Every Alice in Chains Album, Ranked
Jeff Cornell is a veteran music and entertainment writer, who has contributed to Variety, Billboard, Loudwire, The Hollywood Reporter, and MTV.
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Along with Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Soundgarden, Alice in Chains helped create and define the Seattle grunge music scene of the 90s. Alice in Chains carved out a unique sound deeply rooted in heavy metal characterized by sludgy guitar riffs and haunting vocal harmonies. The band survived the devastating loss of frontman Layne Staley and forged ahead years later, beginning an impressive second chapter with frontman William DuVall, honoring their past while paving new ground.
Guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell formed the band in 1987 with Layne Staley on vocals, Mike Starr on bass and Sean Kinney on drums. Starr left the band in 1993 and was replaced by Mike Inez. After recording three studio albums and three EPs with Alice in Chains, Staley passed away in 2002 from a heroin overdose. The band honored Staley seven years after his death with a new record, Black Gives Way To Blue featuring former Comes With A Fall frontman William DuVall. AIC has released six studio LPs, three with Staley and three with DuVall, selling well over 30 million copies worldwide. The group has amassed 11 Grammy nominations and scored 18 top ten rock songs and five number one tracks. Sap and the masterpiece Jar of Flies are both EPs and are therefore not included on this list. Here is every Alice in Chains studio LP, ranked.
6 'The Devil Put The Dinosaurs Here' (2013)
After the Seattle-based rockers reestablished themselves with 2009's Black Gives Way to Blue, the group followed it up with the ambitious 2013 effort The Devil Put The Dinosaurs Here. AIC's fifth studio LP is packed with drop-tuned guitar riffs and slow tempos, while being more atmospheric and psychedelic than its predecessor. The band used the success of Black Gives Way to Blue to push the boundaries, leading to a more experimental and progressive sound.
The album is a dense collection of heavy guitar riffs, haunting harmonies and a dark psychedelic vibe similar to the band's 1995 self-titled effort. "Hollow," "Stone," and "Voices" are standout tracks, while the title track "The Devil Put The Dinosaurs Here" is a strange and ominous journey. The longest track on the effort, "Phantom Limb," is a hard-hitting song written by William DuVall, who sings lead vocals and also plays the guitar solo on the tune, leaving his own distinct mark on the record. The Devil Put The Dinosaurs Here features the band opening up and exploring new sonic territory.
5 'Rainier Fog' (2018)
Alice In Chains' most recent effort is 2018's Rainier Fog, which continues the group's use of heavy guitar riffs, eerie vocal harmonies, psychedelic textures and slow, ominous grooves. William DuVall and Jerry Cantrell's layered vocals create tension and an unsettling harmonic quality, continuing the AIC trademark. The group turned the album into a soundtrack for the 2019 web series Black Antenna, which tells the story of two extraterrestrials traveling through California that communicate telepathically. "Beta." played by Viktoriya Dov, seduces and steals from men they encounter, while "Alpha," played by Paul Sloan, gathers equipment to build an antenna in hopes to contact their home world.
Rainier Fog is a well-balanced album featuring standout tracks "The One You Know," "So Far Under," "Never Fade," and the title track, which is a tribute to Seattle and reflects on the long list of artists who are no longer with us, including Kurt Cobain, Chris Cornell, Andrew Wood, Mike Starr and Layne Staley. After nearly three decades after their grunge peak, AIC prove they can still evolve without abandoning their dark and heavy sound that made them unique.
4 'Black Gives Way to Blue' (2009)
Following Layne Staley's death in 2002, the band returned in 2009 with vocalist and guitarist William DuVall on the album Black Gives Way to Blue, an emotionally charged tribute to Staley. It opens with "All Secrets Known," a chill-inducing track that is all about moving forward in the wake of tragedy. Cantrell's poingant opening lyrics immediately establish the album's themes of hope, rebirth and acceptance: "Hope, a new beginning. Time, time to start living. Like just before we died. There's no going back to the place we started from."
The LP debuted at number five on the Billboard Album chart and spawned four singles: "A Looking in View," and "Check My Brain," which were both nominated for Grammy Awards, along with "Your Decision," and "Lesson Learned." "Black Gives Way to Blue" is a tribute to Staley and features Elton John on piano. The track is a powerful and cathartic song that helped the group deal with their collective grief. The album is a testament to the band's resilience and is a successful example of a group rebuilding itself after losing an irreplaceable frontman. AIC confronted its loss head-on and turned grief into an incredible second act that is still playing out.
