Alice In Chains sign with EMI: New album out September

posted June 8, 2009, 1:07 pm by dscanland | Filed Under Music News, Releases | 9 Comments

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Legendary rock band ALICE IN CHAINS has signed an exclusive worldwide deal with EMI’s Virgin Records and are gearing up for the release of their first new studio album in more than 10 years. The band and producer Nick Raskulinecz (Rush, Foo Fighters) began recording last October at Studio 606 in Northridge, CA and recently finished mixing at Henson Studios in Hollywood. The highly anticipated album is scheduled for release this September. Guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell, drummer Sean Kinney and bassist Mike Inez reunited in 2005 at a benefit for victims of the tsunami in Indonesia. They began touring with new guitarist/vocalist William DuVall the following year.

“It’s been a meaningful journey and a hell of a story,” says Cantrell. “We’re very excited to have a home at Virgin/EMI and are looking forward to writing new chapters in the book of Alice.”

“We’re in a good place,” adds Kinney. “We’ve made a record that we’re really proud of, we’ve got a team in place that’s passionate about the music and we’re excited for the fans to hear the new songs.”
“Alice In Chains has had a big hand in the evolution of music and I still can’t believe we get to work with them,” says Rob Stevenson, President of Virgin Records. “This music is going to remind people what we’ve all been missing.”
“There is a tremendous sense of excitement and dedication within EMI around the world as we head into this album release,” Added Jeff Kempler, EMI’s COO of New Music for North America and the UK,”Alice In Chains’ place in rock history is undeniable and when people hear this remarkable new work it will be clear how timeless, potent and visionary this band is.”
Alice In Chains were among the headliners at the recent Rock on the Range festival in Columbus, OH. Next up is a July 18 show with Kid Rock at Comerica Park in Detroit, to be followed by festival shows with Metallica overseas, including an August 1 date at Marlay Park in Dublin and an August 2 show at the Sonisphere Festival at Knebworth. Earlier this year, the quartet took a break from recording to perform a string of shows in Australia with Nine Inch Nails.

Over the course of their remarkable career, Alice In Chains has garnered multiple Grammy nominations, sold more than 17 million albums worldwide and achieved 11 top 10 hit singles.

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9 Responses to “Alice In Chains sign with EMI: New album out September”

SolitaryMan on June 9th, 2009 9:18 am

I am really…dreading…this release. I have yet to hear what the band sounds like with the new addition, and I think it would maybe corrupt my idea of AIC if I did. But I know I’m going to end up with this album, just not sure how it’s going to go down.
X_NaStY on June 10th, 2009 3:37 am

Eh, I don’t really think it could tarnish my idea of them regardless of what this new disc sounds like. After all these years I’m kind of curious as to what they can put out. I guess they could go the way of GnR or Metallica and put out something really bad, but for some reason I don’t really think that’ll happen.
Sinist3r Punk on June 10th, 2009 6:54 pm

Solitary vs NaSTY
Bad vs Good
Who will prevail?
Only time will tell
hstisgod on June 11th, 2009 1:20 am

“My name is Paul, and this is between Y’all” lol…

Honestly, I’ve gotta back up XNasty here, even if AIC releases the worst of GnR on crack, there’s been such a gap in recording time, and respect for Layne, this is really a win win situation for Cantrell and the boys. Provided, the presumption is if the project sucks they don’t drag along and stick it out. If it sucks, and they give up quick, I will have retained all prior respect for the AIC.
dscanland on June 11th, 2009 11:15 am

Yeah, here’s the situation. Layne was mostly co-lyricist for Alice In Chains. Cantrell did the other half of the lyric duties as well as wrote the music. Chances of this sucking are slimmer than say, Nirvana getting back together without Kurt. As long as Cantrell did a good job picking a decent vocalist, they should be able to pull this off. I’m not really anticipating anything but if they surprise me then…
Sinist3r Punk on June 11th, 2009 10:51 pm

Ok now for my serious take on it
I don’t really know that much about the inner workings of AIC, but I am very interested in the prospect of new music. As long as it doesn’t sound like the same regurgitated garbage being played on every single stock rock radio station in the world.
BTW – Is Cantrell going to be the vocalist? Or are they bringing in someone else?
hstisgod on June 11th, 2009 11:26 pm

Im sure Cantrell will end up singing a song or two, but mostly back up… thats really the big stink about this new record, is they are replacing the dead and gone (nice pun huh?!?!?) Layne Staley withn William DuVall. From all reports I’ve read he’s got pipes similiar but raspier? Who knows…
dscanland on June 12th, 2009 12:09 am

Just got an email verifying the title of the new album:
Black Gives Way To Blue
Due in stores September 29

Here’s some specifics:
BLACK GIVES WAY TO BLUE is the band’s first new studio release in more than 10 years. The quartet (vocalist/guitarist Jerry Cantrell, drummer Sean Kinney, bassist Mike Inez and vocalist/guitarist William DuVall) recorded the album with producer Nick Raskulinecz (Rush, Foo Fighters) at Studio 606 in Northridge, CA and Henson Studios in Hollywood.
dscanland on June 12th, 2009 12:10 am

Oh, did I mention I met the band once and they ripped it up on my skateboard? True story!