Conceived during a Seattle party in 1987, Alice in Chains ascended to stardom by advancing the 1990s grunge scene alongside Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, despite lying sonically closer with heavy metal and hard rock. Dark, intense, and harrowingly introspective, Alice in Chains offers a bleak portrait of life’s most unspoken afflictions. And yet still, the band has always maintained a distinct melodiousness which propels them far beyond the confines of genre, reaching an audience as wide-ranging as their music’s themes are universally relevant. The result of this unique appeal is clear, having sold more than ten million albums worldwide and gathering six Grammy nominations. The band suffered the tragic death of singer Layne Staley in 2002, but their legacy remains as leaders of a rare breed of heavy metal bands worthy of critical acclaim while staying true to their down-tuned, nihilistic base. 2005 saw the newest stage of the band, introducing vocalist William DuVall and bringing Alice in Chains to a whole new generation of fans.