Back From The Dead: Black Gives Way To Blue From Alice in Chains On September 29

Alright, so maybe Alice in Chains isn’t at all nerdy, but I’m a nerd and they’re my favorite band. That must count for something! If any of you out there were fans of the group in the 1990s, you likely know Layne Staley, the band’s amazingly talented lead singer, died back in 2002, leading me to believe I’d never heard my favorite band at a live concert. That changed, however, in 2005, when the band reformed with singer William DuVall (who couldn’t possibly look more different from Layne Staley as a black guy with a giant fro), and he nails the voice perfectly.

I saw them at a couple shows, and heard some rumblings about a new album, but never heard the announcement. I was walking around Comic Con this year, and saw a sign on the street that simply said, “Alice in Chains. Black Gives Way To Blue. September 29,” and I nearly dropped a load. I am unbelievably excited about this album, and I highly recommend checking out the band’s official website for some streaming samples as well as picking it up when it’s released later this month.

Were you a fan of Alice in Chains back in the day? Are you surprised they’re back after 14 years without a studio album release?