Although widely associated with grunge music, the band's sound incorporates heavy metal elements. Since its formation, Alice in Chains has released five studio albums, three EPs, three live albums, four compilations, two DVDs, 31 music videos and 29 singles. The band is known for its distinctive vocal style, which often included the harmonized vocals between Staley and Cantrell (and later between Cantrell and William DuVall). Cantrell started to sing lead vocals on the 1992 acoustic EP Sap, and his role continued to grow in the following albums, making Alice in Chains a two-vocal band.
Alice in Chains rose to international fame as part of the grunge movement of the early 1990s, along with other Seattle bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. The band was one of the most successful music acts of the 1990s, selling over 20 million records worldwide, and over 14 million records in the US alone, with two No. 1 albums and six Top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 chart. The band has had 16 Top 10 songs on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, 5 No. 1 hits, and nine Grammy Award nominations. Their debut album, Facelift, featuring the hit single "Man In The Box", was released in 1990 and has been certified double-platinum by the RIAA, selling over two million copies. In 1992, the band's second album, Dirt, was released to critical acclaim and was certified quadruple platinum. Their second acoustic EP, Jar of Flies, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1994, becoming the first ever EP and first Alice in Chains release to top the charts, and it has been certified triple platinum by the RIAA. The band's third album, Alice in Chains debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 1995 and has been certified double platinum.
Although never officially disbanding, Alice in Chains was plagued by extended inactivity from 1996 onwards due to Staley's substance abuse, which resulted in his death in 2002. The band reunited in 2005 for a live benefit show, performing with a number of guest vocalists. They toured in 2006, with William DuVall taking over as lead vocalist full-time. The new line-up released the band's fourth studio album, Black Gives Way to Blue, in 2009, which received gold certification by the RIAA and two Grammy nominations. Their fifth studio album, The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here, was released in 2013 and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The band toured extensively and released several videos in support of these albums.
Their sixth studio album, Rainier Fog, would be released in 2018, through BMG records, making it their first big release on the new label. Rainier Fog would end up debuting at No. 12 on the Billboard 200, making it yet another powerful addition to the band's already impressive discography.
Although Alice in Chains has been labeled grunge by the mainstream media, Jerry Cantrell identifies the band as primarily heavy metal. He told Guitar World in 1996, "We're a lot of different things ... I don't quite know what the mixture is, but there's definitely metal, blues, rock and roll, maybe a touch of punk. The metal part will never leave, and I never want it to". The Edmonton Journal has stated, "Living and playing in Seattle might have got them the grunge tag, but they've always pretty much been a classic metal band to the core."
Over the course of their career, the band's sound has also been described as alternative metal, sludge metal, doom metal,drone rock, hard rock, and alternative rock. Regarding the band's constant categorization by the media, Cantrell stated "When we first came out we were metal. Then we started being called alternative metal. Then grunge came out and then we were hard rock. And now, since we've started doing this again I've seen us listed as: hard rock, alternative, alternative metal and just straight metal. I walked into an HMV the other day to check out the placement and see what's on and they've got us relegated back into the metal section. Right back where we started!". Drummer Sean Kinney rejects the grunge label, stating in a 2013 interview "I mean, before we first came out there was no grunge, they hadn’t invented that word. Before they invented the word grunge we were alternative rock and alternative metal and metal and rock, and we didn’t give a shit whatever, we were a rock and roll band!". According to Mike Inez, they were always the metal stepchildren of the Seattle scene.
Jerry Cantrell's guitar style combines "pummeling riffs and expansive guitar textures" to create "slow, brooding minor-key grinds". He is also recognized for his natural ability to blend acoustic and electric guitars. While down-tuned, distorted guitars mixed with Staley's distinctive "snarl-to-a-scream" vocals appealed to heavy metal fans, the band also had "a sense of melody that was undeniable", which introduced Alice in Chains to a much wider audience outside of the heavy metal underground.
According to Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic, Alice in Chains' sound has a "Black Sabbath-style riffing and an unconventional vocal style". The band has been described by Erlewine as "hard enough for metal fans, yet their dark subject matter and punky attack placed them among the front ranks of the Seattle-based grunge bands". Three of the band's releases feature acoustic music, and while the band initially kept these releases separate, Alice in Chains' self-titled album combined the styles to form "a bleak, nihilistic sound that balanced grinding hard rock with subtly textured acoustic numbers".