3 'Facelift' (1990)
Alice in Chains' debut album Facelift arrived in August 1990, one year before grunge exploded into the mainstream with Pearl Jam's Ten and Nirvana's iconic Nevermind. The effort bridges the gap between late-80s heavy metal and the up-and-coming grunge movement of the 90s. It is a dark and brooding album full of heavy guitar riffs, introspective lyrics and unique vocal harmonies from frontman Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell.
"Man in the Box" was the album's breakthrough single, featuring an iconic grinding guitar riff with a talk box that earned the band their first Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance. "We Die Young" and "Sea of Sorrow" are stand out tracks, while deeper cuts "Bleed The Freak," "It Ain't Like That." and "Sunshine" became fan favorites. The band toured with Van Halen, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax, Ozzy Osbourne and Pearl Jam during the Facelift era, helping AIC build a following among hard rock and metal fans through its powerful live shows.
2 'Alice in Chains' (1995)
Alice in Chains' self-titled third LP, is a dense and murky effort filled with experimental and sludge metal influences. Despite its uncompromising sound, the effort debuted at number one on the Billboard Album chart and went on to sell over two million copies in the US alone. It's the final effort featuring the late Layne Staley, who passed away in 2002 and is laced with heavy and dark lyrical themes dripping with euphemisms surrounding drug addiction, isolation, mortality, fame and the pressures that come along with success.
The album descends into incredibly dark territory with the doom metal-inspired "Sludge Factory," the eerie "Frogs," and the ominous "Head Creeps." The band layers their unique vocal harmonies to create an incredible amount of tension throughout the record. "Grind" and "Again" are two of the more straight-ahead rockers, with each earning a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance, while "Heaven Beside You," was the most successful track peeled off the album peaking at number three on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Alice in Chains is arguably the band's darkest album, comprised of unsettling songs that culminate with the haunting final track "Over Now," with its repeated refrain: "We pay our debt sometime."
1 'Dirt' (1992)
1992's Dirt defines the group's signature sound with heavy drop-tuned guitar riffs, droning vocal harmonies and drug-induced lyrical themes. It peaked at number six on the Billboard album char and has sold over five million copies in the US alone. The classic effort was given an early boost thanks to the song "Would?," which was also released via the Singles soundtrack months before the album arrived. Jerry Cantrell wrote the song following the death of his friend Andrew Wood of Mother Love Bone, who died from a heroin overdose in 1990. The video for the track won Best Video from a Film at the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards. The LP kicks off with "Them Bones," a hard-hitting and off-kilter riff in 7/8 time with powerful and guttural screams from late vocalist Layne Staley. The desperation, euphoria and destruction associated with drug addiction are spread all over the album, particularly on "Angry Chair," "Junkhead," "God Smack," and "Sickman." Staley's brutally candid lyrics depict an unfiltered view into the dark side of drug addiction capturing the paranoia, helplessness and self-destruction consuming his life.
Classic Rock Personality Quiz
Who's Your Perfect
Classic Rock Band?
A Personality Quiz · 10 Questions
Five legendary bands. One perfect match. Answer 10 questions about your personality, attitude, and taste to find out which classic rock icon you truly belong with. Are you raw power, rolling swagger, operatic drama, thunderous riffs, or timeless melody?
⚡AC/DC
👅Rolling Stones
🤘Metallica
👑Queen
🎸The Beatles
01
How do you walk into a room? Choose the answer that feels most like you.
02
What does your ideal Friday night look like?
03
What's your philosophy on keeping things simple vs. complex?
04
How would your friends describe your personal style?
05
How do you want to be remembered?
06
What kind of crowd do you want around you?
07
If you were writing a song, what would it be about?
08
What's your secret to staying relevant over time?
09
You're playing to 80,000 people. What does your performance look like?
10
Pick the word that best sums up your relationship with rock music. This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully.
