ALICE IN CHAINS — The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here (review)

ALICE IN CHAINS — The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here album cover

Album · 2013 · Alternative Metal

4.5/5 · 2013-06-23
adg211288

When they made a comeback with Black Gives Way to Blue (2009), their first album without their iconic frontman Layne Staley, who died in 2002, Seattle grunge legends Alice in Chains defied all expectations. Although there was a faction amongst the group’s fanbase who took the ‘No Layne, no Chains’ view to the new music, which was their first album since their self-titled third effort (1995), I think that more people, myself included, were surprised at how well Black Gives Way to Blue fitted into the existing Alice in Chains back catalogue. In my view, which I acknowledge a minority opinion, the album even surpassed the group’s classic release Dirt (1992). Even though the absence of Layne’s distinctive vocals was felt, Jerry Cantrell had always been the main writer of the group and Black Gives Way to Blue ended up a real belter of an album that showed off all the best aspects of what made Alice in Chains one of rock/metal’s true classic acts.

The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here (2013) is the follow-up to that album, the group’s fifth overall. The comeback was the time to be sceptical about the band’s return; as of this album Alice in Chains really have nothing to prove, and new guy William DuVall is now firmly established in the band, making the four piece as strong a unit as they’ve ever been. For me there question is not so much if the band can deliver another great album to their discography, but one of what sort of scale they’d do it on.

And naturally they haven’t disappointed, although I will say from the off that I don’t think The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here manages to have quite the same impact as Black Gives Way to Blue did. While there are several top quality Alice in Chains tracks here, including both pre-release singles Hollow and Stone, overall there are less highlights than there were on Black Gives Way to Blue. The early tracks of the album do come across as being particularly stronger than the latter stages, with the rather eerie title track quickly establishing itself as the must-hear song from the album.

The actual style of the album is a little different to its predecessor. While the alternative metal/grunge sound of Alice in Chains remains intact, instead of drawing on hard rock, there are some clear alternative rock elements to be heard, not least in Voices, which wouldn’t go amiss on any record by massive alt rockers Foo Fighters. This does make the album seem not as heavy overall, but Alice in Chains can handle both directions with ease. The only song on the album that doesn’t sit so well with me is Lab Monkey, which I find to drag a bit, but the rest of the album ranges from solid songs to new Alice in Chains classics.

The Devil Puts Dinosaurs Here further cements my regard for Alice in Chains as the best act out of the grunge era and although I ultimately didn’t enjoy it as much, this is a very worthy follow-up to Black Gives Way to Blue. An exceptional grade rating is deserved.

88/100

(Originally written for Heavy Metal Haven: http://metaltube.freeforums.org/alice-in-chains-the-devil-put-dinosaurs-here-t3006.html)

more than 2 years ago
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adg211288 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Been a while since I listened to Facelift or the self-titled. Memory says I prefer this one to either of them, but Dirt is better than this. And Black Gives Way to Blue is actually my favourite by them. Minority opinion, I know, but as I say, memory says Dirt is the only one from Layne's era that ever got more than a 4 star rating out of me.

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

For me it´s the other way around. I like this one better than "Black Gives Way to Blue". Both are great albums though. But not spectacular to my ears.

Stooge wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I've only listened to this a few times, but I enjoy Black Gives Way To Blue better. While this one might be my least favorite AiC album, it's still pretty good.