"The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here" is the fifth studio album by the American rock band Alice in Chains, released on May 28, 2013. This album marks the band's second release with vocalist and guitarist William DuVall, who initially joined the band in 2006 to replace the departed Layne Staley.
Produced by Nick Raskulinecz, the album is noted for dealing with various themes such as cynicism, antisocial behavior, and alienation. It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and received positive reviews from music critics, appreciated for its heavy guitar-driven sound, melancholic atmosphere, and harmonized vocals.
A significant element of the album is the exploration of religious and scientific themes, hinted at in the title itself. The band seeks to question the nature of belief systems and the impact they have on human behavior. This album also reflects a slightly more progressive and experimental side to Alice in Chains’ music, with longer songs, intricate arrangements, and complex time signatures appearing more frequently than in their previous works.
Singles from the album, "Hollow", "Stone", and "Voices", achieved considerable success on rock radio. Despite the six-year gap between this and their previous album, Black Gives Way to Blue (2009), the band members have noted that the creative process for "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here" felt more natural and less pressure-filled than before.
The creation of the album was affected by several hardships, including guitarist Jerry Cantrell's shoulder surgeries, which led to the postponement of the writing and recording process. Nevertheless, the challenges encountered during its production did not compromise the quality or integrity of the album. "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here" stands as a testament to Alice in Chains' resilience and evolution as a band.
