William DuVall Fills Layne Staley's Shoes on New Alice in Chains Album

William DuVall of the band Alice in Chains performs on stage during the Soundwave Festival at the RNA Showgrounds on February 21, 2009 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)more pics »It's been 14 years since Alice in Chains released a full-length ablum, and with Layne Staley's overdose death in 2002, it appeared that the band's comeback was not meant to be. But with the help of new singer William DuVall, the band is back with its new album, Black Gives Way to Blue.

William DuVall performs with Alice in Chains. (Getty Images)
The album features the new vocalist and rhythm guitarist channelling Staley's gritty voice with original lead guitarist Jerry Cantrell occasionally taking over vocal duties. DuVall's involvement with the band first began in 2005 when he performed with Alice in Chains for a benefit show for the victims of the massive Southeast Asian Tsunami.

"It wasn't something that was destined to succeed or something that was supposed to happen, it was just an unexpected thing," Cantrell said in a recent interview. "Some of the best things in life are like that."

Reviews on the album, which features a cameo from Elton John on the title track, are mixed. Rolling Stone writes, "The hard-charging 'Check My Brain' is as hooky as the old hits... What Black lacks are great tunes and a sense of can't-look-away drama."


More Alice in Chains videos

• Would?
• What The Hell Have I
• We Die Young
• Them Bones
• Sea Of Sorrow
• Rooster
• Over Now
• No Excuses
• Man In The Box
• I Stay Away
• Heaven Beside You

Alice in Chains plays the Soundwave Festival - Brisbane

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