I think you're forgetting something:

Chris Rezendes is not a trustworthy source for anything, except possibly herpetological knowledge. And even then it only covers sexual encounters with particularly adventuresome snakes.

I actually wasn't aware there was a new AiC out, but I guess it doesn't surprise me that they could still be good without Layne. Awesome as he was, it was my understanding that Cantrell wrote most of everything, and he sang a fairly large amount as well, so it seems like an Alice without Layne might be more like a change of pace rather than a major change. But that's assuming the quality of the songwriting stayed in place, which is a large assumption with a band that's over 20 years old. I'll check it out maybe.