I guess it would’ve been silly for him to call the album ‘Darken’, but as Jerry Cantrell follows up his 2021 solo album, Brighten, with I Want Blood due out this Oct. 18 through Double J Records, that seems to be the vibe the Alice in Chains guitarist and reluctant grunge figurehead (could there be another kind?) is shooting for anyhow. In the parlance of probably-not-our-times-anymore, I’m here for it.

Solo output from Cantrell — who’s a no-brainer to rate among the best rock songwriters of his generation, as well as an accomplished guitarist and vocalist — has been a mixed bag over the course of his career. Brighten mostly left me cold, whereas 2002’s Degradation Trip (discussed here) features what’s for my money some of the best work he’s ever done in or out of his central band. I haven’t heard I Want Blood and so can’t comment on how the lead single/opening track fits in with the overall spirit of the release, but certainly it’s fair to say the initial impression here is more aggressive and, indeed, darker than last time out. Throw in a depressive cut or seven and that’s a wheelhouse in which it’s well established Cantrell can thrive.

I look forward to hearing more, and I’m glad Cantrell‘s collaboration with Greg Puciato is continuing, as the The Dillinger Escape Plan) singer’s voice was a striking complement in harmony with Cantrell‘s own from all the live footage I saw supporting Brighten. Cantrell also has summer tour dates upcoming — I don’t think Puciato will join, but I also don’t know that he won’t — and he’ll be out with Bush, which would be a great show to get there early and leave early, because that band has always sucked.

From the PR wire:

JERRY CANTRELL ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM I WANT BLOOD, OUT OCTOBER 18 VIA DOUBLE J MUSIC

FEATURING GUEST PERFORMANCES FROM DUFF MCKAGAN, ROBERT TRUJILLO, MIKE BORDIN AND MORE

ALBUM PRE-ORDERS AVAILABLE NOW: https://bio.to/JerryCantrell

Jerry Cantrell, one of rock music’s most distinctive musicians, returns with I Want Blood, an album brimming with Cantrell’s signature vocals and guitar-driven melodies, on Oct. 18 via Double J Music.

“This record is a serious piece of work. It’s a motherfucker,” Cantrell says of the infectious collection. “It’s hard, no doubt, and completely unlike Brighten. And that’s what you want, to end up in a different place. There’s a confidence to this album. I think it’s some of my best songwriting and playing, and certainly some of my best singing.”

A preview of I Want Blood comes with today’s release of “Vilified”. The album opener showcases an energy that rivals any of Cantrell’s previous work – powerful, nuanced, and electric – setting the tone for the 45-minute album.

“‘Vilified” travels a lot of places in just four and a half minutes,” Cantrell continues. “It’s got a ferocity and really aggressive vibe to it.”

I Want Blood, co-produced by Cantrell and Joe Barresi (Tool, Queens of the Stone Age, Melvins), was recorded at Barresi’s JHOC Studio in Pasadena, Calif. The album also features contributions from bass heavyweights Duff McKagan (Guns N’Roses) and Robert Trujillo (Metallica), drummers Gil Sharone (Team Sleep, Stolen Babies) and Mike Bordin (Faith No More), and backing vocals from Lola Colette and Greg Puciato (Better Lovers, ex-Dillinger Escape Plan).

I Want Blood track list:

1. Vilified
2. Off The Rails
3. Afterglow
4. I Want Blood
5. Echoes Of Laughter
6. Throw Me A Line
7. Let It Lie
8. Held Your Tongue
9. It Comes

Album pre-orders, which include CD, digital and multiple 2LP variants are available here: https://bio.to/JerryCantrell.

Exclusive to the 2LP vinyl versions of I Want Blood are atmospheric, spoken word versions of each song on the album.

Jerry Cantrell kicks off a North American tour this evening, joining Bush for a seven-week trek across the continent:

July 26 Bend, OR Hayden Homes Amphitheater
July 27 Airway Heights, WA BECU Live
July 31 West Valley Utah, UT Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
August 1 Greenwood Village, CO Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
August 3 La Crosse, WI Copeland Park
August 4 Indianapolis, IN Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park
August 6 Cedar Rapids, IA McGrath Amphitheatre
August 7 Chicago, IL Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
August 9 Nashville, TN Nashville Municipal Auditorium
August 10 Maryland Heights, MO St. Louis Music Park
August 13 Cleveland, OH Jacobs Pavilion
August 14 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
August 16 Sterling Heights, MI Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill
August 17 Lewiston, NY Artpark Amphitheater
August 19 Toronto, ON Budweiser Stage
August 21 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
August 23 Atlantic City, NJ Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
August 24 Boston, MA Leader Bank Pavilion
August 26 Charlotte, NC Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
August 27 Raleigh, NC Red Hat Amphitheatre
August 29 Jacksonville, FL Daily’s Place
August 30 Davie, FL Hard Rock Live (Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood)
September 1 Atlanta, GA Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
September 4 San Antonio, TX Freeman Coliseum
September 5 Houston, TX 713 Music Hall
September 7 Durant, OK Choctaw Casino & Resort
September 8 Dallas, TX Dos Equis Pavilion
September 11 Las Vegas, NV Bakkt Theater
September 13 San Diego, CA Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
September 14 Phoenix, AZ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
September 15 Los Angeles, CA The Greek Theatre

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Jerry Cantrell, “Vilified” official video