Man, it seems like it was only yesterday when I bought the final Alice In Chains studio-lp. But it’s been well over six years since that one came out. Since then a lot has changed; Alice In Chains is no more. Singer Layne Staley died last year and Jerry Cantrell, the main AIC songwriter, has gone solo. His first effort, which came out in 1998, was clearly an attempt to distance himself from his AIC roots. Last year’s Degradation Trip was the exact opposite, as he was obviously embracing his musical past. Cantrell wrote enough material to fill a double album, but only 14 of these tracks were released on a single disc. The special edition which is out now, however, is a double CD containing all 25 songs (that means a full 11 extra songs), sequenced in the order Cantrell had originally envisioned. The dark mood that was always surrounding AIC’s music and lyrics is definitely present.

Cantrell went through some pretty tough times in his life, which is reflected not just in the music, but in the lyrics as well. Just listen to the dark and heavy opener “Psychotic Break.” It sets the tone for an intense trip through the depths of this man’s soul. And it isn’t always pretty. Broken relationships, drugs, the toll of fame, it’s all here. Together with bassist Robert Trujillo (Suicidal Tendencies, Ozzy Osbourne) and drummer Mike Bordin (Faith No More, Ozzy Osbourne), Jerry has produced an album that really demands your attention. Musically it fuses the best parts of metal, grunge and alternative rock together. And it’s definitely up there with the best Alice In Chains material. 2 CD’s might be a little overwhelming at first, but take your time. It’s worth it!