Jerry Cantrell is speaking to Guitarist from Los Angeles where, earlier this year, he finished work on his latest solo album, Brighten. Following up 2002’s Degradation Trip, the ‘lockdown record’ was a colossal team effort that spanned the breadth of the country from LA to New York during some of the most challenging times the music industry has ever faced. But then again, “I don’t remember any record I’ve made being easy,” says the Alice In Chains guitarist. “When you’ve been doing this as long as we have, you’ve got the benefit of knowing you’ve got there before. So when there are moments of doubt, you recognise that it’s just part of the process.”