Although Alice In Chains wasn’t spared by the hecatomb that decimated the current to which it was somewhat hastily affiliated, they’re back − against all odds − with a sixth album that worthily celebrates their thirty-first anniversary. Way heavier than most of their peers, Jerry Cantrell’s band wasn’t necessarily delighted to be associated with Nirvana or Pearl Jam. To Soundgarden, why not… But they felt compelled to record their most grunge album to date, Rainier Fog being a heartfelt tribute to the Seattle scene. The musicians even went back to the “scene of the crime”, the former studio Bad Animals where they had recorded their last album (Alice In Chains) with the late Layne Staley in 1995 − putting aside the live Unplugged and the subsequent live and compilation albums. Without going as far as asserting that William DuVall, “guitarist and co-singer” (with Cantrell) merely imitates his predecessor – whose longevity in the band he now matches with this album −, one cannot but recognize that he’s been able to adapt and add a strong dose of emotion in often severe and heavy compositions. The vocal harmonies, wonderfully packaged by the faithful Nick Rasculinecz (Rush, Food Fighters), work wonders throughout the album. That being said, Cantrell’s role is more obvious than ever. On multiple occasions, Rainier Fog starts resembling his solo albums Degradation Trip Vol. 1&2.
Probably distressed by Chris Cornell’s passing, like he was for Staley’s, Cantrell has embarked his band in a sort of remembrance ceremony, with a shade of Soundgarden (The One You Know, All I Am), echoes of Nirvana (Rainier Fog), fragrances of Temple Of The Dog (Drone), and even a slight mention of the cursed Stone Temple Pilots (Fly)… A few lighter or seventies rock titles, like Maybe or the effective Never Fade (whose chorus will certainly remind Skunk Anansie’s I Can Dream to some) are much welcomed to compensate for the somewhat gloomy and painful aspect of the whole. © Jean-Pierre Sabouret/Qobuz