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.
Social Parasite
Alice in Chains Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well fuck off
I ain't some dying dog that you can kick
So fuck off
It's so easy to fall into that hole
And you're the one who cast me in that role
If you loved me would you call me a social parasite
You say you don't like the place I live
Well get out
There ain't no vacancy in my bed
So get out
It's so easy to fall into that hole
And you're the one who cast me in that role
If you loved me would you call me a social parasite
And who's the one to tell me whether it's wrong or right
If you loved me would you call me a social parasite
And who's the one to tell me whether it's wrong or right
(One, two, three, go)
You say you don't like the way we look
Well fuck off
I ain't some dying dog that you can kick
So fuck off
It's so easy to fall into that hole
And you're the one who cast me in that role
If you loved me would you call me a social parasite
And who's the one to tell me whether it's wrong or right
If you loved me would you call me a social parasite
And who's the one to tell me whether it's wrong or right
The lyrics of Alice in Chains’ Social Parasite speak of being scorned and rejected simply because of one’s physical appearance and social status. The opening lines of the song carry a defiant message to their detractors and haters, saying “you say you don’t like the way we look, well fuck off.” The singer then makes it clear that he is not someone to be kicked around like a “dying dog”, suggesting that he deserves the same level of dignity and respect as anyone else.
The song then asks the question of whether being labeled as a social parasite is tantamount to being rejected altogether, despite any love and affection that may have existed. The lines “if you loved me, would you call me a social parasite?” suggest a deep sense of hurt and betrayal, questioning why someone can be so quick to dismiss other’s value as a person based on their appearance or social status.
Overall, Social Parasite is a commentary on the struggle for acceptance and love in a society that can be unforgiving towards those who do not fit a certain mold. It speaks of the dangers of falling into the trap of societal expectations and the resulting isolation and rejection that can arise from non-conformity.
Line by Line Meaning
You say you don't like the way we look
You're being judgmental about our appearance
Well fuck off
Leave us alone and mind your own business
I ain't some dying dog that you can kick
We're not weak and helpless, so don't try to hurt us
So fuck off
Again, leave us alone and stop bothering us
It's so easy to fall into that hole
It's easy to get stuck in negative patterns and behaviors
And you're the one who cast me in that role
You're responsible for the way you treat us and the labels you give us
If you loved me would you call me a social parasite
If you truly cared for me, you wouldn't judge me so harshly
And who's the one to tell me whether it's wrong or right
You don't have the authority to pass judgement on me or my lifestyle
You say you don't like the place I live
You're continuing to pass negative judgment on me and my choices
Well get out
Mind your own business and don't interfere with my life
There ain't no vacancy in my bed
I'm not interested in a relationship with you, so don't try to enter my personal life
It's so easy to fall into that hole
Once again, it's easy to fall into negative patterns
And you're the one who cast me in that role
You are responsible for how you treat me and the labels you give me
If you loved me would you call me a social parasite
If you truly cared for me, you wouldn't judge me so harshly
And who's the one to tell me whether it's wrong or right
You don't have the right to pass judgment on me or tell me how to live my life
(One, two, three, go)
Transition to the final verse
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jerry Cantrell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Josh
on Nutshell
Really would like some prayers guys.