Jerry Cantrell is best known as the hard rock/grunge guitar gunslinger from Alice in Chains. But, as of 2025, he is also a solo artist who has released four studio albums with his own band. As the fall of 2021 rolled in, Cantrell released Brighten on Oct. 29. Brighten would be Cantrell’s first solo release in 19 years. His 2002 release, Degradation Trip Volumes 1 & 2, saw Cantrell team up with then Ozzy Osbourne/Black Label Society bassist Robert Trujillo and Faith No More drummer Mike Bordin.
Cantrell’s Brighten features nine songs that perfectly blend hard rock and grunge. The record clocks in at 40 minutes of eight original tunes. The ninth song, “Goodbye,” is a marvelous Elton John cover that originally appears on his fourth studio record, Madman Across the Water. What fans will realize throughout the record is the solid guitar playing and excellent vocals from Cantrell.
The record kicks off with the drum lead “Atone.” This four-minute tune features a great marching beat from drummer Gil Sharone. If you want to see more solid drumming from Sharone, then listen to Marilyn Manson’s 2015 record, The Pale Emperor. Immediately at the start, Cantrell also chimes in with a twangy, southern-style guitar and moody vocals. The darker tone of the song sets a cool edge to the entire record. It’s a perfect way to kick off the album; it’s a gutsy hard rock opener. Throughout the tune, you can also clearly hear Michael Rozon on pedal steel guitar. The pedal steel guitar adds a needed, deeper sound to the song.
The title tune kicks in at song No. 2. This tune is more lighthearted in sound when compared to “Atone.” Cantrell also sat behind the console and produced this magnificent record. That’s why there’s a ton of complex sounds on each song. It’s always different when a musician produces his own music rather than a legit producer. Cantrell brings out each musician clearly. On this tune, you can hear the bassist, Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan, lay down smooth and calm bass patterns that jell with the drums. On “Brighten,” there’s no true guitar solo; the grittiness of Cantrell’s solo is tough enough to cut through the listener’s headphones.
On song four, Cantrell elects to take an acoustic approach. “Black Hearts and Evil Done” shows the guitarist’s softer side. This tune is the most underrated song on the entire record. When fans think of Cantrell, they think loud guitars. However, on this song, his songwriting takes center stage, as well as his chemistry with the band. Lola Bates and Greg Puciato were brought in on background vocals to help beef up Cantrell’s vocals, and the three’s style jells very well together. On “Black Hearts and Evil Done,” Cantrell cracks out the best solo, or one of the best solos on the record. The solo is more melodic and throughout, which naturally transitions to the closing bridge of the song.
Song No.6, “Had to Know,” unfortunately overshadows the song before it. This song is a “meat and potatoes” rock and roll song. Simply put, it’s a nice return to Cantrell’s style of rock and roll. Sharone returns to the drum kit to provide more steady beats and can find pockets of brilliance while not overshadowing the rest of the band. I love that around the three-minute mark, there is a moment where the band lets up and they build a dramatic rise to Vincent Jones on keyboards, which also opens up to a Cantrell solo. While the song is in its latter stages, a soft call and response between Cantrell and Puciato. It shows how Cantrell’s mind works as a songwriter – he’s not bogged down by one genre, he’s able to explore and find new ways to innovate his sound.
“Nobody Breaks You” is a more pop-sounding track. This song, which appears as the seventh song, has more of Cantrell’s droning vocals, but he is backed by acoustic guitars, percussion and a groovy drum beat. What’s great about this song is how the keyboards take more of a spotlight on this song. Fans wouldn’t associate keyboard sounds with Cantrell, but they’re used properly and executed correctly.
On song eight, “Dismembered,” that similar sound of warmer guitar tones and friendly vocals greets listeners. When looking at and reading the lyrics, it comes across as more of an anthem-style tune. Lyrics like “Between, we have a life, just live it out, don’t let it pass you by” give fans words to live by. It’s nice that Cantrell has questionable titles, yet sprinkles in positive and gracious lyrics. It’s easy to see why some fans might take the lyrics to heart. Why shouldn’t every live life to the fullest? It’s why Cantrell is a musician after all, to invoke feeling, to let music do more talking to speaking. In fact, music is made to be an enjoyable experience for life.
As the record comes to the last song, listeners come to the aforementioned “Goodbye.” Cantrell’s version of this tune is more haunting, slower, and bone-chilling. The song features amazing strings, McKagan plucking away on a heavy bass line wrapped around with Cantrell’s chilling vocals. It’s extremely challenging to record an Elton John song, but Cantrell adds his own Tacoma, Washington, spunk to it and makes it his own. Cantrell drags the tune in the opposite direction has John and makes it unique on its own.
It’s extremely difficult to have a solo “comeback.” While Alice in Chains did have three records come out before Cantrell’s solo album, he had name recognition and the band to help him. Sometimes, it does in fact take 19 years to craft a perfect solo record using lessons learned on three records with your other band. It was a long time coming for Cantrell and another solo record. After three years had gone by since Alice in Chains’ Rainier Fog record, there must have been some itch to get back to solo material. With that said, it’s safe to say that 19 years was a perfect amount of time to wait for Brighten.
Rating: 8.5/10
Tracklisting:
1. Atone
2. Brighten
3. Prism of Doubt
4. Black Hearts and Evil Done
5. Siren Song
6. Had to Know
7. Nobody Breaks You
8. Dismembered
9. Goodbye (Elton John cover)
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My love for live music started with my first concert ever, Guns N’ Roses back in 2016. Since then, I’ve been able to capture photos of some amazing artists like Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Ace Frehley, and Post Malone. I am based in the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut area. I am always looking for the next concert to attend.