Hollow (Alice in Chains song)

"Hollow"
Single by Alice in Chains
from the album The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here
Released December 18, 2012
Format Digital download
Genre Alternative metal, doom metal, sludge metal, stoner rock[1]
Length 5:43
Label Virgin/EMI
Writer(s) Jerry Cantrell
Producer(s) Nick Raskulinecz, Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains singles chronology
"Lesson Learned"
(2010)		 "Hollow"
(2012)		 "Stone"
(2013)
Alternative cover
Artwork used for the initial online release of the song's fan lyric YouTube video in December 2012.

"Hollow" is the first single by American rock band Alice in Chains from their fifth studio album, The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here, released in May 28, 2013. On December 18, 2012, the band debuted the song on YouTube with a fan-made lyric video.[2][3] The lyric video contains static images submitted by fans via Instagram. The song was made available for digital download on January 8, 2013.[2][3] It is played in a 6/4 time signature during the verses, and in a standard 4/4 signature during the choruses.

Style

The website Musically Diversified describes "Hollow" as "a mix of stoner or doom metal and grunge" that "starts off with some feedback that soon launches into a very chorus-soaked grunge riff that is accompanied by heavy drums and bass. This intro section concludes and the song goes into a very sludge or stoner metal-influenced verse where the instruments chug along at a very lethargic pace that is kept tight by the rhythm section of Mike Inez and Sean Kinney. But then the chorus comes in and picks up things with Jerry Cantrell and William DuVall's harmonized vocals. This sequence repeats itself one more time and then the listener gets a great guitar solo at 3:43. This solo continues until we hit another verse and chorus which marks the end of the song."[1]

Music video

An official music video was made for the song by director Robert Schober (aka Roboshobo),[4] premiered on the band's official website on January 10, 2013.[5] The video depicts the daily routine of an astronaut orbiting around earth whilst performing various floral experiments on the ship. He is shown often chatting to his significant other on Earth via video calling. As the video progresses, and his tenure in orbit turns from months into years, the astronaut slowly but steadily tires of his mundane routine, leading to emotional conflict with his significant other and suffering a mental breakdown. Near the end of the video, having completely lost his mind, and a visible tumor on his neck, the astronaut takes a flamethrower and destroys the experiments on board, which leads to the entire ship catching fire and crumbling with him inside.[6]

Chart positions

Weekly charts

Chart (2013) Peak
position
Canada Active Rock (America's Music Charts)[7] 9
Canada Alternative Rock (America's Music Charts)[8] 32
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[9] 37
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[10] 10
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[11] 23
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[12] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2013) Position
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[13] 35
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[14] 17

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Alice in Chains’ New Song, “Hollow” «Musically Diversified". Musically Diversified. December 28, 2012. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Alice in Chains Unleash New Single 'Hollow'". Loudwire. December 18, 2013. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Alice in Chains Working on 'Hollow' Music Video". PRP.com. Archived from the original on December 25, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Exclusive: Alice in Chains Announce New Album Title, Share Making-of Video for "Hollow"". Revolver Magazine. February 14, 2013. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Alice in Chains Premiere New Music Video, "Hollow"". Revolver Magazine. January 10, 2013. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  6. ↑ "An Early Contender for Best Science Fiction Music Video of the Year: Alice in Chains' "Hollow"". Io9.com. January 11, 2013. Archived from the original on April 25, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Canadian Active Rock & Alt Rock Chart Archive: Active Rock - February 26, 2013". America's Music Charts. February 27, 2013. Archived from the original on March 8, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Canadian Active Rock & Alt Rock Chart Archive: Alternative Rock - January 29, 2013". America's Music Charts. January 31, 2013. Archived from the original on December 18, 2013. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Alice in Chains Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Rock Songs for Alice in Chains. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Alice in Chains Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Rock Airplay for Alice in Chains. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Alice in Chains Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Alternative Songs for Alice in Chains. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Alice in Chains Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs for Alice in Chains. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Rock Airplay Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Mainstream Rock Songs: 2013 (Year-End)". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014. (subscription required (help)).