After one spin of the new Alice in Chains album, it’s screamingly apparent that our dearly departed Layne Staley did not quite make this band—guitarist Jerry Cantrell did. However, none of Cantrell’s numerous post-AIC solo tunes seriously gelled with fans, either. But there are two truisms evident in each note of Black Gives Way to Blue: (1) the band are not at all pulling a Van Hagar here by hiring an adept yet non-soundalike frontman; and (2) AIC were always the most metal of the grunge pack from the early ’90s.

From here on out, bands should take note of how this once-platinum-selling band rebounded after the ultimate impediment, the death of their lead singer: don’t find a soundalike. In 2000, Cantrell befriended Comes With the Fall singer William DuVall, who then became Cantrell’s touring guitarist/singer. So DuVall had plenty of practice singing AIC tunes before the recording of this album, and it shows in every solid track: not one clunker on the album.

Opener “All Secrets Known” has a distinct Tool vibe that crests with each chorus. DuVall and Cantrell’s vocal harmonies are perfect—so much that fans might swear, just for a moment, that this is an unreleased lost track with Staley. The radio single “Check My Brain” introduces the ‘new guy’ with its entrancing chorus, though DuVall still affects Staley’s throaty warble surprisingly well. The ballad-like “Your Decision” with its acoustic intro is reminiscent of Jar of Flies’ girth.

One of many standout tracks, “A Looking in View” heaves a metal crunch out of the gates, later revealing unexpected melody in the choruses. “When the Sun Rises Again” is a magnificent number à la the Sap EP—acoustic with hand percussion—to the point that aficionados might expect to hear Chris Cornell’s golden pipes at the choruses. The slow-burning “Acid Bubble,” accentuated by Cantrell’s signature lazy string-bending, sports an energetic tempo shift during the choruses/bridges, creating the most “prog” cut on the album.

“Lesson Learned” is a straightforward number, traditional verse/chorus/verse with guitar solo. “Take Her Out” runs with the same head-down gait as “Angry Chair,” and “Private Hell” is another rock-hard track with Cantrell’s award-winning harmonies. The title track, with chords as limpid as Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon and piano interspersed throughout, seems as if it were written strictly for slow-dancing. There is no question that Black Gives Way to Blue is one of AIC’s finest hours—yes, it’s right up there with Facelift and Dirt. Especially in today’s music climate, where has-been grunge bands are merely an afterthought (ahem, Pearl Jam), Alice in Chains rise again to enjoy their sweetly deserved success.

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