Jerry Cantrell - Brighten

180-gram Electric Blue vinyl with glow-in-the-dark-packaging!

Late in July 2021, Alice In Chains guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell returned with "Atone," the first single from his upcoming solo album, Brighten. Cantrell co-produced Brighten over the past year with film composer Tyler Bates and longtime engineer Paul Figueroa.

They welcomed a dynamic cast of supporting players, including drummers Gil Sharone and Abe Laboriel, Jr. (Paul McCartney), pedal steel master Michael Rozon, Vincent Jones on piano, Wurlitzer, and organ. Other rock legends added to the fun of this LP, including Duff McKagan (Guns N' Roses) on select bass tracks, Greg Puciato (The Dillinger Escape Plan) handling all of the background vocals and Joe Barresi (Tool, Queens Of The Stone Age) overseeing the mixing of Brighten. Together, they recorded eight originals and the LP closes with an approved-by-Elton John cover of his classic "Goodbye" as the finale.

Jerry's solo effort marks his first full-length release since Degradation Trip, the epic solo album he made in 2002 with future Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo and Faith No More drummer Mike Bordin.

"It was like an old school seventies record where a multitude of musicians played so it's not a set band. I got to make music with a bunch of guys I never had before, along with friends like Duff & Tyler & Gil who I've worked with previously. I've always been a fan of bands that were heavy on harmony. I've been lucky enough to have that relationship with Layne Staley and now William DuVall. Greg and I worked together in a similar fashion and blended nicely. We were creating and changing this thing all the way up until the end. It took way longer than I wanted it to, but it became an even better record. This record offers cleaner glimpses of what I grew up on, listened to, and am still inspired by today. I was raised by two country fans, so I think you can hear that energy in there as well. This album has prominent roles for keys, strings, and pedal steel, which I haven't incorporated in such a heavy fashion before." — Jerry Cantrell

Side A

1. Atone

2. Brighten

3. Prism of Doubt

4. Black Hearts and Evil Done

Side B

1. Siren Song

2. Had To Know

3. Noody Breaks You

4. Dismembered

5. Goodbye

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