Alice In Chains Self-Titled 30th Anniversary Vinyl Review
Alice In Chains
Self-Titled 30th Anniversary Reissue
Columbia Records
1995/2026
Anyone familiar with my rantings knows the ’90s music scene never fully welcomed me, but that doesn’t mean I ignored everything coming out of it. Alice In Chains was an exception. There was always something different about them, and it lived squarely in Layne Staley’s lyrics and vocal delivery. Jerry Cantrell’s guitar work and presence only deepened that identity. I won’t pretend I didn’t love this band; I absolutely did.
“Facelift” was fucking brilliant. “Dirt” was solid, but it never fully grabbed me like it did everyone else. The album that truly branded itself into my soul was 1995’s Self-Titled release, the three-legged dog record. I was a high-school senior when it dropped, and my drug use was beginning to spiral out of control. That album hit me square in the chest. Maybe the chemicals helped, but the connection was real.
Most AIC fans agree this was their darkest record, and you can feel it in every second. It had a weight and atmosphere that didn’t sound like anything else at the time. Today, we’d probably slap the “Sludge Metal” tag on a lot of what’s happening here, and honestly, this album is a blueprint for how that style should be done. Not perfectly aligned with the genre as it exists now, but close enough that I hear its DNA everywhere. It’s probably why I gravitate toward Sludge in the first place.
That said, a lot of modern bands miss the point vocally. All the growling and snarling isn’t necessary. Staley didn’t force it; he let it pour. You can do that too. Put the bong down, clear your head just enough, and sing your truth, no matter the demons you’re wrestling with.
The darkness here clearly mirrors Staley’s addiction, and that honesty is exactly why this album resonates so deeply with me. It’s also heavy on acoustics, giving it an almost Unplugged feel even when the Sludge kicks in. This record is a masterclass in how tunings set the mood and tone. More than anything, it’s brutally honest. After a couple of listens, you feel like you know who Staley and Cantrell were. Sadly, this would be the last studio release that Staley would record with AIC.
Now to the reissue. This isn’t some half-assed bootleg for collectors, it’s a proper, respectful release. The album’s been remastered, and I’m happy to report they didn’t cheat us. The vinyl absolutely kills. Nothing is bricked. Everything breathes. The highs are crisp; the lows hit like a wrecking ball. Being a double LP helps, minimal compression, maximum depth. Analog warmth all the way through. The album is a gatefold with printed inner sleeves, but analog nerds like me already have anti-static sleeves waiting in the wings to protect this precious vinyl.
There isn’t a weak track here, but my standouts remain: “Shame In You,” “God Am,” “Again,” “Over Now,” and “Sludge Factory.”
There are multiple color variants depending on your preference. Me, I’m from the “whatever’s available and cheapest” school. That said, cheap isn’t really an option, this one’ll run you about 40 bones. The good news? It’s currently available at Wal-Mart, of all places, including an exclusive variant. I grabbed mine while grocery shopping – that’s called good living where I come from!
This won’t sit on shelves for long. Fans have been begging for this reissue for years. So, before you get hosed online, hit Wal-Mart, snag a copy, and grab your dog a toy while you’re there. Everyone gets a treat! Seriously, don’t miss out on this reissue – you’ll regret it!