There and Back Again

Alice in Chains were one of the best Grunge/Metal bands to come out in the 90′s. The lead singer’s drug problems pretty much halted the band after their third album which came out in 1996 – Layne Staley later died of a heroin and cocaine overdose in 2002.

Now, with a new singer, they’re recording another album. It is to be released this September through Virgin/EMI – according to Los Angeles Times’ reporter Steve Appleford.

I’m a bit skeptical about the new Alice In Chains though. If you listen to the old albums, you’ll hear that the lyrics are dark and drug addled. It may seem perverted to think this – but Staley personified the songs and his tortured vocal style added to the overall mix of things.

When they play the old songs live now it sounds like a cover band – a really good one nonetheless.

Just compare.

1990

2009