Comebacks can be tricky waters to navigate. Although they never officially disbanded, it’s taken grunge-metal band Alice In Chains the better part of six years to find a suitable replacement for vocalist Layne Staley, who died in 2002. Black Gives Way To Blue is group’s first record of original material in 13 years and what a comeback it is.
Within the first few songs of this new record, seasoned fans of the band will immediately realize that the group hasn’t missed a beat. The group and this new batch of 11 songs sound as fresh and tight as ever; newest member William DuVall is the perfect choice to fill the previously vacant vocalist position.
His vocals have an undeniable touch of Staley lingering throughout them but when he harmonizes with guitarist Jerry Cantrell, you’d swear that it was Staley himself.
Highlights include the poignant title track, Last Of My Kind, A Looking In View and first single Check My Brain.
This record is an excellent return to form for a long-missed group.