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.
God Am
Alice in Chains Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dear God, how have you been then?
I'm not fine, fuck pretending
All of this death you're sending
Best throw some free heart mending
Invite you in my heart, then
When done, my sins forgiven?
World dies, I still pay taxes
Can I be as my God am?
Can you be as God am?
Can I be as my God am?
God of all my God am
So Lord, I see you grinning
Must be grand always winning
How proud are you being able
To gather faith from fable?
Can I be as my God am?
Can you be as God am?
Can I be as my God am?
God of all my God am
God am
My God am
God am
God
All the respect I'm giving
Shared strength acquired by living
All blooming life you're feeding
Can't hide sick ones you're weeding
Can I be as my God am?
Can you be as God am?
Can I be as my God am?
God of all my God am
God am
God am
God am
God am
The lyrics to Alice in Chains' song God Am present a questioning of God's existence, power, and relevance to humanity's suffering. The line "Sure God's all-powerful, but does he have lips?" underscores the band's cynicism toward religion, grappling with the idea that a deity with no tangible presence might not be capable of providing emotional and spiritual support to those who need it most. The singer openly laments to God about their struggles, calling into question whether the concepts of sin and forgiveness are enough to solve the world's problems. The mention of paying taxes, amidst the larger discussion of life and death, highlights the harsh reality that existence is more complex than simply following a divine code.
Throughout the song, the repeated refrain "Can I be as my God am?" suggests an impulse to try and embody the supposed characteristics of God, whether that be strength, fearlessness, or compassion. However, the line "God of all my God am" also acknowledges the impossibility of fully grasping the nature of a higher power. The final verses speak to the value of life and resilience in the face of suffering, with the mention of "blooming life" and "shared strength acquired by living" suggesting that although God may not save us from pain, there is still beauty and hope to be found in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Dear God, how have you been then?
The singer reaches out to God to ask how He has been.
I'm not fine, fuck pretending
The singer admits to God that they are not okay and are done pretending.
All of this death you're sending
The singer questions God about the death and suffering in the world.
Best throw some free heart mending
The artist requests that God provides some emotional healing.
Invite you in my heart, then
The artist invites God into their heart.
When done, my sins forgiven?
The singer inquires about the forgiveness of their sins.
This God of mine relaxes
The singer suggests that their God is calm and collected.
World dies, I still pay taxes
The artist expresses frustration that even though the world is falling apart, they still have to deal with mundane things like taxes.
Can I be as my God am?
The artist desires to become more like God.
Can you be as God am?
The artist wonders if the listener can also be like God.
So Lord, I see you grinning
The singer envisions God with a smile on His face.
Must be grand always winning
The artist muses that God must enjoy always being victorious.
How proud are you being able
The singer asks God how proud He is of His power and accomplishments.
To gather faith from fable?
The singer questions whether God takes pride in being able to inspire belief in seemingly implausible stories.
All the respect I'm giving
The singer is expressing respect towards God.
Shared strength acquired by living
The artist acknowledges the strength that they've gained from living life.
All blooming life you're feeding
The artist acknowledges that God is responsible for nourishing all living things.
Can't hide sick ones you're weeding
The singer notes that God can't shield them from the unpleasant parts of life.
God am
The singer affirms their belief in God.
My God am
The artist emphasizes their personal connection with their God.
God am
The artist repeats their affirmation of God's existence and importance.
God am
The artist repeats their affirmation of God's existence and importance.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Layne Staley, Michael Inez, Sean Kinney, Jerry Cantrell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Josh
on Nutshell
Really would like some prayers guys.