His vocals, melodies, and riffs are as instantly recognizable as they are powerful, nuanced, and eclectic. Both a disciple of the hard rock tradition and a massive influence on subsequent generations of artists, Jerry Cantrell straddles the line between earnest salt-of-the-earth songwriter and beloved living legend. His fourth solo album I Want Blood arrives with all the aggression and heavy, inexhaustible stomp its title suggests. The follow-up to the best-reviewed solo album of Cantrell’s career (2021’s Brighten) further expands his musical palette without sacrificing any of his inescapably infectious melodic hooks. “Vilified,” which opens the album, is an anthem, a mission statement, kicking off I Want Blood with attitude. Cantrell’s mountain of work as a solo artist and chief songwriter, guitarist, and co-vocalist in Alice In Chains stands tall in influence and respect. He’s collaborated with Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, Danzig, and Deftones (among others). He’s contributed to music heard in films by Academy Award-winner Cameron Crowe and Judd Apatow and entries in the John Wick and Spider-Man franchises. Rolling Stone named the multi-platinum Tacoma, Washington native one of the greatest guitar players of all time. His catalog mines the best of metal, rock, blues, and Americana.

Richard Patrick’s career is a vision of multifaceted creativity, which he has delivered throughout his 30+ years producing music professionally through his band Filter, various collaborations, side projects, super groups, scoring films and writing for soundtracks. Patrick’s initial foray into the public eye was as Nine Inch Nails’ first touring guitarist. Patrick had met NIN’s founder Trent Reznor in the late ‘80s in a music store in Cleveland. The two became close friends and then bandmates. Patrick played with the band from 1989-1993, appearing in numerous music videos including “Down in It,” “Head Like a Hole, “Wish” and “Gave Up.” Filter was formed in Cleveland, OH in 1993 when Patrick left Nine Inch Nails. Filter’s debut album Short Bus was released in 1995 and went platinum, largely due to the success of their first single “Hey Man Nice Shot.”  The follow up, 1999’s Title of Record, also went platinum driven by the huge crossover success of the song “Take a Picture.” Filter’s third album, The Amalgamut, was released in 2002, though sales stalled when Patrick checked into rehab after years of heavy alcohol and drug abuse just as touring and promotion began for the album. The album still spawned such classic songs as “Where Do We Go from Here” and “American Cliché.” After rehab in 2006, the Army of Anyone project – a supergroup led by Patrick with Dean and Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots and Ray Luzier of Korn – came to light, releasing one album and a tour before each went back to their respective bands. Patrick refocused on Filter, releasing Anthems for the Damned in 2008, The Trouble with Angels in 2010, The Sun Comes Out Tonight in 2013 and Crazy Eyes in 2016, and two singles in 2020. Now 20+ years sober, Patrick is more prolific than ever. Celebrating 30 years of Filter, 2023 saw the much-anticipated release of a new Filter album The Algorithm. Singles “Face Down” and “Obliteration” both had innovative music videos which garnered attention from new and long-time fans alike. Filter began an extensive worldwide campaign, including The Freaks on Parade tour featuring Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper and Ministry, which continues this year with shows in the UK, EU, Australia, Canada and back to the U.S. again.