I Want Blood
studio
ArtistJerry Cantrell
CoverJerry Cantrell - I Want Blood.png
ReleasedOctober 18, 2024
StudioJHOC (Pasadena, California)
Genre
Length46:06
LabelDouble J Music
ProducerJoe Barresi
Prev year2021

I Want Blood is the fourth solo album by Alice in Chains guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell, released on October 18, 2024.[1] The album contains contributions from other rock artists, including Robert Trujillo, Duff McKagan, and Greg Puciato.[2]

Following the country and southern rock-tinged Brighten (2021), I Want Blood is viewed as a return to the dark, metal-influenced and riff-driven sound for which Cantrell and Alice in Chains are known.[3]

Loudwire ranked it as the 2nd best rock album of 2024.[4]

Writing and production

Cantrell described himself as at the "top of his capacity" when writing and recording I Want Blood. Influences on the record's sound included Jeff Beck, the Cure, Pink Floyd and Robin Trower, with the album's use of dual guitars drawing heavily from Aerosmith, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica, Scorpions and Thin Lizzy.[5][6] Among the guitars Cantrell used on the album was a Gibson Les Paul Junior given to him several years prior by Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day.[6] The record was produced by Joe Barresi, who had worked in the past with acts including The Jesus Lizard, Melvins and Tool.[7]

Content

I Want Blood was described by Kerrang! as a "more oppressive" album than its immediate predecessor Brighten (2021) and by Guitar Player as "exceedingly heavy, even for Cantrell". Whereas Brighten pursued a lighter, country and southern rock-tinted sound, Cantrell returned to the metal-influenced sound, characterised by heavy riffs, of his work with Alice in Chains;[3] Tuonela Magazine stated that the darker, heavy sound "almost make this effort sound like a sequel" to Cantrell's second studio album, Degradation Trip (2002).[8]

The song "Off The Rails" was described by Blabbermouth as recalling Alice in Chains's 1990s era with vocalist Layne Staley, featuring what Amit Sharma called a "cheeky nod" to "Wasted Years" (1986) by Iron Maiden.[9][6] The title track was described by Kerrang! as having "gallop that characterises Queens Of The Stone Age's more celebrated music", by KNAC to have a Foo Fighters-esque "holler-along chorus" and by LouderSound to have a "punk rock energy";[10][11][12] Cantrell himself described the song as having an "80s new wave vibe to it, especially in the chorus. Maybe even Cure-ish".[7] "Echoes of Laughter" recalled the country-influenced sound of Brighten; Emma Johnston described the track as a "tar-textured western rooting for the guy in the black hat".[13] The closing track, "It Comes", which Blabbermouth said to have "atmospheric passages" and "distant instrumentals", has been likened to Pink Floyd.[9]

Promotion and touring

On July 31, 2024, Cantrell released the music video for the upcoming album titled "Vilified".[14] On October 15, 2024, Cantrell announced a North American tour for 2025 along with rock band Filter.[15][16]

Release

I Want Blood was released via digital download and on physical CD on October 18, 2024.[17][18]

A deluxe edition of the album was released via digital download and on vinyl on January 31, 2025. The deluxe edition features spoken word versions of all nine songs from I Want Blood, accompanied by unique musical scores from various contributors.[19]

Track listing

All music and lyrics written by Jerry Cantrell, except where noted.

Personnel

Musicians

  • Jerry Cantrell – lead vocals, lead guitar, bass
  • Greg Puciato – background vocals on "Echoes of Laughter"
  • Duff McKagan – bass guitar on "Afterglow", "I Want Blood" and "Echoes of Laughter"
  • Gil Sharone – drums on "Vilified", "Off the Rails", "Afterglow", "Echoes of Laughter", "Throw Me a Line", "Held Your Tongue" and "It Comes"; intro, verse, and outro for "Let It Lie"
  • Mike Bordin – drums on "I Want Blood" and chorus parts for "Let It Lie"
  • Robert Trujillo – bass on "Vilified", "Off the Rails" and "It Comes"
  • Vincent Jones – keyboards on "Afterglow", "I Want Blood", "Echoes of Laughter" and "Held Your Tongue"
  • Lola Colette – background vocals

Technical

Visuals

  • Ryan Clark – art direction, design
  • Darren Craig – photography

Charts

Chart performance for I Want Blood
Chart (2024)Peak
position

References

  1. ^ Rapp, Allison (2024-07-26). "Jerry Cantrell Announces 'I Want Blood' Album, Drops New Song 'Vilified'". Loudwire. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  2. ^ Astley-Brown, Michael (2024-07-26). ""This record is a serious piece of work... I think it's some of my best songwriting and playing": Jerry Cantrell taps Guns N' Roses and Metallica bassists for new solo album I Want Blood". Guitar World. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  3. ^ Monger, James Christopher. "I Want Blood – Jerry Cantrell". AllMusic. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  4. ^ Childers, Chad (2024-12-12). "The 11 Best Rock Albums of 2024 Ranked". Loudwire. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  5. ^ Appleford, Steve (14 October 2024). "JERRY CANTRELL: "You can look at my history and you know where my f**kin' heart lies"". Revolver. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  6. ^ Sharma, Amit (19 November 2024). "“A lot of my peers have turned to modelers. I'm not there yet. It still feels like an electronic toy to me”: Jerry Cantrell on his love of guitar duos, vibing off Jeff Beck on his solo album – and why he remains a digital tone skeptic". Guitar World. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  7. ^ Beinstock, Richard & Weller, Phil (18 October 2024). ""I'm gonna live this for the next year, and then maybe I'll go torch some guitars." Jerry Cantrell on the future of Alice in Chains and his heavy new solo album". GuitarPlayer. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  8. ^ L, Jani (28 October 2024). "REVIEW: Jerry Cantrell – I Want Blood". Tuonela Magazine. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  9. ^ Erickson, Anne. "Jerry Cantrell – I Want Blood". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  10. ^ Beebee, Steve (October 14, 2024). "Album review: Jerry Cantrell – I Want Blood". Kerrang!. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  11. ^ Atkinson, Peter (25 October 2024). "Jerry Cantrell - I Want Blood". KNAC. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  12. ^ Brannigan, Paul (20 October 2024). ""There are always fears and doubts lurking, because you're opening yourself up in a completely raw way": Alice In Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell on his new album and its guests, songwriting, AI, algorithm bots and AIC's legacy". LouderSound. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  13. ^ Johnston, Emma (18 October 2024). ""Flawless and unflinching classic rock for a cruel modern world": Jerry Cantrell goes back to black for I Want Blood". LouderSound. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  14. ^ Blabbermouth (2024-07-31). "Jerry Cantrell Releases Music Video For 'Vilified'". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  15. ^ "Jerry Cantrell announces 2025 North American tour". Consequence. 2024-10-15. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  16. ^ Levy, Matt (2024-10-15). "Jerry Cantrell solo tour 2025: Where to buy tickets, schedule". Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  17. ^ Rapp, Allison (2024-07-26). "Jerry Cantrell Announces New Album, 'I Want Blood'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  18. ^ "Jerry Cantrell announces new album I Want Blood, unveils "Vilified" music video". Consequence. 2024-07-26. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  19. ^ Kennelty, Greg (2025-01-31). "JERRY CANTRELL Streams The Deluxe Version Of His New Album, I Want Blood". Metal Injection. Retrieved 2025-06-11.