Back in 2002, things looked very grim for Alice In Chains with the DOA of junkie Layne Staley. But seven years later with William Duvall as guitarist and vocalist, Alice In Chains are back!

Their comeb(l)ack album Black Gives Way To Blue is fat with chunky guitar chords, dynamic lead riffs and simple, but sinister song structures that are easy to sink your teeth into. As you might expect, Jerry Cantrell’s guitars are the real stars here, delivering riffs, blistering leads and blistering rhythms throughout. The harmonizing vocals are well done. William and Jerry have strong and appealing voices that remind me of yes, Layne Staley and Jerry. It displays their entire repertoire: dynamic razor-edged almost White Zombie-ish moments on “Last of my kind”, pounding tempo grooves on “A looking in view” and “All secrets known” , acoustic Jar Of Flies-like mellowness on “When the sun rose again”, dark twisted epics like “Private hell” and “Acid bubble” and overall very, very, very catchy.  Only “Take her out” can’t quite achieve the same high level. First single “Check my brain” is the kind of aimed-at-radio-airplay psychotic rocker you wouldn't be embarrassed to hear.

Although not as immediately affecting as Dirt or Facelift, Black Gives Way To Blue is a magnificent work of art that can be enjoyed by many fans of the grunge/nineties alt genre.

90/100

Cosmicmasseur.