Jerry Cantrell is back. Honestly, if you were expecting the breezy, country-tinged vibes of his previous solo effort, Brighten, you’re in for a massive shock. His latest record, I Want Blood, isn't just a follow-up; it’s a total shift in gravity. It's heavy. It’s dark. It feels like the spiritual successor to the sludge-thick riffs that made Alice in Chains a household name in the nineties.
Released on October 18, 2024, through Double J Music, this album arrived at a time when rock fans were starving for something with actual teeth. Cantrell himself didn't mince words during the press run. He called the record a "motherf**ker." He wasn't lying. While Brighten felt like a walk through a sun-drenched canyon, Jerry Cantrell new album feels like being trapped in a storm at the bottom of that same canyon.
The Brutal Sound of I Want Blood
The first thing you’ll notice about the Jerry Cantrell new album is the production. Co-produced by Cantrell and the legendary Joe Barresi—the guy who helped shape the massive sounds of Tool and Queens of the Stone Age—the record has a punch that hits you square in the chest. It was tracked at Barresi's JHOC Studio in Pasadena. You can hear that "Barresi sheen" throughout, but it never masks Jerry’s signature, haunting vocal harmonies.
The lead single, "Vilified," sets the tone immediately. It’s aggressive. It’s fast. Within four and a half minutes, Cantrell uses a talk box, a wah pedal, and a 6/8 groove that feels dangerously close to the Dirt era.
Who Else Is on the Record?
Jerry didn't do this alone. He assembled what is basically a rock-and-roll Avengers squad. We're talking about a lineup that would make any festival promoter weep:
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- Bassists: Robert Trujillo (Metallica) and Duff McKagan (Guns N' Roses).
- Drummers: Mike Bordin (Faith No More) and Gil Sharone (Team Sleep).
- Backing Vocals: Greg Puciato (ex-Dillinger Escape Plan) and Lola Colette.
It’s interesting to see Trujillo and Bordin back in the mix. They were the engine room for Jerry’s 2002 solo masterpiece, Degradation Trip. Having them back for tracks like "Off the Rails" and the title track gives the music a familiar, bruising weight.
Breaking Down the Tracklist
The album is tight. Nine songs. 46 minutes. No filler.
"Afterglow" is a personal favorite for many because it captures that "languid melody" Jerry is famous for. It’s hypnotic. Then you have "Let It Lie," which starts with a detuned guitar that sounds like a funeral march before exploding into a chorus that’s pure electricity.
- Vilified – The high-octane opener.
- Off the Rails – Spidery guitar licks and weird time changes.
- Afterglow – Classic Cantrell harmonies.
- I Want Blood – Punk-rock energy with a QOTSA-style gallop.
- Echoes of Laughter – A slow-burn "incense" track.
- Throw Me a Line – Heavy, crafting, and emotive.
- Let It Lie – Doom-laden and Sabbath-influenced.
- Held Your Tongue – Starts acapella, ends in a cacophony.
- It Comes – A somber, 6-minute closing chapter.
The deluxe edition, which dropped in early 2025, added a bizarre but cool layer: spoken word versions of every track. If you want to hear Greg Puciato or Jerry himself reciting lyrics over atmospheric scores, that’s where you go.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Jerry’s Solo Work
People often think Jerry only does solo records when Alice in Chains is "over." That’s not it. Alice in Chains is very much a living entity, but Jerry needs this outlet to scratch an itch the band doesn't always reach.
As we sit here in 2026, the Jerry Cantrell new album cycle is finally winding down. He spent most of late 2024 and 2025 on the road, including a massive run supporting Bush. He’s been operating at what he calls the "top of his capacity." You can hear it in the vocals. He’s 59 now, but his voice has this portentous authority that actually seems to be getting stronger with age.
The Future: Alice in Chains in 2026?
There was some "bad luck" in 2025. Drummer Sean Kinney had a health scare that forced the band to cancel their spring tour. Because of that, Jerry leaned harder into the I Want Blood solo run.
But there’s light at the end of the tunnel. In recent interviews with outlets like Cleveland.com, Jerry confirmed that Alice in Chains is looking at 2026 as a "restart" year. They might record. They might tour. They might do both. For now, Jerry is taking the winter of 2025-2026 off to recharge.
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Why This Album Matters Right Now
In an era of over-sanitized, AI-generated "rock," I Want Blood feels human. It’s got "warts and all," as Jerry likes to say. It’s a record influenced by the dual-guitar attack of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, but filtered through a dark, Seattle lens.
If you haven't sat down with the full album yet, do it with headphones. Skip the singles for a second and go straight to "Echoes of Laughter." It’s a reminder that Jerry Cantrell is one of the few remaining architects of a sound that defined a generation, and he’s still standing.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Listen to the Spoken Word Versions: If you only have the standard digital release, seek out the deluxe vinyl or digital versions of the spoken word tracks for a completely different vibe.
- Track the 2026 Tour: Keep an eye on the official Alice in Chains social channels; now that Sean Kinney is on the mend, 2026 is shaping up to be the year for a full band comeback.
- Check the Vinyl Variants: There are multiple 2LP variants of I Want Blood still floating around collectors' shops that feature artwork by Ryan Clark of Invisible Creature.