Alice in Chains have officially announced the Alice in Chains Deluxe Reissue, celebrating the 30th anniversary of their 1995 self-titled album, scheduled for early 2026. The expansive box set marks three decades since the release of the record often called the Tripod or Dog Album—a landmark in the band’s catalog and the final full-length to feature the late Layne Staley.
The new edition, unveiled via the band’s official channels and confirmed by Blabbermouth, will include a remastered double-LP pressed on high-grade vinyl, three seven-inch singles, a collectible coin topper, 24×24″ poster, zoetrope slip-mat, and a hardcover art book featuring rare photographs and liner commentary. Each package will also contain 10 art prints, tarot cards themed to the album’s artwork, and a cassette edition for collectors. Pre-orders are live now through the group’s official web store.
A Defining Album Born from Turmoil
Originally released on October 31, 1995, Alice in Chains arrived after nearly three years of silence from the Seattle quartet. Recorded at Bad Animals Studio in Seattle with producer Toby Wright, the sessions were designed around Staley’s fragile health. Wright later described keeping the studio open at all hours, ready to record whenever the singer was willing or able.
Officially licensed Alice In Chains T-shirt from their popular self titled album!
Despite these obstacles, and reports that Columbia Records had limited confidence in the project’s commercial prospects. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and would ultimately move over two million copies in the U.S. and more than three million worldwide. It remains one of the band’s most commercially successful works.
The Sound of a Band at the Edge
Musically, Alice in Chains marked a shift from the pummeling grit of Dirt toward a slower, denser sound. Jerry Cantrell’s guitar tone veered darker and more atmospheric, while Staley’s vocals carried a spectral, fractured beauty that mirrored the band’s reality.
Singles “Grind” and “Again” earned Grammy nominations for Best Hard Rock Performance. Additionally “Heaven Beside You” (sung primarily by Cantrell) reached No. 52 on the Billboard Hot 100, second only to 1994’s “No Excuses”. Tracks like “Sludge Factory” and “Frogs” stretched the group’s range, embracing long, doom-laden passages that would influence an entire wave of post-grunge heavy rock.
The album’s iconic cover (a three-legged dog against a radioactive-green background) became an emblem of endurance and mutation. For many fans, it symbolized the band’s will to adapt even as its foundation was crumbling.
Legacy and Final Chapter
The record would prove to be Layne Staley’s final studio album with Alice in Chains. Though he later appeared on the 1998 singles “Get Born Again” and “Died,” the band entered an extended hiatus soon after the album’s release, performing only a handful of shows before withdrawing from public life.
In retrospect, the 1995 LP stands as both a creative summit and a farewell. It captured a group fighting to stay whole under extraordinary pressure, and in doing so, produced one of the most haunting and influential records of the 1990s.
With this new deluxe edition, fans can revisit that pivotal moment in high fidelity and with a wealth of archival material that sheds new light on its making.
Pre-Orders and Availability
The Alice in Chains 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition is available now for pre-order via the band’s official online store. Shipping is expected to begin in early 2026. Quantities are limited, with collectible editions expected to sell quickly among vinyl and memorabilia enthusiasts.
Sources Cited
Blabbermouth – “Alice in Chains Announces 30th-Anniversary Deluxe Reissue of 1995 Self-Titled Album” – primary news of reissue. BLABBERMOUTH.NET
TheMusicUniverse – “Alice In Chains Unveils Self-Titled 30th Anniversary Deluxe Box Set” – details of contents and release timing.
Wikipedia – “Alice in Chains (album)” – general overview including release and certification. Wikipedia+1
WMMR – “Celebrating Alice in Chains Self-Titled Album On Its Anniversary” – sales and context. 93.3 WMMR
Affiliate Statement
As an Amazon Affiliate, The Rocktone may earn a small commission through the purchase of items through provided links (at no additional cost to you!). Thanks for supporting The Rocktone!
About The Author
Leave a Reply