Released: Jan 8, 2013
Genre: Grunge, Alternative Metal, Stoner Rock, Doom Metal
Label: Virgin/EMI
Number Of Tracks: 1
Alice in Chains preview their new album with a strong, powerful and very promising lead single.
Hollow [Single]Featured review by: UG Team, on january 18, 2013 2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Sound: This is the first music we've heard from the new Alice In Chains since their comeback album "Black Gives Way To Blue", and my, what a riff to hit back on. Negative and angsty, "Hollow" kicks off like some of the great grunge tracks of the early 90s but exudes the sort of swagger that only elder statesmen like Jerry Cantrell can command. Pulling off the big rock production with the damaged snarl of Cantrell and William Duvall is a big ask - and "Hollow" is pretty much spotless from a mixing perspective - but it's done here to much greater effect than anything from their 2009 effort, which was well-received but only a shadow of former greatness. This song promises an awful lot more.
The main four-note riff defines the structure of the song, starting on a downtuned C# and lifting up to an F# base for the chorus; a simple but effective key change which allows the chorus to soar while the palm-muted verse bottoms out on the same theme. Complete the package with vintage harmonies and a nicely taken guitar solo and you've got something that ought to excite fans a great deal. // 8
Lyrics and Singing: "Hollow" is a typical grunge tale of inner turmoil and personal struggle, though we hear the story in the second person, perhaps aimed at a loved one or former loved one whose apathy or loss of love has soured a relationship. "All of your colors turn to grey/Don't even matter anyway/Bleeding impression where you were tied/Can't really say how you lost your mind". The language isn't particularly colourful in itself but that suits the dreary, resigned tone of the song, and indeed Alice In Chains historically. // 8
Impression: It has all that you could ask for from a big-name rock and roll band on the wrong side of 40 - a bit of energy and new life with that bit of know-how. They'll never be quite the same as they were, no, but it might be time to forget about all that and embrace Alice In Chains 2.0, who are proving their worth all over again. A classy piece of work which leaves the new album, due this year, looking very promising indeed.
Sure! give me -1 cuz I don't like the video That's cute
Fuck! This is Alice in Chains! One of the greatest band ever! This vid looks like a movie trailer or video game intro! If the band looks good and plays great live shows...like AiC do...they can ****n put it in the video! Simplicity is the key! Not that high-tech quasi-sf something. That is my opinion! Hate me! I love You all
I think that is a bit different Tools videos are abstract whereas this doesnt have that effect it is just a story being told in a straight forward way.
what an ill informed thing to say.
You DO realize he is and always has been the principal song writer of Alice In Chains, right?
He was also its biggest progenitor of its sound.
Ill-informed? Dude, I met Alice In Chains in 1991. You were 8 years old. I shook Jerry, Layne and Mike's hands. I have their autograph on my ticket. I've been listening to them since Facelift, learned AND taught their songs. I know that G&L and Bogner are jerry's sound, and of course this is a huge part of it.
So don't assume, just because I think that this sounds like Degradation Trip, that I am somehow 'ill informed', or moaning that Layne is gone. It's been over ten years, and while Jerry has always been the principal songwriter, you should also know that they always used to leave Layne to his own devices when the time came for him to track. You know all those harmonies on Again? The huge harmonies on Get Born Again? Jerry didn't track them.
What I AM saying (if you'd bothered your arse to not jump to conclusions) is that there doesn't seem to be much input from William Duvall, who is an incredible vocalist. I expected to hear a little more from him than being a glorified backing singer. How about Jerry leaves all vocals to him? Then we'd have Alice In Chains again.
I was honestly a bit underwhelmed by it. But then again, that's what I felt when 'A Looking In View' was released but Black Gives Way to Blue is one of my top favorite AIC albums, so I hope this album is no exception.
This is more of a single for the fans, to feast on something while we all eagerly await for the full release, much like A Looking in View. It's not a fast paced lead single for radio airplay. It's more of a mid-album track, a 'teaser'.
"which was well-received but only a shadow of former greatness"
I'd actually have to disagree with that. I thought Black Gives Way to Blue was very great, and held it's own against their former albums. I think it surpasses Face-Lift even.
OK, I admit a looking in view is a mean song. But the album just doesn't cut it for me. Just sounds way to mainstream. The only track that really blew my mind was when the sun rose again. When it came out I didnt even ****in' listen to it online, I immediately bought it. But it never took off. I guess degretation trip set some really high standards.
GREAT track! I don't think that the AIC comeback is a fluke. "Black Gives Way to Blue" stands up to their classic material and this song sounds amazing. They're such a unique and interesting band it makes me happy to see them going so strong.
It took a couple of listens for me, initially all I heard was noise and no melody, maybe I was expecting something like a junkhead, but I actually quite like it now. Ones doom was my initial impression of it.
This, and BGWTB turned out pretty bland and dare I say boring, in my opinion. Neither left any lasting impression, unlike Facelift for instance. Now there's an album that I'll never get sick of! Staley's vocals were an integral part of the band and it's atmosphere, without it, this band ain't worth a listen.
I will agree that Facelift was nice, but BGWTB wasn't blnd. The classic aura was still there and DuVall did an overall good job, even though Cantrell's voice was heard more often. This isn't a boring single... The riff sounds fresh, and has somewhat of a return to the 'Dirt' era sound. I thought IMO this gave a lasting impression and a good teaser for the new album.
i think its wildly stupid to listen to a band and call an album classic for one member of that band. it just implies literally anyone couldve been doing what the other guys were doing and because someone like layne is dead, theyre horseshit. layne was great, but so is new aic they just know how to make good music still.
That was not my intention, but I understand that it can be read that way. What I mean is that a band consists of individual members influencing one another. Jerry's guitar work on Facelift is amazing in my opinion, and it's one of my favorite aspects of the album(Layne truly shines on Jar of Flies and Sap).
What I mean is that the band dynamic is totally shit without Layne and the mood, energy and emotions going into the mix.
Can't say much more than LOVE IT. Totally stoked for the new album. BGWTB was great, but I've got a feeling the new one will be even better. DuVall is channelling his inner Staley like a boss!
Anyone that slates new AIC but likes old AIC need to get their head checked, yeah admittedly it's not the same without Layne BUT they still have Jerry, who still writes all the riffs/most lyrics and sings most of the songs (along with DuVall), this riff could have been on Dirt, classic Alice 6/4 epicness.
![Hollow [Single]](/reviews/images/10_246_42136.jpg)
