Alice in Chains
Rainier Fog

THE REVIEW

Mount Rainier is a four-thousand-meter-high volcano that towers over Seattle. Natural beauty and potentially terrifying force of nature: both things simultaneously.

Only the music of Alice In Chains could effectively synthesize such a contrast. Hence, the third work from their “rebirth” with William DuVall is named “Rainier Fog,” in homage to the Seattle scene that was the cradle of an unforgettable sound. Alice In Chains never lost heart, rebuilding their career from scratch after the much-mourned departure of Layne Staley and starting again in 2009 with an album as much discussed before its release as it was incredibly beautiful, “Black Gives Way To Blue,” followed four years later by the equally valid “The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here.”

For this new adventure, Cantrell and company play it safe: they bring in legendary producer Nick Raskulinecz and record in four different studios (among Seattle, Los Angeles, Nashville, and Pasadena), crafting a sound that is (obviously) one hundred percent Alice In Chains, but distances itself from the perhaps overly monolithic nature of the previous work to venture into more varied and diversified territories.

As mentioned, the trademark is indeed present, just consider the first single “The One You Know,” cleverly placed at the opening and followed by the splendid tribute to the Seattle scene of the title track. Jerry Cantrell, who writes both pieces alone, is absolutely inspired, and the machine runs like a charm. Episodes co-written with other band members add variety and complexity to the whole (“Red Giant,” the grand ballad “Fly”—strongly reminiscent of “Down In A Hole”—, the Sabbath-like “Drone,” the long and concluding “All I Am”—for the sake of truth, also conceived by Cantrell alone). It’s all so coherent that the choice to include in the lineup a softer piece (so to speak) like “Maybe” (even with Beatles-like sensations in the intro) doesn’t feel out of place at all, especially if we then find the very rough "So Far Under" as a counterpoint, surprisingly composed by DuVall alone and chosen as the second single (which shows how well William is now integrated into the band, should there still be any doubt).

Alice In Chains continue without looking back, in the most right and wise way. Someone said that their sound doesn’t age but seasons in the right way, and it’s a perfectly fitting definition. Great album and always a welcome return.

Best track: Rainier Fog