Alice In Chains - Rainier Fog (5th Anniversary Smog Vinyl 2LP)

Heavy riffs, tangled harmonies and a long shadow cast by home. Rainier Fog finds Alice In Chains reconnecting with Seattle without simply retracing their early years, bringing the weight of their past into a record that stands firmly in the William DuVall era. The grinding pulse of “The One You Know”, the brooding “So Far Under” and the expansive closing stretch of “All I Am” give it a character that is both familiar and restless.

Formed in Seattle in 1987, Alice In Chains emerged as one of the defining bands of the city's rock explosion, pairing Jerry Cantrell's heavy, melodic songwriting with Layne Staley's unmistakable voice on records including Facelift and Dirt. Following Staley's death in 2002, the band reunited in 2005, with DuVall joining the following year. Alongside bassist Mike Inez and drummer Sean Kinney, Cantrell and DuVall developed a new chapter built around the band's distinctive vocal interplay rather than a replacement of its past.

Originally released on 24 August 2018, Rainier Fog is their sixth studio album and third with DuVall. Produced by Nick Raskulinecz, it was recorded partly at Seattle's Studio X, where the band had made their 1995 self-titled album. Its title takes inspiration from Mount Rainier, while the title track pays tribute to the Seattle music scene. This fifth-anniversary Smog vinyl edition presents the album across three playable sides, with an etched fourth side.

Release details

Artist: Alice In Chains
Title: Rainier Fog
Label: BMG
Catalogue number: 538417101
Format: 2LP, Smog vinyl, etched fourth side
Edition: 5th Anniversary reissue / repress
Edition release date: 12 January 2024
Original album release: 24 August 2018
Genre: Alternative rock, grunge, alternative metal

Condition

Pre-owned
Sleeve NM
Vinyl M