SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JERRY CANTRELL – I WANT BLOOD

JERRY CANTRELL
I WANT BLOOD
DOUBLE J MUSIC

After a near 20-year break between solo albums, Alice In Chains guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell has waited significantly less time to deliver his fifth album. The highly anticipated I Want Blood follows a string of singles released since the summer and, tonally, is a departure from the slightly softer, and at times acoustic tones of its predecessor. Furthermore, the album features performances from the likes of Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses), Robert Trujillo (Metallica), and Greg Puciato (The Dillinger Escape Plan).

Opening with the Gil Sharone’s incredibly intricate, groovy, and punishing assault of a beat, “Vilified” washes the listener adrift in an all-consuming tidal wave of beautifully distorted chords, curated with Cantrell’s signature wah tone. “Vilified” served as a perfect lead single, just as it kicks of I Want Blood with the stakes seemingly raised; there is no doubt about it, this is a grungy and grimy rock record, firmly separating itself from the experimental, post-grunge vibes of Brighten. While taking a moment to introduce a new song, the sludgy “Off The Rails”, Cantrell is quick to reintroduce the following singles, the swamp stomping “Afterglow” and the relentlessly driving title track. I Want Blood firmly establishes itself as a strong, hard-hitting endeavour from one of the greatest riff makers to do it.

Beyond the singles, I Want Blood is a thoroughly enjoyable album full of moments of greatness. An example of this is “Echoes Of Laughter”, the only song to feature a co-writer in the form of Tyler Bates, is an exceptionally melancholic ballad that revels in darkness. Featuring Puciato and Lola Colette on backing vocals and Vincent Jones on keys, “Echoes Of Laughter” can stand among Cantrell’s greatest ballads and showcases an incredibly emotive guitar solo and a series of melodic lead lines. The riff heavy “Throw Me A Line” feels as though it was unearthed from the sludgiest of gutters, while “Held Your Tongue” is nostalgic for classic Alice In Chains. There is a depth to Cantrell’s performance and songwriting that his audience should come to expect; however, I Want Blood feels especially nuanced.

I Want Blood is a nine-track album that demands your attention with every turn Cantrell takes. Without a moment of weakness, his latest solo record proves to be essential for his body of work, further developing him as an elder statesman of hard rock with a sophisticated approach to dark balladry. I Want Blood stands as both a strong entry into Cantrell’s impressive body of work and among the most exciting rock releases of the year.

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