Jerry Cantrell has an amazing solo song on the Sinners soundtrack and no one seems to be talking about it

Jerry Cantrell publicity photo
(Image credit: Darren Craig)

Jerry Cantrell lends his voice to a song on the soundtrack to new vampire film Sinners.

The Alice In Chains guitarist/singer handles lead vocals on the track In Moonlight, which was released on April 18 as part of a soundtrack also featuring Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton and Jack O’Connell, all of whom star in the film. Have a listen below.

Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler (Creed, Black Panther), casts Michael B. Jordan in a dual lead role as sibling gangsters returning to their hometown in 1930s Mississippi, only to find a supernatural evil there. Although In Moonlight doesn’t appear in the theatrical cut, its music is based on a motif composer Ludwig Göransson uses throughout the score.

Blues and soul are the main aspects of Sinner’s music, but heavy metal also plays an essential part. Metallica’s Lars Ulrich plays drums on a movement called Bury That Guitar and, during a recent interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Coogler cited the metal titans’ 1989 single One as an influence on its pacing.

“I wanted the movie to feel like a song, so I used Metallica’s One,” he said.

The director added that the film, like the song, “starts off intense, then gets melodic and going somewhere just fucking crazy. But by the time you’re finished, it was clear you were always going to get there.”

Sinners is currently playing in theatres and enjoying both critical praise and box office success.

Cantrell released his latest solo album, I Want Blood, last year via Double J Music. Metal Hammer’s sister magazine Classic Rock awarded it a glowing four stars in its review. Journalist Emma Johnston wrote: “This is flawless and unflinching classic rock for a cruel modern world, and it’s quite brilliant.”

Cantrell’s solo band will tour Europe in May and June, making a stop at the UK’s Download festival along the way. See all dates and details via the musician’s website.

Alice In Chains are also active, playing several US shows in May. They’re also booked to perform at Black Sabbath’s farewell show at Villa Park, Birmingham, on July 5.

Jerry Cantrell, Ludwig Göransson - In Moonlight | Sinners (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - YouTube Jerry Cantrell, Ludwig Göransson - In Moonlight | Sinners (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - YouTube
Watch On
Matt Mills
Contributing Editor, Metal Hammer

Louder’s resident Gojira obsessive was still at uni when he joined the team in 2017. Since then, Matt’s become a regular in Metal Hammer and Prog, at his happiest when interviewing the most forward-thinking artists heavy music can muster. He’s got bylines in The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Independent, NME and many others, too. When he’s not writing, you’ll probably find him skydiving, scuba diving or coasteering.