Rainier Fog is the sixth studio album by Alice in Chains, released on August 24, 2018, through BMG, the band’s first release on the label. The title was inspired by Mount Rainier, a volcano that overlooks the Seattle Tacoma metropolitan area, and the title track is a tribute to the Seattle music scene. This is the band’s third album with William DuVall sharing lead vocals with Jerry Cantrell, and the first Alice in Chains album in 22 years to be recorded in their hometown of Seattle. The album was partially recorded at Seattle’s Studio X, the same studio where the band recorded their 1995 self-titled album. Rainier Fog is also Alice in Chains‘ third collaboration with producer Nick Raskulinecz, marking their first time recording three full length albums with the same producer.
The tracks The One You Know, So Far Under, Never Fade and Rainier Fog were released as singles to promote the album. A 10-part sci-fi web series titled Black Antenna was released in 2019 as a companion piece to the album. A full length feature film with the same title was also announced, but as of 2020 no release date has been set.
Rainier Fog debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 chart. It also debuted at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Rock Albums, Alternative Albums and Hard Rock Albums charts. The album became Alice in Chains‘ first top 10 in the UK, peaking at No. 9. Rainier Fog was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album in 2019. It won a 2018 Metal Storm Award for Best Alternative Metal Album.
Jerry Cantrell took the title Rainier Fog from the Mount Rainier, a volcano that overlooks the Seattle metropolitan area. The cover art was revealed on June 27, 2018, and it features a black and white image of a triangle floating on the sea surrounded by fog. The triangle has an eye in the middle, similar to the Eye of Providence (or the all-seeing eye of God). The digipak packaging has a die cut eye. A person of unknown gender with short blond hair can be seen from behind inside of the eye. When the booklet is opened, it is revealed that the person inside of the eye is actually standing on a river and looking at the Mount Rainier, and the drawing of an eye has tears falling down straight into the river. The artwork was designed by Ryan Clark, who also designed the artwork for Alice in Chains‘ previous album, The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here (2013). Photos of the band taken by Scott Dachroeden complete the booklet.
Tracklist:
- The One You Know
- Rainier Fog
- Red Giant
- Fly
- Drone
- Deaf Ears Blind Eyes
- Maybe
- So Far Under
- Never Fade
- All I Am
Alice in Chains
Jerry Cantrell: lead guitar, lead vocals
William DuVall: lead vocals, rhythm guitar, guitar solo on “So Far Under”
Mike Inez: bass
Sean Kinney: drums
Additional performer
Chris DeGarmo: acoustic guitar on “Drone”
Production
Produced by Nick Raskulinecz and Alice in Chains
Recorded by Paul “Fig” Figueroa at Studio X, Seattle, Washington, & Henson Studios, Los Angeles, California, & Casa de Cantrell, and Nathan Yarborough at Dark Horse Studios/Rock Falcon Studio, Franklin, Tennessee
Additional recording by Steve Olmon
Additional pre-recording at Synergy Studio, Seattle, Washington
Mixed and additional recordings by Joe Barresi at JHOC, Pasadena, California
Mastered by Dave Collins
Art director/designer by Ryan Clark for Invisible Creature, Inc.
Band photography by Scott Dachroeden
Management by Velvet Hammer Music and Management Group and Susan Silver Management
