ALICE IN CHAINS blogger Baldy has issued the following band update:

"Here we are in December, the holiday season is in full swing, and William (DuVall - lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and Jerry (Cantrell - lead guitar, vocals) are just a few days away from recording vocals. Guitars and bass are heading down the home stretch, and although the drums are done, Sean (Kinney- drums) is coming in almost every day to provide input and give full body massages to anyone he can get his hands on.

There's not a lot to report because it's pretty much like the movie Groundhog Day in here, just with a different soundtrack each day. Recording an album can be a long and laborious process. Play the song. Tune the guitar or bass. Play the song again. Tune again. Play a different part of the song with a different guitar. Tune again. Try something different on the bridge. Tune. Play a 12 string on the chorus. Tune. And so on and so on and so on…

Are you bored yet? Try doing it 'til two or three A.M. six days a week for three months and you'll be amazed that the upcoming album isn't just the sound of four guys smashing their heads against the wall in beautiful Dolby surround sound.

Although I'm still under a gag order concerning the material, I think I can get away with saying that this album will run the stylistic gamut as far as the songs are concerned.

A couple of uptempo crushers? Check.

A few droning mid-tempo head trips? Check.

A couple of radio friendly super catchy tunes? Check.

A pair of straight up white-knuckle mind-f*%# sonic roller coaster rides? Check.

Lyrically speaking, it's going to be more of what you've come to expect from Alice In Chains: rainbows, kitty cats, bubble gum, and skateboards. Words and songs that make you want to go to the mall and buy hair care products.

The further we get into this process, the more excited I get for it to see the light of day. The economy is a mess, record stores are closing down all over the country, and the music industry is a disaster, but I know a good song when I hear it, and this album is gonna be full of them.

Hopefully that, along with the support of all of you guys, will be enough to put this band back on top where it so rightfully belongs."