Alice In Chains is working on one and planning to release it this year.

Really? That's awesome!

Yep. They don't have a definite release date, but they're aiming to have it out sometime before the end of the year (November, may be?). The name of the new singer escapes me right now, and I'm too lazy to do the research.

I really hope Cantrell releases another solo album in the near future, since I really liked Boggy Depot (Degredation Trip I haven't heard yet). And I think he's a vastly underrated vocalist. Hopefully he'll sing at least a few songs on the upcoming AIC album.

Degradation Trip (both CD's) is unremarkable. Granted there about 5 really great songs on there that are classics, but 5 for 25 is not a great album. I can't see this new AIC albums being anything more than another JC solo album, but like his first album, will feature AIC rhythm section.

Yes, you read that right, Boggy Depot had sean kinney and mike Inez playing their respective instruments, so it was essentially alice in chains without layne, which is exactly what this new album will be like. Personally a Jerry solo album gets released without the hype and pressure from Sony and label alterations, so I think that would be better.

AIC should have gotten John Bush any damn way. This new guy is appaulingly bad.

Not to forget, Metallica too is expected to release an album this year.

Nah, that'll happen just after Duke Nukem Forever comes out.

Everyone that has heard it thinks it is going to be their greatest album ever. We've heard all this bullshit before, but the info is coming from impartial third parties. Not their producer, manager, the band, their fans. Fellow musicians that have heard it think it is their best work ever. Time will tell, but I expect a real return to form. I think the band has probably done their european metal homework like they did back in the early 80's and will be releasing a compilation of riffs from various obscure metal bands just like their first three albums were.