Jerry Cantrell’s I Want Blood takes a dark turn from his previous album, Brighten, offering an album that feels as shadowy and intense as its title suggests. While Cantrell’s solo work always carries the legacy of Alice in Chains within, this record dives deep into the emotional and musical roots.

He’s assembled a powerhouse backing crew – Duff McKagan and Robert Trujillo on bass, Mike Bordin from Faith No More and Gil Sharone from Team Sleeps on drums, with Lola Colette adding her vocal talent and Greg Puciato (former Dillinger Escape Plan vocalist) lending his signature intensity. This combination guarantees masterful musicianship, acting as Cantrell’s perfect conduit for unleashing his dazzling guitar playing across the album’s journey.

“I Want Blood” unfolds slowly but powerfully. “Villified” cracks the album open like a sonic grenade, its raw grunge energy fueled by claustrophobic riffs and electric solos that leave you breathless. Cantrell retains an unwavering vocal strength after 3+ decades of performance; his voice is as powerful and impactful now as it ever was, conveying a potent sense of foreboding authority. “Let It Lie”, meanwhile, delivers a punchy dose of doom metal inspired by early 60s heavy metal, leaving one wanting more.

The album offers moments of unexpected joy amidst the darkness. The title track is a gnarly slab of classic rock: it has sharp edges and driving force, shimmering with malevolence and desert-inspired coolness. “Echoes Of Laughter” takes us on a journey through country soundscapes as Cantrell delivers an ode to the lone wanderer. Cantrell’s sonic alchemy comes at the listener with a ‘no-holds barred’ attitude, and doesn’t let up.