Following on from Black Gives Way to Blue in 2009, which was a monumental return since Layne Staley’s death, I was quite looking forward to Alice In Chains new album. I have always been an Alice in Chains fan ever since hearing Dirt (which left quite a mark me in my early teens) and from then on I have always approached every album with a childlike-frenzy of anticipation.
Since learning of Staley’s death in an abrupt manner, I think it’s fair to say that Alice in Chains have gone on to being my favourite band to emerge and survive from the grunge scene that spawned other such like-minded bands as Nirvana, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, Mudhoney, and another favorite band of mine L7.
Their new album, without sounding over zealous, is my most anticipated album of 2013. The name of the album certainly raised a few eyebrows, but the songs I have heard (“Stone”, “Hollow” and the leaked “Phantom” although when leaked it was named as “Phantom Limb”) have allowed my anticipation to grow. My dad has said that this album could be the album of 2013 and he isn’t far wrong in his predictions.
When I first listened to this album, with much a baited breath, I was surprised by the amount of diversity. Unlike Black Gives Way to Blue where I felt most of the guitar tones and vocal lines were a touch on the sad side (the closing song title-track springs to mind) this album definitely has a lot more happier tones in it. There are more softer songs throughout this album, whilst there are fewer guitar-heavy grunge-esque songs like the opening of the album “Hollow”, “Pretty Done” and the lead single / music video “Stone”. But when they appear as they do, they hold such a fine quality that only Alice in Chains can do.
I think it’s fair to underline the genius songwriting on this album in that there is enough musical finesse to keep any borderline rock fan happy, whilst the most avid Alice in Chains fan will snap this up like an impulse buy. Is this an album which deserves to sit there at the top of nest in 2013? To be honest with you, I was at first a little disappointed. At first I thought they were too many acoustic songs and not enough heavier songs, but over time and further listening to this album, it became clear what they are aiming for.
Let me revisit my teens for a minute here. Dirt is an album that I really enjoy. It is an album that at any time I put it on regardless of time or place, can take me back, and The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here is an album that I hope that some time in the future will take me back to when I first heard it as well. Dirt to me is their best release to date with Staley’s death proving how vital he was to the band — not only his vocals, but the sound he managed to create. And although Staley was a strong presence in the band, it’s no secret, not to me anyway, that Jerry Cantrell was and is the real genius behind Alice in Chains’ signature sound, penning most of their iconic guitar lines and lyrics. With Staley gone, it has become very apparent just how important Cantrell is to Alice in Chains and I think it really shows both on Black Gives Way to Blue and The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here.
That being said, I’m beginning to really love The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here after repeated listens. I feel that I will be picking the bones of this album apart, never enjoying it as a whole piece but rather favouring the songs that are mentioned above, whilst I contemplate on whether or not this album will leave a lasting impression on me. Furthermore, the truly beautiful thing is that some of these songs (“Lab Monkey” for example) I can relate to with the lyrics, which just goes to show (I hope) how deeply I’ve listened to this album.
To conclude, for me being a long-time fan, I’ve grown to really love this album. “Love” is a not word that I use lightly in this case, as I again reiterate that I felt “disappointed” by this album at first — but over time — I think this could be Alice in Chains best output and carries on the momentum that Black Gives Way To Blue started. Again: does it deserve to at the top of the pile in 2013? Yes, yes it does.
Rating: 5/5