4 [NEWS] New AIC Coming Soon!

Alice In Chains has announced the title to their highly anticipated forthcoming album: BLACK GIVES WAY TO BLUE. The 11-song album is set for release on Tuesday, September 29th. This month, on June 30th, us fans will get our first real taste of what the band has been creating for the past 2 years with a video for their first single featuring the awesome William Duvall on vocals called "A Looking in View".

I can't tell you how excited I am to finally hear some new tunes from Jerry, Sean, and Mike. I have been foaming at the mouth ever since they reunited for the 2006 Tsunami Benefit here in Seattle. These guys must have so much pent up emotion surrounding the bands early demise and of course Layne's death in 2002. If anyone is going to bring the rock this year it's these guys. With all the indie rock and pop consuming the musical world it'll be great to have AIC's dark heavy sounds in the forefront once again. My first taste of the more than capable William Duvall came during Bumbershoot 2004, when Jerry Cantrell played a rainy solo set as one of the afternoon headliners. The crowd was sparse but 2 buddies and I were front row center. William was a second guitar player and filled in for Layne's parts on Man in the Box, It Ain't Like That, and Rooster. He sounded great and it was a bright moment for me as huge fan of the band. To hear those songs sung so closely to the real thing was awesome. I have been fortunate enough to have seen this current incarnation of the band 2 times now. Once for "Band Practice" at the Moore Theater in 2006. A phone call from a buddy caused me to cut my walk around Greenlake short and hurry down to the Moore to stand in line for what was rumored to be free AIC tickets. To my surprise the rumors were true and I was second in line. Jerry, Sean and Mike all entered through the front and waved to us fans. We could hear them practicing, and us early birds received free tickets. I also made the trip out to the Gorge in 2007 when they were on tour with Velvet Revolver. It was killer, the AIC Gorge sing along gave me goosebumps, and they wiped the stage with VR. William Duvall with undoubtedly handle his duties with the utmost respect and talent. I have no fear that this album will stand next to the others. It's a new day for Alice in Chains and I can't wait. The world needs this band. period.