Tracklist front / back album covers
1. "Grind" 4:44
2. "Brush Away" 3:22
3. "Sludge Factory" 7:12
4. "Heaven Beside You" 5:27
5. "Head Creeps" 6:28
6. "Again" 4:05
7. "Shame in You" 5:35
8. "God Am" 4:08
9. "So Close" 2:45
10. "Nothin' Song" 5:40
11. "Frogs" 8:18
12. "Over Now" ([†]) 7:03
Total length: 64:48
Japanese bonus tracks
13. "Again (Tattoo of Pain Mix)" 4:03
14. "Again (Jungle Mix)" (also known as "Club Mix") 4:08
Total length: 1:12:59
Alice in Chains Band Members / Musicians
Layne Staley – lead vocals, rhythm guitar on "Head Creeps", guitar parts on "Brush Away"
Jerry Cantrell – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Grind", "Heaven Beside You" and "Over Now"
Mike Inez – bass
Sean Kinney – drums
Produced by Toby Wright and Alice in Chains
Recorded by Toby Wright and Tom Nellen, assisted by Sam Hofstedt
Mixed by Toby Wright, assisted by John Seymour
Mastered by Stephen Marcussen
Studio coordinator – Kevan Wilkins
Audio technicians – Darrell Peters, Walter Gemienhardt
Artwork guide – Sean Kinney
Art direction – Mary Maurer
Design – Doug Erb
Photography – Rocky Schenck, Rob Bloch
Management – Susan Silver
Alice in Chains, often referred to informally as The Dog Album or Tripod, is the band’s third studio album, released on November 7, 1995, through Columbia Records. Following the huge success of their 1992 album Dirt, this self-titled release marked several important milestones for the band. It was the first full-length album to feature bassist Mike Inez and the final album with original lead vocalist Layne Staley before his death in 2002. It also represents the band’s last release on Columbia Records.
Upon its release, Alice in Chains debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and maintained a presence there for an impressive 46 weeks. Singles like "Grind," "Heaven Beside You," and "Again" helped propel the album’s popularity, with both "Grind" and "Again" earning Grammy nominations for Best Hard Rock Performance. The album achieved double platinum certification by the RIAA and has sold over three million copies worldwide, solidifying its status as a defining record of 1990s rock.
To promote the album, the band released a mockumentary titled The Nona Tapes, which became a cult favorite among fans for its quirky and humorous style.
Lyrically, Alice in Chains continued the band’s tradition of exploring heavy themes such as depression, isolation, substance abuse, strained relationships, anger, and mortality. Musically, the album took a slightly different approach compared to their earlier work. While still rooted in heavy riffs, it leaned more towards melodic elements and diverse textures, incorporating delicate acoustic passages reminiscent of their earlier EPs. Nonetheless, the music retained a dark, down-tuned, and atonal quality, often reflecting doom and sludge metal influences, creating a powerful and atmospheric listening experience.
