“Man in the Box” in my mind is the prototype of Alice in Chains. The earliest example of their very distinct sound/style. How do they conjure up their signature heaviness? From the songwriting point of view, here are some elements we can observe:
- Impressively succinct main riff that utilizes 3-2-3 subdivision to create a big, heavy gesture instead of typical metal busy-ness.
- Dorian harmony and melody creates a sound that’s less smooth and wimpy than regular minor harmony — the raised 6th creates a sense of lift and uncertainty.
- Classic call and response structure in chorus breaks the monotony of single-line melody and grabs the listeners’ attention.
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