Your Result Your Perfect Band Is Revealed
Based on your personality, energy, and taste, the classic rock band that matches your soul is…
⚡ AC/DC
You are pure, undiluted rock energy. You don't need tricks, trends, or theatrical gimmicks — you have something more powerful: a riff that hits like a thunderbolt and an attitude that never wavers. Like AC/DC, you understand that simplicity executed with absolute conviction is its own form of genius. You're the person in the room who doesn't overthink it, doesn't pretend, and never turns the volume down. The highway to hell is a state of mind — and you've been on it since day one.
👅 The Rolling Stones
You've got swagger that can't be taught. Rooted in the blues and soaked in street-level attitude, you move through life with a loose, dangerous elegance that draws people in without ever trying too hard. Like the Stones, you've seen it all, done most of it, and somehow look better for it. You're not chasing perfection — you're chasing truth, groove, and that electric moment when everything clicks. Can't always get what you want? You tend to get it anyway.
👑 Queen
You are magnificent, and you know it — not from arrogance, but from an unshakeable sense of self that has never needed anyone's permission. Like Queen, you defy every category people try to place you in. You blend the epic with the intimate, the operatic with the anthemic, the serious with the playful. You live boldly, love fiercely, and perform every aspect of your life as though the whole world is watching. Because sometimes it is. We are the champions — and so are you.
🎸 The Beatles
You have the rarest of gifts: the ability to make something that feels both deeply personal and universally human. Like The Beatles, you're a natural connector — someone whose warmth, curiosity, and creative instincts draw people together across every divide. You believe in melody, in craftsmanship, and in the quiet power of a song that says exactly what someone needed to hear. You've changed the people around you just by being who you are. All you need is love — and you give it generously.
Who's Your Perfect Classic Rock Band?
Classic Rock Personality QuizWho's Your PerfectClassic Rock Band?A Personality Quiz · 10 QuestionsFive legendary bands. One perfect match. Answer 10 questions about your personality, attitude, and taste to find out which classic rock icon you truly belong with. Are you raw power, rolling swagger, operatic drama, thunderous riffs, or timeless melody?
⚡AC/DC
👅Rolling Stones
🤘Metallica
👑Queen
🎸The Beatles
Begin Quiz →
01
How do you walk into a room?Choose the answer that feels most like you.
ALike a freight train — loud, fast, and everyone knows I've arrived.BWith a slow, cool swagger — I take my time and own every step.CHead down, focused — I'm here for a purpose and small talk isn't it.DWith total confidence and a flair for the dramatic — all eyes on me.EWarmly and curiously — genuinely excited to see what and who is here.
Next Question →
02
What does your ideal Friday night look like?
ALoud bar, cold beer, cranked jukebox — the louder the better.BA smoky club, good company, and doing whatever feels right in the moment.CIntense concert or staying in with headphones — nothing in between.DSomething theatrical — a show, a dinner party, an experience worth remembering.EHanging with close friends, maybe making music, keeping it relaxed and genuine.
Next Question →
03
What's your philosophy on keeping things simple vs. complex?
ASimple is king. A great riff repeated perfectly beats any amount of cleverness.BKeep it loose and bluesy — the groove matters more than technical perfection.CGo deep and dark — I want layers, tension, and something that hits hard.DWhy not both? Elaborate arrangements and hook-driven anthems can coexist.ECraft every detail — a perfect melody is the result of countless small choices.
Next Question →
04
How would your friends describe your personal style?
ANo-frills, no-nonsense — jeans, a t-shirt, and ready to go.BEffortlessly cool — slightly dishevelled in a way that somehow always works.CDark and deliberate — black is a lifestyle, not just a colour.DBold and expressive — fashion is a form of performance for me.EClean and classic — timeless over trendy, always put-together.
Next Question →
05
How do you want to be remembered?
AAs someone who never let the energy drop — relentless, loud, and alive.BAs someone who lived fully and on my own terms, unapologetically.CAs someone who was brutally honest and made music that meant something real.DAs someone who transcended genres, boundaries, and expectations entirely.EAs someone who changed the world — and left it genuinely better than I found it.
Next Question →
06
What kind of crowd do you want around you?
APeople who are there to have a blast — no pretension, just pure fun and noise.BA mix of rebels and free spirits who don't take themselves too seriously.CA loyal, passionate crew who are all in — intensity over numbers every time.DEveryone — I want to unite people who wouldn't normally be in the same room.EPeople who appreciate craft and feel genuinely connected by the music.
