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.
Voices
Alice in Chains Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Am I one or thirteen?
I've gone cold, hard to deal
Used to stand where I kneel
Everybody listen
Voices in my head
Does yours say what mine says?
I want more, than I need
I don't know what is real
Everybody listen
Voices in my head
Everybody listen
Does yours say what mine says?
Anytime I listen
Voices in my head
Everybody listen
Does yours say what mine says?
Whispering of names, faces
Uniforms I've worn
And all that is gone
Always climbing
To fall down again
Holding onto everything
It's not what it seems
I've been told, dreaming's free
Think I'll go back to sleep
Everybody listen
Voices in my head
Everybody listen
Does yours say what mine says?
Anytime I listen
Voices in my head
Everybody listen
Does yours say what mine says?
Calling out the names, faces
Uniforms I've worn
And all that is gone
Always climbing
To fall down again
Holding onto everything
It's not what it seems
The lyrics of Alice in Chains's song Voices are intense and thought-provoking. The song talks about the confusion between identities and reality. The singer questions their identity, wondering whether they are one or thirteen, suggesting they may feel like they have lived through many different lives. The singer also talks about the struggle of dealing with life and feeling cold, as though they have emotionally detached themselves from the world. The lines "I used to stand where I kneel" suggest that the singer had a place in their life, but now they feel lost, unsure of themselves.
The chorus of the song offers a twist, showing that the singer's struggle is not unique. The voices in their head may be speaking louder than usual, leading them to question what they are hearing. The singer shares their doubts and asks listeners if they have ever experienced something similar. They express feelings of wanting more than they need and not knowing what is real. The song's ending talks about the difficulties of falling time and again and still holding on to everything, even though it is not always what it seems.
Overall, Voices is a powerful track with intense lyrics that explore the complexities of the human psyche. It tackles themes such as identity confusion, the struggle for meaning, and the internal battle between our thoughts and realities.
Line by Line Meaning
Who am I, is this me?
Questioning one's identity and existence
Am I one or thirteen?
Age is just a number, doesn't define one's maturity
I've gone cold, hard to deal
Feeling aloof and distant from everyone and everything
Used to stand where I kneel
Feeling powerless and submissive compared to the past
Everybody listen
Urging everyone to pay attention
Voices in my head
Inner thoughts and conflicts
Does yours say what mine says?
Questioning the relatability of one's thoughts
I want more, than I need
Desiring and chasing materialistic pleasure
I don't know what is real
Confused about the authenticity of one's own experiences
Whispering of names, faces
Recalling past acquaintances and interactions
Uniforms I've worn
Associating one's identity with the profession or lifestyle
And all that is gone
Everything that one associated with is now lost or irrelevant
Always climbing
Striving for success and happiness
To fall down again
Life's ups and downs
Holding onto everything
Being afraid of letting go and moving on
It's not what it seems
Things are not always as they appear
I've been told, dreaming's free
Fantasizing and imagining things is easier than achieving them
Think I'll go back to sleep
Choosing ignorance over facing reality
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jerry Cantrell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mostafa Hossain Tuhin
Who am I, is this me
Am I one of the team
I've gone cold, hard to deal
Used to stand where I kneel
Everybody listen
Voices in my head
Everybody listen
Does yours say what mine says
I want more, than I need
I don't know what is real
Everybody listen
Voices in my head
Everybody listen
Does yours say what mine says
Anytime I listen
Voices in my head
Everybody listen
Does yours say what mine says
Whispering their names, faces, uniforms I've worn
And now that is gone
Always climbing, to fall down again
Holding onto everything that's not what it seems
I've been told, dreaming's free
Think I'll go back to sleep
Everybody listen
Voices in my head
Everybody listen
Does yours say what mine says
Anytime I listen
Voices in my head
Everybody listen
Does yours say what mine says
Calling out the names, faces, uniforms I've worn
And all that is gone
Always climbing, to fall down again
Holding onto everything that's not what it seems
Caique Araújo
Alice In Chains - Voices
Who am I, is this me
Am I one of the team
I've gone cold, hard to deal
Used to stand where I kneel
Everybody listen
Voices in my head
Everybody listen
Does yours say what mine says
I want more, than I need
I don't know what is real
Everybody listen
Voices in my head
Everybody listen
Does yours say what mine says
Anytime I listen
Voices in my head
Everybody listen
Does yours say what mine says
Whispering their names, faces, uniforms I've worn
And now that is gone
Always climbing, to fall down again
Holding onto everything that's not what it seems
I've been told, dreaming's free
Think I'll go back to sleep
Everybody listen
Voices in my head
Everybody listen
Does yours say what mine says
Anytime I listen
Voices in my head
Everybody listen
Does yours say what mine says
Calling out the names, faces, uniforms I've worn
And all that is gone
Always climbing, to fall down again
Holding onto everything that's not what it seems
Paul Westcott
Even without Layne, Alice are still better than most bands.
The most underrated band of all time... too good for the HOF.
Christopher Vital
AWSOME in concert
Daniel Lee
@MrsPaul Ummm? Get real, Priest had a voice like no other,,,like Alice!
Vonn
@W. Dearth then why are you saying they are underrated. that doesnt make any sense. underrated would mean they produced an album say like Pearl Jam's "10" and they were still an obscure band. that would be "underrated"
W. Dearth
@Vonn Being The "I'm 45" rating scale. These fuckers broke when I was a freshman in high school. Been at the top with everyone in the same age bracket for 30 years.
Albie Phukt
As much as I love and adore AIC, they are not at all underrated and never really have been.
zodiac319
Wow, talk about being out of the loop. Song has been out 7 years and this is the first time I've heard it. Why doesn't everyone love these guys. Pure sound.
Kai-Made
yeah man...you got me?! I too am just now figuring out they are still around...different, but somehow still dang good.
First time realizing this, I have some things to catch up on apparently.
Albie Phukt
@Galius7 To me, William doesn't stand out in any way unlike Layne did. It just feels to me like he's the second singer/guitar player in the band.
The problem with revamping AIC was always gonna be what to do with Layne's old spot, and the criticism they were gonna get with likely no matter who they filled it with. Get someone too much like Layne, and you just found a copycat Layne Wannabe. Get someone nothing nearly like Layne and you didn't try hard enough to find a better singer.
I feel they could have went more middle of the road on this one and found someone a bit more in between with bigger dynamics in their vocals. Sorry, man, but I just ain't feeling that with William.
Albie Phukt
Eight for me and just hearing this track this evening for what I believe to be the first time. It's definitely one of the very best Post Layne songs I have heard to date.