Ranier Fog
| Alice in Chains
Ranier Fog
Rainier Fog (pronounced: /re n r/) is the sixth studio album by the American rockband Alice in Chains, released on August 24, 2018, through BMG, the band's first release on the label. The title was inspired by Mount Rainier, a volcano that overlooks the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area, and the title track is a tribute to the Seattle music scene. -Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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Spill Magazine
2018 - an album that perfectly encapsulates the sound of Alice In Chains – juxtaposing unrelenting riffs with highly emotive and dark ballads – while remaining progressive and modern
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Pitchfork
2018 - Still, for all its volume and bursts of power, Rainier Fog feels like an unnecessary regression.
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Loud Wire
2018 - might be Alice In Chains Mk. II's finest album yet
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NME
2018 - the Seattle grungers find beauty in heaviosity to create a life-affirming statement
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Consequence of Sound
2018 - it’s a nice addition to Alice in Chains’ impressive discography
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Rolling Stone
2018 - The veteran grunge band feels stuck between gears on their third album since the death of Layne Staley
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Louder Sound
2018 - From top to bottom, each track showcases masterful songwriting and inspired lyricism. Rainier Fog sees the band breathing new life into their signature sound, with a diverse and deeply emotional collection that history will surely view as a career-defining statement.
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Alternative Nation
2018 - it’s wonderful to see Alice in Chains deliver the goods once again
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Metal Strom
2018 - it sounds good and all, it makes a little effort to be different from its predecessor while also giving nods to the band's past
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Metal Wani
2018 - this is a record with a lot of life in it. Feeling like it could have easily been the direct follow up to the bands ‘Black Gives Way To Blue’, ‘Rainier Fog’ is a real, raw and rueful work that only Alice In Chains could produce
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Pop Matters
2018 - the band never climbs from the very bottom to the very top of that mountain and gives us all of their range. They stick relatively close to base camp, a well-stocked, but comfortable mid-point that largely eschews dynamics
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blabbermouth.net
2018 - Those minor quibbles aside, "Rainier Fog" is otherwise business as usual for ALICE IN CHAINS, and most fans that are longtime listeners will enjoy the record. ... Cantrell's guitar work and the duo vocal melodies of Cantrell and DuVall remain comforting to the ear.
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Indy Metal Vault
2018 - The songs are still well written and keep that unique Alice sound, even if they don’t make you want to crawl in a hole and die like Dirt and Tripod.
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Sound Lab
2018 - another solid release from the post-millennium edition of this band; as good a point as any to catch up with one of the grunge movement’s last men standing.
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The Jakarta Post
2018 - Stacked with catchy rock songs that retain that old school Alice in Chains spirit while adding new energy, Rainier Fog is the best out of the three DuVall-era records the band has released.
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Rock 'n' Load
2018 - simply fantastic and perfectly created, maintaining the Alice In Chains legacy whilst pushing the boundaries and sounding fresh.
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Punk Rock Theory
2018 - another solid addition to the band's discography.
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Pure Rawk
2018 - a solid record, with a lot variety, that takes the listener through areal journey.
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I'm Music Magazine
2018 - The songs are everything that you would expect from the band. Those unmistakable dark harmonies, heavy distorted riffs, and most importantly, heart.
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The Chimes
2018 - Continuing to deliver their off-center harmonies with layered guitar and walls of distortion has helped these grunge icons make their loud and triumphant return to the city that conceived them.
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Immortal Reviews
2018 - There's a progression to this record, one that really speaks loud. ... Rainier Fog is an album about moving forward, not being caught in the past.
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The Sentry
2018 - the 10 tracks characteristically venture into the emotional turmoil of it, although surprisingly taking a more optimistic turn by letting the past go.
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Planet Mosh
2018 - Shooting straight for the target, they haven’t missed with Rainier Fog.
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Northwest Music Scene
2018 - But there’s always been an air of melancholy in the band’s music, and Rainier Fog is no exception; it’s the perfect musical backdrop as fall slides into the chill of winter.
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Music Existence
2018 - There are a couple strong tracks on here and this album is a great example of needing repeated listens to really get into. Alice In Chains fans will be satisfied and there isn’t a terrible song on this album.
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The Musical Hype
2018 - If you are looking to relive the greatness of 90s rock and metal, Rainier Fog keeps the spirit alive and well.
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Sonic Abuse
2018 - Rainier Fog sees Alice in Chains on a creative high, with each track bringing something new to the table. Essential on every level.
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The Rockpit
2018 - it’s a great blend of their trademark sound together with some newer elements that carefully treads lightly on the roots of the band’s core sound. THUMBS UP
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Amnplify
2018 - In closing, on Rainier Fog Alice In Chains have successfully reconciled the ghosts of the past with the band of the future and given birth to a collections of songs that stand as some of the strongest, most focused and immediate compositions of their career.
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Pink News
2018 - This collection is not entirely self-doubting introspection. AIC turn some vague heat toward the current national political climate
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Ghost Cult Magazine
2018 - you wouldn’t have laid a huge bet that at the end of this decade that they were still in existence, let alone making exciting, passionate rock music. But here we are
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All Music
Rainier Fog is, from front to back, a strong and lean record, one that benefits from its familiarity because the standard tricks -- the grinding guitars and droning harmonies -- now seem to carry not a whit of angst.
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Dead Press!
2018 - With their iconic riffs, layered vocal harmonies, and evocative lyrics still on fine form as they enter into their fourth decade as a band, it seems as if the once-trailblazing innovators have matured into a fine vintage, with much more great creative output on offer.
