Alice in Chains is a neo-grunge-band from Seattle who started their career in 1990 with the release of their album Facelift. The band had formed three years earlier with the band members still in high-school. The band consisting of Jerry Cantrell, Layne Staley, Mike Starr, and Sean Kinney have left their mark on the world.
Facelift was the bands first album. "Man in the Box", "We Die Young", "Put You Down", "Sea of Sorrow", "Bleed the Freak", "Love, Hate, Love" and "Sunshine".
Their muddy ooze filled licks fascinated listeners as their albums fell into the hands of metal heads across the world. The bands hard driven guitar playing mixed with the militant drumming styles flowed with the vocals taking the group to exer-stellar status.
Two years later, Dirt was released. This is perhaps the bands most powerful album. "Them Bones", "Down in a Hole", "Rooster" and "Angry Chair" are featured on this album. This album really showed refinement of the band.
They had developed their sound further through heavy touring and living an extreme rock and roll lifestyle. Dirt really helped Alice in Chains cut the baby fat out of their band, honing the band and their sound to create a more punchy and even edgier album than before.
Along with the release of Dirt, the band also released a 4 track EP entitled Sap, hits on Sap include "Brother", "Got Me Wrong", "Right Turn", and "Love Song", a hidden track.
Alice in Chains have never had a problem expressing themselves through their music. Their dynamic, free-flowing and very technical guitar technique has been used as a basis for many future bands. Their originality is what truly makes this band what it is.
In 1994, the band's Jar of Flies album is released. Jar of Flies is a very solid album while only having seven total tracks. Hits from this album include "Rotten Apple", "Don't Follow", "Nutshell", "No Excuses", "I Stay Away","Swing on This", and "Whale and Wasp".
The next year the bands self titled Alice in Chains album is released. "God Am", "Brush Away", "Shame In You", "So Close", "Nothin' Song", and "Frogs" are featured on this album.
1996 brings the bands MTV Unplugged album and has an awesome mix of the bands work up to that point. The band also released the album on DVD that year. Rocking tracks from this album include "Down in a Hole", "Rooster", "Brother", "Heaven Beside You", "Would?", "Killer is Me", and "No Excuses".
1999 was the year that Alice in Chains released collections of their works in various forms, it was during this time that the band releases their Greatest Hits album. Featured on this collection are "Man in the Box", "Them Bones", "Heaven Beside You", "Again", "Rooster", and "Grind".
Also in 1999, the band releases Nothing Safe containing the songs "Iron Gland", "Angry Chair", "No Excuses", and "I Stay Away" and the Music Bank being collected videos and an exclusive selection of Alice in Chains favorites. Included in this collection are rare works and a previously unreleased track entitled "Get Born Again".
2000, the band debuts their Live album, included on this album are "Rooster" , "Dam That River", "Queen of the Rodeo", "A Little Bitter", and "God Am". Also included on this album is a Drunk and Disorderly Version of "Dirt".
Sadly, in April 2002, hard drugs claimed the life of yet another of Rock's Royalty in the form of singer Layne Staley.
Layne Staley changed the lives of people all over the world; His hard hitting heavy lyrics were that of a power-driven life force unlike any other. Lyrically, the man was a genius. His music was dark yet positive and very melodic. With a trance like tone much like that of Jim Morrison of The Doors, Staley rocked stadiums during his life and continues to influence artists even in death.
2004, the band releases their Essential Alice in Chains album. Featured on this collection are "Rain When I Die", "God Smack", "Heaven Beside You", "Died" "Hate To Feel, "What The Hell Have I", and "Again" and an unplugged version of "Over Now".
This collection is what every Alice in Chains fans wants if they don't have it. These choice picks of Rock and Roll could put someone in surgery from all the head banging that happens when listening to them.\m/
The next year the band teams up with a new vocalist by the name of William DuVall and begin work on a new album. This album, is the bands newest work and is entitled Black Gives Way to Blue and was released in September of 2009. Tracks on this album include new greats like “Check My Brain”, “When The Sun Rose Again”, and “All Secrets Known”.