Next Question →
07
If you were writing a song, what would it be about?
AHaving a good time, turning it up, and not overthinking it.BStreet life, desire, and the rawness of being human.CAnger, grief, war, or the darker side of the world — music as a weapon.DSomething epic and emotional — love, loss, triumph, or pure fantasy.ESomething personal and universal at once — a feeling everyone can recognise.
Next Question →
08
What's your secret to staying relevant over time?
ANever change the formula — if it works, it works. Consistency is everything.BStay hungry, stay dangerous, and always keep a bit of that rebellious edge.CEarn respect through dedication — the work and the live show speak for themselves.DReinvent constantly — never let anyone put you in a box or predict your next move.EWrite songs so good they can't be ignored, in any decade, in any context.
Next Question →
09
You're playing to 80,000 people. What does your performance look like?
AA wall of sound and sweat — pure, unfiltered energy from first note to last.BLoose, cool, and dangerous — every song feels like it might fall apart but never does.CBrutal precision — tight, powerful, and leaving no one unmoved.DA full spectacle — lights, costumes, vocal acrobatics, and total theatrical command.EWarm, joyful, and tight — the crowd singing every word back at you.
Next Question →
10
Pick the word that best sums up your relationship with rock music.This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully.
ARaw — stripped back, high-voltage, no frills.BRolling — fluid, dangerous, built on blues and attitude.CHeavy — powerful, honest, uncompromising.DMajestic — theatrical, boundary-defying, unforgettable.ETimeless — melodic, human, built to last forever.
See My Result →
Your ResultYour Perfect Band Is Revealed Based on your personality, energy, and taste, the classic rock band that matches your soul is…
⚡ AC/DC You are pure, undiluted rock energy. You don't need tricks, trends, or theatrical gimmicks — you have something more powerful: a riff that hits like a thunderbolt and an attitude that never wavers. Like AC/DC, you understand that simplicity executed with absolute conviction is its own form of genius. You're the person in the room who doesn't overthink it, doesn't pretend, and never turns the volume down. The highway to hell is a state of mind — and you've been on it since day one.
👅 The Rolling Stones You've got swagger that can't be taught. Rooted in the blues and soaked in street-level attitude, you move through life with a loose, dangerous elegance that draws people in without ever trying too hard. Like the Stones, you've seen it all, done most of it, and somehow look better for it. You're not chasing perfection — you're chasing truth, groove, and that electric moment when everything clicks. Can't always get what you want? You tend to get it anyway.
👑 Queen You are magnificent, and you know it — not from arrogance, but from an unshakeable sense of self that has never needed anyone's permission. Like Queen, you defy every category people try to place you in. You blend the epic with the intimate, the operatic with the anthemic, the serious with the playful. You live boldly, love fiercely, and perform every aspect of your life as though the whole world is watching. Because sometimes it is. We are the champions — and so are you.
🎸 The Beatles You have the rarest of gifts: the ability to make something that feels both deeply personal and universally human. Like The Beatles, you're a natural connector — someone whose warmth, curiosity, and creative instincts draw people together across every divide. You believe in melody, in craftsmanship, and in the quiet power of a song that says exactly what someone needed to hear. You've changed the people around you just by being who you are. All you need is love — and you give it generously.
↩ Retake Quiz
Then there is "Rooster," a song Cantrell wrote about his Vietnam War-vet father's nickname. The six-minute track, which depicts the horrors of war, was one of the LP's biggest hits and peaked at number seven on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. "Down in a Hole" is the dark and vulnerable love song that made a splash, reaching number 10 on the rock chart. There are plenty of great deep cuts, including the wah-infused title track, "Dam That River," "Hate to Feel," and the untitled 43-second track now known as "Iron Glad," which features Slayer's Tom Araya on vocals. It's the last AIC record to feature Mike Starr on bass, who makes his presence known on "Rain When I Die" and "Angry Chair." Dirt remains the definitive Alice in Chains album and is one of the defining musical achievements of the 90s grunge era. It's dark and metallic sound proved highly influential on the wave of post-grunge bands that emerged later in the decade, including Creed, Nickelback, and Puddle of Mudd, who would go on to dominate rock radio in the 2000s.
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