Few bands survive the reboot Alice In Chains launched in 2008, six years after the death of its troubled powerhouse singer, Layne Staley. Guitarist Jerry Cantrell admits the idea of reemerging from stasis with a new vocalist, William DuVall, felt like a gamble. The result was Black Gives Way To Blue, a work worthy of standing alongside the band’s masterpiece, 1992’s Dirt. Though few would have predicted such a return to form, the album was certified gold, topped scads of best-of lists and launched two full tours. The new The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here stays true to the Alice In Chains sound, a dense shroud of gloom occasionally lifted by soaring harmonies and delicate riffs. For every dirge stomp like “Pretty Done” and the menacing creep of “Lab Monkey,” there are echoes of Jar Of Flies’ haunted acoustic beauty (“Voices,” “Choke”) or the filthy groove of “Stone,” the album’s second single. DuVall will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our brand new Alice In Chains feature.
DuVall: Pelican Cases are normally used for photographic, scientific or musical equipment, but I swear by them as my regular luggage, particularly on tour. I never worry about them (or their contents) getting damaged in the constant madness of bus and air travel. They roll well, stack well and have heavy-duty latches that create a watertight seal. They also have a lifetime guarantee of excellence: You break it, and they replace it at no charge—forever! Until NASA wants to ply my endorsement with some sort of custom build, I am perfectly content with my Pelicans.
Video after the jump.
