Alice In Chains Sign With Virgin

06/08/09 1:17pm

by Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

Alice In Chains might have released all three of their studio albums through Columbia, but their fourth, as-yet-untitled album will hit stores through EMI's Virgin Records.

The disc will be Alice In Chains' first studio album since their 1995 self-titled release and is the band's first with new singer William DuVall. The album is set for a tentative September release, and Alice In Chains recorded it with producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Rush) at Northridge, Calif.'s Studio 606 and finished mixing it at Los Angeles' Henson Studios.

"It's been a meaningful journey and a hell of a story," guitarist Jerry Cantrell says. "We're very excited to have a home at Virgin/EMI and are looking forward to writing new chapters in the book of Alice."

Alice In Chains never officially broke up, but their original singer, Layne Staley, became reclusive in the late '90s and died of a speedball (a combination of heroin and cocaine) overdose in 2002. The King County Coroner's Office estimated he died on April 5 that year, which was the eighth anniversary of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain's death.

Alice In Chains reformed in 2005 and recruited DuVall shortly thereafter. Their lineup currently includes DuVall, Cantrell, bassist Mike Inez and drummer Sean Kinney.

You can see the new Alice In Chains lineup here:

July 18 Detroit, MI @ Comerica Park w/Kid Rock
Aug. 1 Dublin, Ireland @ Marlay Park w/Metallica
Aug. 2 Knebworth, England @ Knebworth Park (Sonisphere)