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The Sound Board
2018 - it’s worth a try to glean a few moments of quality, but otherwise, you won’t be missing too much if you just skim over it
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Cryptic Rock
2018 - a collection of tracks that author a fully enjoyable and refreshing experience, a sonic journey that will feel like a spiritual rebirth for die-hard fans
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Psychedelic Baby Magazine
2018 - The interludes of intimate instrumentation are a sweet and dynamic touch, and the drifting reverb is concise in its function. ... You can guess my answer. It’s a quality release, but will no doubt be easily forgotten.
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Exclaim!
2018 - their use of doom and sludge elements has come to be the best aspect of their sound
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Sound Vapors
2018 - They did not disappoint.
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No More Work Horse
2018 - while there are few missteps, there are no major highs either
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Alt Wire
2018 - The musicianship on this album is something to behold though. Jerry Cantrell’s work stands out as some of his best song-writing and guitar work in over two decades, with a meticulous approach to each component evident.
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Alex Rox
2018 - It’s so much more than just heavy grooves and catchy vocal harmonies. Each element seems meticulously placed for maximum emotional effect.
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Devils Gate Media
2018 - Alice In Chains might be the last band standing from the glory days of “grunge”, but on “Rainier Fog” they are as relevant as ever.
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Insert Review Here
2018 - This is a masterfully crafted and delivered record which packs a serious punch and also brings one back in time. Nostalgia meets a new energy and the result is truly impressive.
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No Rip Cord
2018 - Rainier Fog has enough highs mind to comfortably recommend as a must-listen – a lot of this material is what Chains do best.
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Overdrive
2018 - The finest album this band has ever written.
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The Dallas Prospect
2018 - It’s a killer album. It’s got everything you could ever want in a post-grunge record: crunchy riffs, lyrical content that demonstrates the rougher side of life, and attitude. It’s not perfect, but killer nonetheless!
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X-press Magazine
2018 - The diversity of sound and tracks stand up and make themselves noticed individually, rather than progressively flowing into one another. The lyrics hint at a meaning you want to spend more time uncovering.
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Maximum Volume Music
2018 - Their first album for five years, “Rainier Fog” does a fine job of updating their legacy, and ensures that no one else does Alice In Chains better than themselves
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Gav The Gothic Chav
2018 - there’s only so far that can go when the song’s themselves are so utterly depressing
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Scene Point Blank
2018 - it would seem the stability of the lineup and the high quality of music being released this late into the band’s career has reinvigorated them for the long haul and we’re the ones lucky enough to be taken along for the ride
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Ultimate Guitar
2018 - In the big picture, this is sure to be one of the biggest records of the year for all music under the umbrella of "Rock music."
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Get Rocked
There are a couple strong tracks on here and this album is a great example of needing repeated listens to really get into.
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Decade Magazine
2018 - Alice In Chains have aged like wine; they have kept their much-loved sound but are still progressing forward into new territories. ... Rainier Fog is a solid album which is consistent throughout and cements its place in Alice’s legacy
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mxdwn.com
2018 - Alice in Chains always sounds fresh and exciting on each album they release, and Rainier Fog is no exception. It’s a perfect tribute to the city of Seattle and a great addition to the group’s impressive catalog.
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Doubtful Sounds
2018 - Alice In Chains are still bound to their past but they’ve found a way to maintain relevance, grace and swagger with each new album they release and remain a benchmark in the world of hard rock.
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The Daily Nebraskan
2018 - In “Rainier Fog,” the band brings 10 new songs with virtuoso guitar solos and strong vocals that follow the steps of the two aforementioned albums.
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Medium
2018 - Overall, this is a good mood record. If I’m looking for something a little dark and moody, I’d definitely throw this record on.
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Liverpool Sound and Vision
Rainier Fog is the exploration of the next level, the pinnacle not yet seen through the mist, but one that is tackled unrestrained and untethered.
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Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life
2018 - Solid, great at times…good at others. Just don’t go in expecting a reinvention and you’ll enjoy it.
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Alt77 Alternative Music Blog
2018 - A strong collection of songs, Rainier Fog shines through especially when compared to Alice In Chains’ 2018 contemporaries. It’s the testament of a strong rock band, averting the curse of generic songs and too well-trodden paths.
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Reflections of Darkness
2018 - ALICE IN CHAIN’s latest offering is far from a happy place, haunted by quite a few ghosts, sometimes sentimental, often angry. Torn between dealing with their past and the need to evolve, ‘Rainier Fog’ is a highly enjoyable amalgam as the band moves forward.
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Metal Temple
2018 - “Rainier Fog” is in the top three of the best albums they have written.
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Chimera Magazine
2018 - This is an insanely strong offering from one of the grunge era’s most incredible acts.
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Deviant Art
2018 - Overall, all I have to say about this record is this is perfect for a beautiful rainy day.
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Spectrum Culture
2018 - There are no clear hit singles on this album but it’s got a strength and quality throughout that is at least what we’ve come to expect.
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Monkey Goose Magazine
2018 - Overall, Rainier Fog successfully manages to both look back to the band’s roots, while also growing and gazing into their future.
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Metal Obsession
2018 - a fantastic collection of tracks, showcasing all of the elements that have made Alice In Chains what they are; Haunting harmonised vocals, Groovy riffs, sombre ballads, uplifting melodies and hooks, and Jerry Cantrell’s unique lead style.
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Loud Magazine
2018 - For such a fine band with such a strong catalogue and undeniable reputation as craftsmen, Rainier Fog really misses the mark.
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musicnews.com
2018 - A revolution in sound, energy and atmosphere, and tremendously can't help make the listener think of the amount of loss the Seattle scene has seen, and overcome.
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Website of Everything
2018 - it’s a nice addition to Alice in Chains’ impressive discography
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The Young Folks
2018 - There’s a perpetual numbness to the album that could easily be interpreted as boredom on the part of the band.
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