REISSUE: Alice In Chains – Alice In Chains (30th Anniversary)

The Seattle grunge rock band’s self-titled third album was released 30 years ago and in celebration, Columbia/Legacy has recently reissued the album on limited edition highlighter-yellow double vinyl that looks and sounds amazing! 

Led by the singles, “Heaven Beside You”, “Grind” and “Again”, the album was originally released in 1995 and would end up being the last album to feature original lead vocalist Layne Staley, who passed in 2002.  Though standout tracks such as the aptly-titled fan favorite “Sludge Factory” and the churning “Grind” bring the expected heaviness, the self-titled album saw Staley, Jerry Cantrell, Mike Inez and Sean Kinney tone that down slightly, to feature the more mellow acoustic-driven sound of their successful EPs, Jar Of Flies and Sap. The band was able to create a sound that incorporated both sides of the band seamlessly, with “Heaven Beside You” the perfect example, with its acoustic blues rock groove dissolving into a swirl of distorted riffs and fractured guitar solos alongside Staley and Cantrell’s trademark vocal harmonies and moody melodies.  Likewise, the lyrical honesty and heaviness remains as Staley battles addiction, depression, spirituality and relationships across the album’s twelve tracks. 

Alice In Chains’ third and final album with its original lineup is bittersweet as it documents a band that was fracturing under the weight of addiction but this new 30^th anniversary edition shines a new light on these songs that are deep with emotion and the perfect, total amalgamation of the AiC sound.

For more info: https://aliceinchains.com/

Watch the video for “Grind” here: