In a recent interview with Argentina’s Pogopedia, the renowned ALICE IN CHAINS guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell delved deep into the recurring theme of death and mortality in his music. His covers of Elton John‘s “Goodbye” on his 2021 solo album “Brighten” and “It Comes” on this year’s “I Want Blood” shed light on this profound aspect of life. As he stated (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET), “It’s just a part of life. It’s a very human thing. Life isn’t permanent, and so it is a subject I return to, but it’s because life ends for all of us. So, those are just the natural parts of existing, I guess. And so being able to enjoy your time here — do the most you can with it and see how long you can stick around. Along the way, people are gonna go, and you’re gonna go too. I don’t really spend a lot of time morbidly thinking about it, but it’s a hard-hitting subject and it’s real and I like to touch on things that are maybe — I don’t know — maybe hard to put in words, I guess.”

Album "I Want Blood" and Its Production

“I Want Blood” was released on October 18. This remarkable LP was co-produced by Cantrell and Joe Barresi, who has worked with renowned bands like TOOL, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, and MELVINS. It was recorded at Barresi‘s JHOC Studio in Pasadena, California. The album features contributions from some of the bass heavyweights in the music industry, such as Duff McKagan from GUNS N’ ROSES and Robert Trujillo from METALLICA. Drummers Gil Sharone from TEAM SLEEP and STOLEN BABIES, and Mike Bordin from FAITH NO MORE also added their skills to the album. Additionally, backing vocals were provided by Lola Colette and Greg Puciato from BETTER LOVERS and the ex-THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN.This album showcases an iconic sound with sludgy guitars and soulful vocals, as described by Metal Hammer. It has received widespread praise for its heavier sound, making it a must-listen for metal enthusiasts.

North American Tour in Support of "I Want Blood"

To celebrate the arrival of “I Want Blood”, the iconic ALICE IN CHAINS guitarist/vocalist announced a North American tour of the same name. The tour kicks off on January 31 in Niagara Falls and makes its way across the country, concluding in Cantrell‘s home state of Washington. This tour is a great opportunity for fans to experience Cantrell’s music live and immerse themselves in the world of his musical exploration.

Jerry Cantrell's Solo Career Beyond ALICE IN CHAINS

Jerry’s career outside of ALICE IN CHAINS has been quite diverse. He has released two other solo albums, “Boggy Depot” in 1998 and “Degradation Trip”. In addition to his solo artist work, he has also contributed to major film soundtracks. His music can be heard on soundtracks for several films, including “Spider-Man”, “The Cable Guy”, “John Wick 2”, “Last Action Hero” and “The Punisher”. These soundtrack contributions have added another dimension to his musical legacy.

ALICE IN CHAINS' Reunion and Recent Releases

ALICE IN CHAINS regrouped in 2006 with William DuVall joining the band. In August 2018, they released their third LP with DuVall in the lineup, “Rainier Fog”. This album marked another significant chapter in the band’s history and showcased their continued musical prowess.Cantrell’s previous solo album, “Brighten”, came out in October 2021. It was his first project without ALICE IN CHAINS in 19 years, demonstrating his ability to create captivating music on his own.