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Keane's new single, The Lovers Are Losing | | Rock fans rejoiced in 2005 when Alice In Chains' Jerry Cantrell, Sean Kinny and Mike Inez reformed for a benefit show in aid of the Indonesian tsunami victims.
Four years later, they're back with their new album, Black Gives Way To Blue, and Check My Brain is the second single.
The first thing you notice about Check My Brain is the familiar heavy, grungy, minor chord riff, which continues throughout the whole track - varying only in the chorus.
Secondly, the ten year gap between studio releases seems to have had quite an affect on vocals. Far from the tones one might recall from Alice In Chains' 1991 hit Man In The Box, new recruit William DuVall's voice appears to be very Velvet Revolver - his vocals bearing an uncanny resemblance to those of the legendary Scott Weiland (must have been the time they spent touring with Duff McKagan). Far from being insulting to the late Layne Staley's efforts, DuVall's vocals take the band off in a bold new direction.
It's hard not to love a bit of AIC and this track is no exception, but Check My Brain is definitely not one of their most outstanding tracks.
Allana Cutter | |