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

ALICE IN CHAINS — The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here album cover Album · 2013 · Alternative Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here" is the 5th full-length studio album by US alternative rock/metal act Alice in Chains. The album was released through Capitol Records in May 2013. It´s the group´s second album after they made their recording comeback with "Black Gives Way To Blue (2009)" and the second with lead vocalist William DuVall. Most people are probably familiar with the band´s history of great commercial success in the early- to mid nineties, the long hiatus as a result of lead vocalist Layne Staley´s growing problems with drug addiction and his untimely death of a drug overdose in April 2002. But thankfully Alice in Chains reunited in 2005 with the inclusion of new lead vocalist William DuVall and seem hell bent to keep releasing dark and heavy rock music despite past issues and obstacles.

Stylistically "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here" pretty much continue down the same musical path as "Black Gives Way To Blue (2009)". It´s dark, laid back and heavy rock music with the distinct sounding signature harmony vocals courtesy of William DuVall and Jerry Cantrell on top. Sometimes I wish they would sing more lead and spice it up with harmonies instead of the other way around, but I guess that´s one of the elements in their sound that makes them unique. The tracks seldom break out of the vers/chorus formula, but there is an intro here, a middle section there and some very strong soloing on the tracks too. Like the case was with the predecessor, not all tracks stand out equally much, but all material on the album are still of good quality. Tracks like "Hollow", "Stone" and the title track are highlights to my ears, but there are also other standout tracks on the album.

It´s an album that requires several spins to fully sink in though and if I have to make a critique, it would be about the fact that the album is almost 70 minutes long and that the tracks are generally too long and repetitive. It would be nice if the band didn´t repeat their vers/chorus sections 3 times in each track, when those sections are as long as they are. To my ears a more trimmed songwriting would have made the music more effectful. When that is said, "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here" is still a quality release by Alice in Chains. The musicianship is excellent, the sound production professional, detailed and powerful and the best tracks on the album are very high quality material. Therefore a 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.
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