Alice in Chains is also noted for the unique vocal harmonies of Staley (or DuVall) and Cantrell, which included overlapping passages, dual lead vocals, and trademark harmonies typically separated by a major third. Cantrell said it was Staley who gave him the self-assurance to sing his own songs. Alyssa Burrows said the band's distinctive sound "came from Staley's vocal style and his lyrics dealing with personal struggles and addiction". Staley's songs were often considered "dark", with themes such as drug abuse, depression, and suicide, while Cantrell's lyrics often dealt with personal relationships.
Man in the Box
Alice in Chains Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Buried in my shit
Won't you come and save me?
Save me
Feed my eyes
(Can you sew them shut?)
Jesus Christ
(Deny your maker)
He who tries
(Will be wasted)
Oh, feed my eyes
(Now you've sewn them) shut
I'm the dog who gets beat
Shove my nose in shit
Won't you come and save me?
Save me
Feed my eyes
(Can you sew them shut?)
Jesus Christ
(Deny your maker)
He who tries
(Will be wasted)
Oh, feed my eyes
(Now you've sewn them) shut
Feed my eyes
(Can you sew them shut?)
Jesus Christ
(Deny your maker)
He who tries
(Will be wasted)
Oh, feed my eyes
(Now you've sewn them) shut
The opening line "I'm the man in the box, buried in my shit" is a provocative statement that alludes to the feeling of isolation and being trapped in a confined space. The man in the box could be interpreted as representing a person who is struggling with addiction, mental illness, or simply feeling lost and disconnected from the world around them. The imagery of being buried in excrement drives home the idea that the situation is bleak and suffocating - there is no way out without help from the outside.
The repeated chorus "Feed my eyes" can be interpreted in different ways. One interpretation is that it represents a desire to escape from reality by distracting oneself with sensory experiences. Another interpretation is that it represents a plea for nourishment or sustenance, whether physical or emotional. The line "Can you sew them shut?" suggests a desire to be protected or shielded from the harshness of the world. The religious references to "Jesus Christ" and "deny your maker" add a layer of existential questioning to the song - the man in the box may be struggling to make sense of his place in the universe.
Overall, "Man in the Box" is a dark, anthemic song that taps into feelings of frustration, anger, and despair. The powerful vocal performance by Layne Staley and the heavy, grungy instrumentation create a sense of intensity that matches the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm the man in the box
I feel trapped and powerless, isolated from the world and stuck in my own negativity.
Buried in my shit
I'm stuck in my own mess and it's suffocating me. I feel overwhelmed and lost.
Won't you come and save me?
I'm desperate for help and support. I don't want to face my problems alone anymore.
Feed my eyes
I'm hungry for something more, something meaningful. I need something to look forward to or hope for.
(Can you sew them shut?)
But at the same time, I'm afraid of what I might see if I open my eyes to the truth. It's easier to stay in the dark.
Jesus Christ
I'm wrestling with my own beliefs and sense of purpose. I feel abandoned or betrayed by the things I used to believe in.
(Deny your maker)
I'm rejecting the idea of a higher power or authority. I want to make my own choices and control my own fate.
He who tries
I'm aware of the risks and challenges facing me. I know that the path forward won't be easy, but I'm determined to keep moving forward.
(Will be wasted)
Despite my hopes and efforts, I fear that my struggle will be for nothing. I'm afraid of putting in all this work and still coming up short.
Oh, feed my eyes
I'm repeating my plea for help, for something to motivate me and give me strength.
(Now you've sewn them) shut
But once again, I'm torn between wanting to see the truth and not wanting to face the harsh reality of my situation. I'm stuck in this cycle of self-doubt and denial.
I'm the dog who gets beat
I'm constantly being beaten down by life, by my own doubts and fears. I feel like I'm not in control and that everything is against me.
Shove my nose in shit
I'm being punished and humiliated for things that aren't entirely my fault. I'm being forced to confront the worst parts of myself.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jerry Cantrell, Layne Staley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Josh
on Nutshell
Really would like some prayers guys.