“What in God’s name have you done?”
Alice In Chains’ 1992 album Dirt is widely associated with heroin addiction and features many great songs ridden with anguish, turmoil and death. But there are actually only three songs on it that specifically reference drug use. And you’re not getting any points for guessing that God Smack is one of them. It’s got the woozy, sick Layne Staley vocals and an upbeat wah-drenched chorus but musically it’s one of the album’s least remarkable tracks. However, the title and its unflinching portrayal of someone for whom heroin has become everything, gives it a thematic and lyrical importance that makes it a key deep cut on the album even if it’s no great shakes when listened to in isolation.
HEAVY METAL OVERLOAD 
I will always resent a shitty band for using this as its name.
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Yeah, I guess this song became more famous for that than anything else? But I don’t mind too much cause I’ve never listened to them.
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Haha I haven’t heard any of their songs in soooooo many years.
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I don’t think I’ve heard a full song all the way through. Ever!
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I bought this album when It dropped back in 92. Down In A Hole has to been one of their best ones in my opinion. Caught them when they open for Halen in Nov/91. Crazy to think you had these guys playing there style of rock than Halen comes out doing there party rock. It actually was a great bill.
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Yes that’s one of my favourites too. Brilliant song.
I remember that pairing of them with VH. And they did the US Clash Of The Titans too which is weird as well. But I think those support slots really helped break them.
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The Clash of the Titans was just before VH took em out. Watch this clip Scott. Sammy tells it like it is..
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Interesting. I’ve got a Thrash doc where the Anthrax guys talk about them. But they criticise them and other grunge bands too. Saying that they all got breaks from big metal acts taking them out but none of them took out metal bands when they had made it.
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Interesting and a good point.
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What? no love for Godsmack the band?
Like you, HMO the song is okay but the darkness and the difficulties of coping with addiction makes this song like a chapter in a book.
On the point of the AIC darkness, I remember listening to the song Down In A Hole while I was driving home from my work with my work mate and after it finished, he goes to me, “i feel like crashing the car right now”. Powerful song.
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Eh… you’ll need to ask Mike about them. He brought them up!
Another vote for Down In A Hole! I really love their mellower stuff the most. That one, No Excuses, I Stay Away… brilliant.
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On the 1001 list – always liked those AIC vocal haromines!
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Haha, apparently i like the haromines almost as much as the harmonies!
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I prefer the haromines if I’m honest!
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Being the wishy-washy person that I am, one listen I like Alice in Chains and the next I don’t.
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I get that. I really have to be in the mood and that doesn’t happen all that often. There are some songs that I really love though.
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