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.
Killer Is Me
Alice in Chains Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pointed at me
Don't need to run
Killer is me
Killer is me
So the sun
Shines upon me
Killer is me
Insane the mind
In the name of me
Can't find the time
To let things be
Insane the mind
In the name of me
Can't find the time
To let things be
Let things be
Oh yeah
Can I start over?
Oh yeah
Can I start over?
And get over it
So the sun
Shines upon me
Having fun
Killer is me
Killer is me
Killer is me
Oh yeah
Can I start over?
Oh yeah
Can I start over?
And get over it
Let things be
The lyrics to the song "The Killer Is Me" by Alice in Chains speaks about how the singer of the song does not need to run or need a gun to face something scary, as the killer is inside him or her. The person is achieving a sense of enjoyment from this killing urge, and has an insane mind that operates in their name. The person acknowledges that they cannot find the time to let things be and that they need to do something about it. In the end, the person is asking if they can start over and get over this urge.
The song is an introspective piece that talks about dark introspective emotions that many people feel but rarely talk about. It addresses the negative influence of one's mind and how it affects one's behavior. Alice in Chains has always been known for their haunting songs that touch upon these subjects, but this song carries a different meaning than their typical ones. This song is about confronting the internal turmoil instead of the external sources of darkness. This song teaches about a person's internal struggle and how it can be the most challenging battle to face.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't need a gun
I don't require any weapon to harm myself, as I am the reason for my own suffering.
Pointed at me
The blame for my struggles can only be placed on myself.
Don't need to run
There is no escape from the turmoil I create within my own mind.
Killer is me
I am my own worst enemy, the cause of my own pain.
So the sun
Despite the beauty of the world around me, I still cannot find peace within myself.
Shines upon me
The world around me may appear bright, but I remain consumed by darkness.
Having fun
My self-inflicted pain has become a twisted form of entertainment for me.
Oh yeah
Expressing a desire for change, but not knowing how to attain it.
Can I start over?
Is it possible for me to reset my life and free myself from my own destructive tendencies?
And get over it
Can I move on from the pain and struggles that I have created for myself?
Insane the mind
The irrationality of my own thoughts and actions only further perpetuate my suffering.
In the name of me
I am the only one responsible for the harm I inflict upon myself.
Can't find the time
Despite wanting to make changes, I cannot seem to find the motivation or energy to do so.
To let things be
To find inner peace, I must learn to let go of my own self-destructive tendencies and stop inflicting pain upon myself.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jerry Cantrell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dumptruckthegreat9703
Don't need a gun
Pointed at me
Don't need to run
Killer is me
Killer is me
So the sun
Shines upon me
Having fun
Killer is me
Insane the mind
In the name of me
Can't find the time
To let things be
Insane the mind
In the name of me
Can't find the time
To let things be
Let things be
Oh yeah
Can I start over?
Oh yeah
Can I start over?
And get over it
So the sun
Shines upon me
Having fun
Killer is me
Killer is me
Killer is me
Oh yeah
Can I start over?
Oh yeah
Can I start over?
And get over it
Let things be
@Richtofen155
“I Wish I Could Just Hug You All But I’m Not Gonna” - Layne Staley
@nicolasriveros943
That's one of My favorite quotes. Ever.
@julianlantto9101
Justin Espinoza Layne can hug me
@alex-sh9jw
BUT AM I GONNA!?!?!?
@savinpetru6512
@@alex-sh9jw if I would, could you?
@malloryarroy9887
I wish I could hug them all too.
@airdromeaccount7922
Not enough credit goes to the drummer Sean Kinney during this session. Absolutely stellar mix of restraint and emphasis.
@michaelfrazia4569
Sean is such a great drummer. A unique style that always compliments the songs well. His drumming in no excuses was so tasteful and accented the song so well.
@julioherrera2551
They’re all talented musicians.
@MarvinGuatemalanBoy
He was great, but I didn't like that much his drumming in "Rooster".