A beautiful tribute

Alice In Chains’ newest album Rainier Fog follows much of the same style and patterns as their previous albums, but that doesn’t make it any less of a masterpiece. In an interview with Rolling Stone, it was revealed that the title of the album and the song of the same name were inspired by Mount Rainier, the volcano that towers over Seattle, Washington, the city that the group calls home. Despite how long they’ve been on the music scene, Alice in Chains always sounds fresh and exciting on each album they release, and Rainier Fog is no exception. It’s a perfect tribute to the city of Seattle and a great addition to the group’s impressive catalog.

The album begins with “The One You Know,” a solid song with vocals that can honestly be described as beautiful. William DuVall and Jerry Cantrell share the vocal duties perfectly, their voices intertwining as if they were made to sing together. Though not the best song on the album, “The One You Know” is a great way to kick things off. The second song on the album is the title song “Rainier Fog.” It begins with an impressive guitar riff, and the lyrics pay homage to the group and the genres past, making it the obvious choice for the title track. Lyrics like, “Some things last, sometimes you never get over / Live in the past, you find it’s hard to stay sober,” and “My see-through city of cellophane / You’d never know a long time ago you were drowning,” provide both a nostalgic and critical look at the past.

Some other notable songs on the album are “Drone” and “Maybe.” Both songs are very different from each other but are two of the strongest songs on the album. “Drone” has a somewhat bluesy feeling to it, thanks to the guitar throughout. It’s also another song that perfectly showcases the vocal abilities of DuVall and Cantrell, as their voices compliment each other perfectly. “Maybe” on the other hand begins acoustically, with melodic vocals and instrumentals that have some southern-rock sounding influence to them. It’s another nostalgic song, with lyrics referencing memories of the past. “Long gone, the days of summer / In L.A. it stretches longer / Fading, waiting / Try to heal but the pain it won’t go.” In an album with a Seattle focus, this L.A. referencing song still fits perfectly and showcases the group’s range of musical abilities.

Rainier Fog ends with “All I Am,” a gloomier sounding song, much like the image of a foggy Mount Rainier. Though it’s not a song that stands out specifically, much like the first song “The One You Know,” “All I Am” is a good solid song that helps wrap up the album perfectly. Alice In Chains are experts at what they do, and much like every other song on the album, “All I Am” is a perfect example of this.

Rainier Fog is available for purchase now, and Alice In Chains are currently touring the U.S.