Alice in Chains
Black gives way to blue

When I heard about the reunion of Alice in Chains with William DuVall as the new singer, I certainly didn't jump for joy: I have always adored Layne Staley, his way of singing, his honesty... and I had the impression that a new album with a different frontman would only serve to bring the group a few more million and/or to relaunch Jerry Cantrell's career after 2 not-so-successful solo albums.

Driven by curiosity, however, I followed all the steps leading up to the release of "Black Gives Way to Blue," gradually changing my opinion. Moving from the 7 minutes of "A Looking in View" to "Check My Brain" and the new live shows, along with the excellent reviews that began circulating online, I realized that perhaps behind the apparent commercial ploy lay a work of great quality.

A few days after the album's release, I bought it, and from the very first notes of "All Secrets Known" you can't help but think: "These are still Alice in Chains!" The album is intense, dark, aggressive, and at times reflective, but above all very inspired. William DuVall is not Layne Staley, everyone (including AIC) knows it, but despite all the pressure he had on his shoulders, he doesn't fall short, managing to give a decisive and convincing imprint (just listen to "Last of My Kind"). The DuVall-Cantrell vocal chemistry, although far from the magical Staley-Cantrell, is there: the two alternate and complement each other very well; the inspiration has always been there. And so here we are with 11 songs that exceed all expectations, placing themselves miles above the current low musical level.

In addition to the already mentioned "A Looking in View" and "Check My Brain" (the simplest track on the album, but still beautiful and engaging), noteworthy are "Your Decision", which after a very similar start to "Angel Eyes" proves to be more emotional and more of a "masterpiece," "When the Sun Rose Again", a very particular ballad that, due to its difference from the album, is surprising, "Acid Bubble" (my favorite) comparable to "Frogs" in a harder version, alternating slow and gloomy phases with metal-style moments, and "Private Hell" (which vaguely recalls "Down in a Hole"). A separate discussion for the title track "Black Gives Way to Blue" (featuring Elton John on piano), a song dedicated to Layne Staley and intentionally left unfinished precisely to say how Layne's life was cut short too soon, without being able to show us everything he had to offer. Hence the impression that it's almost a "missed masterpiece" (can you imagine an ending with the addition of strings and violins?) but in these cases, the memory perhaps weighs more than the song itself.

I understand the skepticism of some fans towards the new Alice in Chains, but I can guarantee you that "Black Gives Way to Blue" is a well-made work that will surely not disappoint you. The great "Would?", "Down in the Hole", "Nutshell" are now insurmountable, but the new songs are convincing, leading me to the conclusion that "Black Gives Way to Blue" is not an ink stain in a fantastic book, but the second (well-executed) chapter of a story that wants to keep going.