Black Gives Way To Blue - Alice In Chains

It is very difficult for die-hard Alice in Chains fans to avoid an instant comparison during the opening notes of ‘'All Secrets Known'', the album's first track. ‘Does it sound like Alice?'....'"Does he sound like Layne?' one asks.... and as each track is played, you almost find yourself yearning for a taste of Layne's trademark haunting vocals...but an impossible wish... for Layne Staley, the band's lead singer, died tragically in 2002, following a drug overdose.

Back then, for most of us, it looked as though Alice was ‘over now', despite no official statement that the band had disbanded. It was impossible, we thought, for this band to continue without him - the iconic Seattle band had died along with their enigmatic singer - simply because Staley's tortured persona played a major part in Alice In Chains identity. Though Staley is irreplaceable there is comfort in the fact that the bluesy, sludgy metal he created with guitarist Jerry Cantrell is still present on Alice's first effort since his death. As one critic comments "After 14 torturous years of waiting, the melodic metal gods who wear their hearts and demons on their sleeves return with Black Gives Way to Blue, 11 songs that will remind listeners of why Alice was and is so vital to the hard rock scene."

Alice in Chains created one of the most eclectic heavy rock of the 90's  - and misguidedly were often labelled as ‘grunge'. This association mostly came about because they emerged from Seattle's grunge underground scene, although their small but impacting catalogue is made up of sludgy, slurring rock tunes combining stark acoustic guitar against hard riffs and cutting solos,  laced with what has become trademark harmonies full of disturbing emotion. Defining tracks like ‘Would?', ‘Man in the box', ‘No Excuses' and ‘Again' continue to sound as dynamic and cutting-edge as when they were first released over a decade ago.

Black Gives Way To Blue is their fourth studio album and marks the longest gap between studio albums in their career. Labelled as a tribute album to Staley, it is clear Cantrell wrote most of the lyrics during his mourning period. The album title is an indication of the dark period they have found themselves in - where they have been and where they are heading to - blue being a brighter shade of black. "All Secrets Known" is an amazing  seven-minute opener, also acting as an introduction to this new era. It  offers classic AIC hypnotic rock and harmonies, as it smacks you into submission. The first lines "Hope, a new beginning/Time, time to start living/Like just before we died" make their intentions clear. It could also possibly be both singers' subtle attempt to answer any criticism with the chorus "There's no going back to the place - We've started from".

The record ends on a similar note with the album's title track, a beautiful, hold-your-lighters-up tribute to Staley featuring Cantrell on lead vocals and ‘surprisingly' Elton John on piano. In interviews the band have admitted the difficulties they had to face when recording this track, due to emotional attachments to its meaning. "Tomorrow is haunted by your ghost/Lay down, black gives way to blue/Lay down, I'll remember you." It is an immensely touching piece, one that will take you back to the Layne Staley days as your entire being is filled with sadness.

Listening to the entire album is a roller-coaster experience. Musically, Cantrell's influence, with traces of his solo album ‘Degradation Trip' and his ability to create songs that drop and change and surprise you at every turn, will hit you on many levels. Beautiful, yet sad and painful. Heavy, yet slow. Lyrically, the album offers the story of their lives since 2002, their struggle with unresolved grief, moving on, and of their desire to continue with their passion - making music.

Duval and Cantrell seemed to have mastered the harmonies exceptionally. It does not seem to me that Duvall is desperately trying to sound like Staley, and, he shouldn't. This is why this album works. I love the way some lines end with the classic ‘yeah'. It's no secret the recording of this album must have been an intensely emotional and cleansing experience for them all, as they have continued to make music together whilst facing the harsh reality their dear friend couldn't be a part of it. In April 2009, a blog post from the band expressed the hope that "these songs will strike a chord and make a similar impact on all of you out there that were moved by this band in the first place."