Jerry Cantrell
Degradation Trip

THE REVIEW

"Degradation Trip" is the second solo album by Jerry Cantrell.

Released on May 18, 2002, it was considered a tribute to the historic Alice In Chains singer, Layne Staley, who died the month before this album's release.

Unlike "Boggy Depot," which appeared to me a bit "lighthearted," "Degradation Trip" rediscovers much darker atmospheres, and manages to deliver (with the right proportions) that psychological weight which has become a trademark of AIC.

Joining Cantrell are Robert Trujillo (bassist, now with Metallica) and Mike Bordin (drummer), and their style has inevitably influenced the sound of the album, leaning towards metal. Jerry Cantrell has almost always managed to adapt well to these "new" sounds, especially with the hypnotic opener "Psychotic Break," "Angel Rising," and "Hellbound", which contrast with songs that are, in my opinion, not bad, but less successful and somewhat anonymous ("Chemical Tribe" and "Spiderbite").

The best of Cantrell, however, comes out when he returns "to his world": "She Was My Girl," "Mother's Spinning In Her Grave," and "Angel Eyes" (which inspired "Your Decision") are among the best episodes: the first two are impactful and energetic, and the third is emotional.

We also find two ballads/gems, namely "Solitude" and the closing "Gone" (which, along with "Looked On", recalls Layne Staley): two other performances demonstrating the maturity acquired by the guitarist, who not only manages to overcome a debut that was sometimes unclear, but also delivers a work that does not pale in comparison with other previous works.

Unfortunately, "Degradation Trip" did not achieve much success (unlike the AIC reunion album "Black Gives Way To Blue," which is ultimately the offspring of this album), but trust me, it is absolutely worth discovering for those who do not know it, or reevaluating for those who have hastily judged it poorly.