable sound system.
Overall, this is a perfect way to honor the 15th anniversary of Black Gives Way to Blue. The first album to launch years of consistent activity, this album still sounds as intense, lively, and powerful as ever before. It is also a great way to honor their past while looking toward the future which should include a new studio album sooner than later, Cryptic Rock recommends picking up the Craft Recordings 15th anniversary vinyl edition of Black Gives Way to Blue, giving it 5 out of 5 stars.
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