Alice In Chains: Layne Staley, Jerry Cantrell (vocals, guitar); Mike Inez (bass); Sean Kinney (drums).

Recorded at Bad Animals, Seattle, Washington.

"Grind" was nominated for a 1996 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.

"Again" was nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.

Personnel: Jerry Cantrell, Layne Staley (vocals, guitar); Mike Inez (bass guitar); Sean Kinney (drums).

Audio Mixer: Toby Wright.

Recording information: Bad Animals, Seattle, WA.

Photographer: Rocky Schenck.

Dispelling rumors of their demise due to Layne Staley's heroin addiction, Alice in Chains is a sonically detailed effort that ranks as their best-produced record, and its best moments are easily some of their most mature music. Alice in Chains relies less on metallic riffs and more on melody and texturally varied arrangements than the group's previous full-length albums, finally integrating some of the more delicate acoustic moods of their EPs. The lyrics deal with familiar AIC subject matter -- despair, misery, loneliness, and disappointment -- but in a more understated fashion, and the lyrics take on more uplifting qualities of toughness and endurance, which were missing from much of their previous work. The consistent visceral impact Alice in Chains lacks in comparison to that previous work is partially made up for by the skilled production and songs like "Grind," "Brush Away," "Over Now," and the hit ballad "Heaven Beside You," which are among the band's best work. Still, in spite of its many virtues, it's hard not to feel a little frustrated with the record, as though, given those qualities, it should have turned out better than it did -- there are some slow spots where the songs are undercrafted and not especially memorable, and those moments can make the band sound uncommitted and distracted. That, in turn, can make the defiance of songs like "Grind" ("you'd be well advised/not to plan my funeral 'fore the body dies") sound more like denial; just when Alice in Chains' music was finally beginning to emerge from the dark side, the intra-band problems became too much to bear and made Alice in Chains the last collection of new material the band would ever release. ~ Steve Huey

Much like the overcast and murky weather that Seattle is known for, Alice In Chains' music is dour, plumbing the darker side of life that's cluttered with dashed hopes and inner turmoil. The group's self-titled third album continues along this path, peppered by Layne Staley's nihilistic lyrics and guitarist Jerry Cantrell's weighty playing. The three-legged dog on the cover guarantees that no warm and fuzzy feelings will get aroused.

When Staley states "How proud are you being able/To gather faith from fable?" on "God Am," he reflects the feelings of the displaced generation AIC sing to. Elsewhere, imagery of drug addiction floats through "Sludge Factory," as Cantrell's plodding riffs and the sound of a disjointed conversation paint an aural picture of nodding out. The darkened hues coloring the sound of ALICE IN CHAINS make it a perfect rainy-day record.

Rolling Stone (11/30/95, p.63) - 4 Stars (out of 10) - "...On the band's fourth album, the lyrics deal with drugs, danger and death--and the songs achieve a startling, staggering and palpable impact..."

Q (1/96, p.17) - 3 Stars (out of 5) - "...another distinctive album...grinding guitars rub up against dense, late-'60s style vocal harmonies..."

Musician (2/96, p.91) - "...Alice In Chain's sullen music is like stomach acid climbing up your throat. But once 'Grind' satisfies your senses in its queasy way, another listen feels all but inevitable..."