Despite my serious misgivings about this Alice in Chains "reunion", I gave this a listen today on the bus to work.... Really quite excellent.... I'd always been a fan of Alice In Chains back in the day, "Dirt" really remains a defining record of my early 20s, and one which really spoke to me on some level (no, I wasn't a heroin addict, but I had other issues at the time and I understood where Layne was coming from...), so obviously when I heard that AiC were reforming in spite of Layne Staley's death, I was pretty appalled... But, listening to the album, it's clear that they're not trying to find another Layne, but Cantrell and Co have quite brilliantly managed to pick up where AiC left off back in '95... I never expected it to realistically challenge something as awesome and dark as "Dirt", but, fukk me, some tracks come pretty damn near to that standard..... This is a seriously solid record, better than any of Cantrell's solo stuff by a mile, and the best we could possibly hope Alice in Chains to be in 2009 with or without Layne....

 

Seriously recommended.....8/10

What, no one got any love for Alice In Chains then....? :(

I'll be honest, I have never really listened to them, or really even know them, not my generation I guess.

I'll be honest, I have never really listened to them, or really even know them, not my generation I guess.

Same.

 

I hardly know a AIC song except for 'Check My Brain'...

Alice in Chains were an awesome band. Not only could they do their heavy rock side but they played some beautiful acoustic songs.

 

Dirt is an amazing album as is Sap/Jar of Flies.

 

I haven't listened to the new album yet but A Looking In View was brilliant and I like Check My Brain as well.

I think William DuValle has done a great job as he slots into the empty space well without being a Layne sound-a-like.

 

I really never expected another Alice record but I sure am glad that is around.

I'll be honest, I have never really listened to them, or really even know them, not my generation I guess.

 

Well, technically neither's Nine Inch Nails mate.... :P :lol: I dont see that concern stop you guys from listening to the likes of Iron Maiden, Metallica, Slayer or Megadeth either... Led Zep and Sabbath certainly weren't my generation, and Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison died before I was even born....

 

The facts are Alice In Chains have release a new album this year, therefore, it's contemporary..... And "Dirt" is frankly one of the best albums of the 90s, if not one of the best "Metal" records EVER, and really should be appreciated by new generations of fans....

 

Well, technically neither's Nine Inch Nails mate.... :P :lol: I dont see that concern stop you guys from listening to the likes of Iron Maiden, Metallica, Slayer or Megadeth either... Led Zep and Sabbath certainly weren't my generation, and Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison died before I was even born....

 

The facts are Alice In Chains have release a new album this year, therefore, it's contemporary..... And "Dirt" is frankly one of the best albums of the 90s, if not one of the best "Metal" records EVER, and really should be appreciated by new generations of fans....

 

well obviously i first heard NIN some where else, same with Maiden, Metallica etc, I just havent happen to come across Alice In Chains, I barely know anything about them but the name.

well obviously i first heard NIN some where else, same with Maiden, Metallica etc, I just havent happen to come across Alice In Chains, I barely know anything about them but the name.

 

Just go out and listen to the music dude... They've not even release an album under the Alice In Chains name since 1995, so, obviously, they've not been around... I really think that "Dirt" should be an essential listen for any fan of Hard Rock/Metal.....