Black Gives Way To Blue
| Alice in Chains
Black Gives Way To Blue
Black Gives Way to Blue is the fourth studio album by the American rock band Alice in Chains, released on September 29, 2009. It is their first record without singer Layne Staley, who died in 2002. - Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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Consequence of Sound
After 14 torturous years of waiting, the melodic metal gods who wear their hearts and demons on their sleeves return with Black Gives Way to Blue, 11 songs that will remind listeners of why Alice was and is so vital to the hard rock scene.
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Metal Injection
"Reunion album," "replacement singer" and "modern rock" are no longer terms to shudder at.
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AV Music
DuVall, along with the rest of Alice In Chains, has turned a questionable career move into a moving tribute—and a shockingly decent album.
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Blabbermouth
Though it still leaves a little to be desired, this is an album well worthy of praise.
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Rolling Stone
What Black lacks are great tunes and a sense of can’t-look-away drama.
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AllMusic
While they'll never be mistaken for a feel-good band, there is a palpable sense of relief that they get to play together again as a band, and what's remarkable is that they still sound like themselves, capturing that weird murk halfway between '80s metal and '90s northwestern sludge, reminding us that we were missing something in their absence.
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Lost At Sea
Out of seemingly impossible odds, Black Gives Way to Blue is actually a very strong record-better than the new Pearl Jam at least.
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Boston Globe
“Black Gives Way to Blue’’ is similar enough to the group’s classic, hard-but-contemplative sound without descending into creepy or desperate mimicry.
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Drowned in Sound
Black Gives Way To Blue becomes the quiet triumph it set out to be.
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SPIN
And while William DuVall is a serviceable Staley impressionist, this comeback would register with more purpose had guitarist Jerry Cantrell assumed the vocal lead.
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NOW Magazine
The elephant-in-the room question plaguing Black Gives Way To Blue is why Cantrell didn't just take over the vocal duties himself.
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BBC Music
Despite the most monumental of obstacles, this is an overwhelming success.
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Bloody Good Horror
My reaction to this album is no doubt a little inflated because I am simply excited to see a revival of grunge, if only for a moment. Still, I can’t deny the accomplishment that this album represents, both as part of a legacy and as a single piece of music.
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Encyclopedia Metallum
This album has a lot to offer for fans of the old Alice in Chains while providing an easy way in for new fans of the band as well.
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Metal Storm
Black Gives Way To Blue is a truly solid album.
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popdose
I can’t say the album is a total triumph, though; there are some glaring instances of calculation.
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Alternative Addiction
While Black Gives Way to Blue won't let you forget Layne Staley anytime soon, it's certainly a much better album than anyone had a right to expect.
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Jon Spencer Reviews
While it does have quite a few good songs, the sheer number of terrible ones and mixing that, frankly I would be embarrassed to be credited for, there is just not enough to make this album better than average.
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PopMatters
Black Gives Way to Blue is a worthwhile comeback album deserving of its kudos.
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billboard
The quartet returns 14 years after its last new studio album (and seven years after Staley's death), with an 11-track set that sounds like it could well have been recorded in the same session as the 1995 "Alice in Chains."
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Music Feeds
However, as the last note fades out in the fifty-fourth minute of ear-bursting madness, you can rest assured that somewhere in rock’n’roll heaven Layne Staley is smiling down upon his fellow band members, glad at what they have accomplished in his absence.
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Metal Sucks
I can’t wait to listen to this record again.
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Stuff
Grunge is back. Get used to it.
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Redbrick
Songs like Somebody Check my Brain and Last of my Kind are just the sort of anthemic grunge they peaked with on their Dirt album.
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antiMusic
Newcomers might want to start with Greatest Hits, a best-of from the Staley years, but for longtime fans, this is a must-buy.
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The Aquarian
I’ll admit when I first listened to Black Gives Way To Blue, I was put off by it.
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UpVenue
Let's face it, there aren't many new grunge albums out there so if you're looking for a grunge fix, Black Gives Way to Blue will fill the void.
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RTE
A rare thing: a comeback that's worth your time.
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Contactmusic
As it stands, it brings nothing new and just makes me want to go and listen to Tool instead.
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LA Music Blog
This album is truly a gift, and I don’t think they could have come up with anything more memorable, more haunting, and just basically beautiful for their comeback than they have with “Black Gives Way to Blue.”
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antiquiet
For a group nearly caught in the mire of their own tragic history, Alice In Chains have returned with respect and justice served.
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KOUG
The band retains the grunge sound that they mastered with Staley in the 90’s but now have a more polished sound making a new use of low chugging guitar riffs and moaning vocals.
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Metal Underground
Alice In Chains roars back to life, turning tragedy into triumph in a way that recalls "Back In Black."
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Punk Rock Theory
When the title track kicks in with Elton John on piano, you know that this is way more than simply another band feeling nostalgic or wanting to cash in on what once was.
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Noise Pollution
There’s a different vibe here, a feeling of optimism and renewal, even if it’s still tinged with sadness.
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Them's Fightin' Words
Provided your hopes aren’t set as high as mine were, you’ll enjoy this album, the band has stayed true to their sound and can still rock out with the best of them and for that I am more than happy to give credit where it is due.
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Metal Revolution
It’s an album that can proudly stand next to any of their previous releases, but also an album doesn’t quite mach the genius of Alice In Chains first two albums.
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