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.
Sludge Factory
Alice in Chains Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh yeah
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh yeah
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh yeah
You insult me in my home, you're forgiven this time
Look in my eyes deep and watch the clouds change with time
Twenty hours won't print my picture milk carton size
Carton size
Carton size
Carton size
Call me up congratulations ain't the real why
There's no pressure besides brilliance let's say by day nine
Endless corporate ignorance lets me control time
By the way, by the way, by the way, by the way
Once again you see an in
Discolored skin gives you away
So afraid you'd kindly gurgle
Out a date for me
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh yeah
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh yeah
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh yeah
Now the body of one soul I adore wants to die
You have always told me you'd not live past twenty-five
I say stay long enough to repay all who cause strife
Once again you see an in
Discolored skin gives you away
So afraid you'd kindly gurgle
Out a date for me
Once again you see an in
Discolored skin gives you away
So afraid you'd kindly gurgle
Out a date for me
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh yeah
Oh oh oh oh oh
I bear true and an existing witness
To this barrel of monkeys
A self-proclaimed immoral success
Perfected by each whereof
Individually deadly, and equally so
And spread about the surrendered troops
For even thousands of miles
Will not tear apart their communication
Or the lack thereof
Vultures, liars, thieves
Each proclaim their innocence
In no suggestion or rhyme
Your weapon is contained
In the wrecking of the keeping the desired effect
The breaking of the spirit thwarts the whole being
Your weapon is guilt
Your weapon is guilt
Your weapon is guilt
Guilt
The lyrics to Alice in Chains' song "Sludge Factory" touch on the themes of drug addiction, societal pressure, and mental health. The song appears to be narrated from the perspective of someone struggling with addiction, addressing someone else who may also be addicted. The opening lines, "You insult me in my home, you're forgiven this time, things go well, your eyes dilate, you shake, and 'I'm high'" suggests that drug use is a common activity between the two, and the singer is either forgiving or apologizing for their behavior while under the influence. Later in the song, the lyrics "Now the body of one soul I adore wants to die, You have always told me you'd not live past twenty-five, I say stay long enough to repay all who cause strife" touches on the idea of self-destructive behavior, and the toll it takes on mental health.
The chorus of "Oh yeah" is repeated intermittently throughout the song, and it arguably serves to reinforce or emphasize the numbness or disassociation often experienced while under the influence of drugs. Meanwhile, the verses contain descriptions of shared experiences and behaviors common to those struggling with addiction, such as noticing changes in someone's eyes and skin, and being cognizant of social pressures and the passing of time.
Overall, "Sludge Factory" deals with heavy themes, but the lyrics are delivered in the heavy, sludgy, and hypnotic grunge style which Alice in Chains is famous for. The song clearly outlines the impact of drug use on individuals in abusive and exploitative relationships, and its destructive effects on both the mind and body.
Line by Line Meaning
You insult me in my home, you're forgiven this time
I forgive you for insulting me while in my home.
Things go well, your eyes dilate, you shake, and 'I'm high'
When you're happy, your eyes get big and you might shake, indicating you're high.
Look in my eyes deep and watch the clouds change with time
If you look into my eyes deeply, you can see the clouds changing over time.
Twenty hours won't print my picture milk carton size
No matter how long you look for me, you won't find my picture on a milk carton.
Call me up congratulations ain't the real why
Don't congratulate me for the wrong reasons when you call me.
There's no pressure besides brilliance let's say by day nine
By the ninth day, there's no pressure except for being brilliant.
Endless corporate ignorance lets me control time
Corporate ignorance lets me control time constantly.
By the way, by the way, by the way, by the way
Just by the way, by the way, by the way, by the way.
Once again you see an in
Once again you see the inside of me.
Discolored skin gives you away
Skin discoloration gives away your secrets.
So afraid you'd kindly gurgle out a date for me
You're so afraid that you may give up information if you speak to me.
Now the body of one soul I adore wants to die
The person I love wants to die.
You have always told me you'd not live past twenty-five
You've always said you wouldn't live past twenty-five years old.
I say stay long enough to repay all who cause strife
I advise you to stay alive in order to repay those who cause you trouble.
I bear true and an existing witness to this barrel of monkeys
I am a true witness to this chaotic situation.
A self-proclaimed immoral success perfected by each whereof
Each immoral success story is perfected by self-proclamation.
Individually deadly, and equally so
Each person is equally deadly.
And spread about the surrendered troops
The surrendered troops spread rumors.
For even thousands of miles will not tear apart their communication or the lack thereof
Their communication can't be broken, no matter the distance.
Vultures, liars, thieves each proclaim their innocence
Even the most guilty culprits proclaim their innocence.
In no suggestion or rhyme
There's no suggestion or rhyme to the madness.
Your weapon is contained in the wrecking of the keeping the desired effect
The desired effect is the result of keeping your weapon in check.
The breaking of the spirit thwarts the whole being
When the spirit is broken, the entire person is affected.
Your weapon is guilt
Your weapon is in the form of guilt.
Your weapon is guilt
Your weapon is in the form of guilt.
Your weapon is guilt
Your weapon is in the form of guilt.
Guilt
Guilt.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Layne Staley, Sean Kinney, Jerry Cantrell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@angelicatapeno4363
i'm happy they don't cut the part in the beginning
@campbells0ups
Angelica Tapeno apparently they had to do the take 7-8 times bc layne kept fucking the lyric up. i think two takes is good for the final cut's sake(:
@80brax04
His last hit was wearing off.
@80brax04
@@campbells0ups He's under the influence of something.He was an awesome singer but he was still a junky and the chance of him not performing while fucked up is slim to none.
@campbells0ups
DanielBx yeah thats why he relapsed at the end of the kiss tours and slipped away after demri died. as far as i know he was not using before any of the '96 shows
@80brax04
@@campbells0ups yeah,he was probably saving the fat hits for after the shows.But anyone saying that he never performed under the influence is just lying to themselves.
@josebarria3233
His reaction to his mistake and the band supporting him is the most wholesome things ever done in these concerts
@stevencopley5487
Agreed. 🙂
@emmastarr3755
I can't even breathe 😭 😪 😩 ❤❤❤❤
@jacquelinerubidoux440
I love how Jerry just looks at him and says "it's okay" ❤