Alice In Chains, those Seattle guys from the late ‘80s, mix grunge with heavy metal to make a sound that grabs your soul. Their set on July 5, 2014, at Sonisphere in Knebworth, England, was all about nailing that balance between heavy and melancholic. William DuVall sang with such raw passion, his voice gritty and fierce one moment, soft and aching the next, setting the whole vibe. Jerry Cantrell’s guitars and Mike Inez’s bass built a thick, almost tangible sound, with Sean Kinney’s drums adding groove. On that open stage, the sound carried like an echo in a canyon, and the lights, shifting from dark blue to red, played up the mood swings. The crowd, like they were under a spell, screamed one second and stood still the next, totally pulled into the musical vibe.
Setlist: