New Alice in Chains song on iTunes
By Adrian G.
Alice in Chains have released a new song entitled “A Looking In View” today on iTunes. The band, which was one of the main bands of the so-called Grunge movement in the early 1990s, was basically considered finished when vocalist Layne Staley died of an overdose in 2002. However, the surviving members of the band, which came out of the same Seattle area as fellow prominent bands Nirvana, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam, has since enlisted a new vocalist, by the name of William DuVall.
Before I heard this new song, I was apprehensive at best, as I always am when bands replace singers. Staley was the main focal point of Alice in Chains, so the prospect of replacing his thunderous voice made me skeptical. “A Looking In View”, though, BLEW ME AWAY. DuVall channels Staley so well it’s eerie. The track sounds like it belongs on one of AIC’s albums in the early 1990s. I almost can’t believe it came out today. I think this reinvention of Alice in Chains might just work, as DuVall seems more than capable of handling the singing duties.
The song is vintage AIC, with Jerry Cantrell’s signature down-turned, sludgy guitar work and a brooding pace that makes the song last for seven minutes. Because of the long length, the song begins to drag a big around the halfway mark, but it’s still a very solid track.
For anyone interested in seeing Alice in Chains live, they will be playing KROQ’s Epicenter show on August 22nd in Pomona, alongside Linkin Park, Tool, and others.
Someone posted the new track on Youtube, so here it is:
You can also purchase the song off of iTunes here.
What do you think about the new Alice in Chains song?
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 3:20AM
Sounds like there old stuff. It's decent, but not great, would be a good album filler. I am a Alice in Chains fan.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 3:27AM
I thought Duvall really kicked it up a notch around 5:00, but let's be honest with each other: this is not DIRT AIC, this is – at best – tripod AIC, an offering plagued by Staley's wasting.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 4:37AM
Great new song! I can't wait to pick up that new album when it comes out. I'm an Alice In Chains fan from way back.
This new singer sounds a lot like Layne Staley. I can also hear Jerry Cantrell's vocals—-great to see that he's still very much a presence in the band. Jerry Cantrell has always been the main driving force in the band—–his input was at least 60%, while Layne's was about 40%. Jerry was always the main songwriter, and hopefully will keep on being so.
After 14 years, a new AIC album! How exciting!!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 8:31AM
I really like it…. He does sound like Layne in some parts of the song.. But nobody can ever replace Layne R.I.P We love you and miss you!!!!!!:(
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 7:31PM
This song blows.
Thursday, July 2, 2009 8:49PM
Alice in Chains has always been my favorite band. I'm glad that they're producing more stuff. I loved Layne like the rest of us fans, but I don't treat him as a god. Duvall has been doing a fine job with the vocals. All that said, this song is alright. It sounds very AIC, but not as good as their good stuff. Still I'm very excited for the new album this september.
Friday, July 10, 2009 5:19AM
Sounds cool, getting a lot of Cantrell Boggy-Depot sound from this song. It'll be interesting to hear this new vocalist try and pound out the old tunes, whatever.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 4:49AM
Layne!!! We LOVED You! AIC Rocks ! So Glad someone can almost sound like you!
Friday, July 17, 2009 5:52AM
Absolutely incredible new song…13 years later they still have it!!!!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 11:17PM
Good enough for me to buy tickets to a show at the House of Blues!
WD rocks and is FINE.
I'm glad they're playing the old songs and the new album will be out in September.
Should Rock!
It's not Layne in Chains
Its MF AIC!
Saturday, September 26, 2009 1:20PM
There's just nothing quite like Jerry Cantrell guitar, so dirty; and the beautifully dark vocal harmonization that has an eiry feel like no other band. Duvall's vocals on his own remind you that there really is no other voice quite like Layne Staley's, and that is the hard part of being the guy that steps into such enormous shoes. Cheers, to one of the truly unique and great bands of my lifetime.