One of the most loved bands of the 90s and responsible for the first, ever, No1 EP in the Billboard chart history (see Jar Of Flies, which wasn’t supported by a tour!) returns! It shouldn’t be named a ‘reunion’ since the late Layne Staley isn’t behind the microphone and his place is taken by Afro-American, ex-Comes With The Fall, William DuVall. Note down that DuVall plays rhythm guitars on the album and on the tour that followed.

The record is so good it makes you wanna cry! DuVall’s voice is scarily close to Staley’s most of the time and along with Cantrell’s backing vocals –typical Alice- makes us think that there wasn’t any hiatus since their last, self-titled effort. Tracks like the first single “Check My Brain” and “Last Of My Kind”, “All Secrets Known”, “Lesson Learned” are classic Alice In Chains with their wonderful guitars and amazing choruses. Of course we have the more tender side of the band with “Your Decision” (second single), “When The Sun Rose Again” and the title track, with the symbolic title about Staley’s death, in which you’ll come across Elton John on the piano!!! This is the goodbye song to the heroin addict, ex-singer of the band.

Since ‘black’ left the band and ‘gave its place to the blue’ let’s welcome them back. DuVall, without being Staley (the vocalist that marked the meaning of hard rock voice like no one else after the end of the ’80s), stands decently and in moments leaves his personal mark in the album. Fact is we have one of the strongest comebacks of the recent history!