Staley loss lingers on Alice in Chains' latest disc

Alice in Chains fans will never get over Layne Staley. To them, the iconic Seattle band died along with its enigmatic lead singer, who suffered a fatal drug overdose in 2002.

In many ways it's true -- Staley was irreplaceable -- but the textured bluesy metal he created with guitarist Jerry Cantrell is intact on AIC's first effort since his death, "Black Gives Way To Blue."

Cantrell's guitar playing is still a thing of beauty, utilizing stark acoustic guitar against hard riffs and cutting solos, and new member William DuVall, who plays guitar and shares vocals with Cantrell, thankfully never succumbs to the temptation of trying to mimic Staley.

Cantrell and DuVall attempt to answer any criticism on disc opener "All Secrets Known" with the chorus, "There's no going back to the place we started from."

On the heavy side are "Check My Brain," the diverse "A Looking In View," and mid-tempo cuts "Lessons Learned" and "Private Hell." They also offer dark acoustic tracks in "Your Decision" and the eastern-flavored "When The Sun Rose Again."

The disc is strong throughout and reminiscent of the 1992 classic "Dirt" -- but something is indeed missing. Staley's tortured persona was a big part of Alice in Chains' identity and, sadly, such a loss is something even a great band can't recover from.

CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: "Black Gives Way To Blue" serves as a goodbye to Staley, featuring a heartbreaking vocal by Cantrell and a surprising guest appearance -- Sir Elton John on piano.