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.[1]
Loudwire ranked it as the 2nd best rock album of 2024.[7]
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;[1]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).[11]
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.[2][9] 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";[4][12][13] Cantrell himself described the song as having an "80s new wave vibe to it, especially in the chorus. Maybe even Cure-ish".[10] "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".[14] The closing track, "It Comes", which Blabbermouth said to have "atmospheric passages" and "distant instrumentals", has been likened to Pink Floyd.[2]
Promotion and touring
On July 31, 2024, Cantrell released the music video for the upcoming album titled "Vilified".[15] On October 15, 2024, Cantrell announced a North American tour for 2025 along with rock band Filter.[16][17]
Release
I Want Blood was released via digital download and on physical CD on October 18, 2024.[18][19]
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.[20]
Track listing
All music and lyrics written by Jerry Cantrell, except where noted.
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"
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