Album Review: Soundgarden’s New LP “King Animal” Won’t Define A Generation Anytime Soon

By: Adam Harrison –

16-years is a long time, but that’s how long it has taken Soundgarden to mend old wounds, get their act together and produce King Animal, their sixth studio album.

During the decade that Soundgarden spent apart, lead singer, Chris Cornell, kept himself busy. Cornell released three albums with Audioslave, featuring members of Rage Against the Machine. He also released three solo albums and a hit Bond song, titled “You Know My Name,” for Casino Royale. Guitarist, Kim Thayil, contributed guitar to the likes of  Pigeonhed and Presidents of the United States of America and he formed a punk band called the No WTO Combo, with Jello Biafra (formerly of Dead Kennedys), and Krist Novoselic (formerly of Nirvana). Bassist, Ben Shepherd, collaborated frequently with Screaming Trees’  Mark Lanegan and he had a daughter named Lone. Finally, drummer, Matt Cameron, also had continued success joining Pearl Jam in 1998.

Two years ago, fans of the groundbreaking grunge band were pleased to hear Soundgarden would be getting back together for a reunion tour. After the tour and a couple singles proved successful, the boys from Seattle were able to put the past behind them, sober up and move forward. But sometimes bands that return from a long hiatus struggle to find the same chemistry they once had.

Soundgarden songs are often split into two categories. The first being radio friendly alternative rock songs and the second is dark and grungy songs accompanied by unconventional rhythms. King Animal seems to have more of their original sound, likely to appeal to old-school Soundgarden fans. But this unorthodox style may be a little strange for new listeners or those only aware of their greatest hits.

The first single and lead track, “Been Away Too Long” sounds like a conventional rock song and falls on hands and knees in comparison to “Live to Rise,” a single Soundgarden released earlier in the year for the smash movie, The Avengers. As the album continues, the songs seem to get less and less traditional. “By Crooked Steps” is another standout song with a punchy guitar riff and catchy chorus with vocals listeners would expect from Cornell.

Tracks like “Blood on the Valley Floor,” “Bones of Birds” and “Eyelids Mouth” are a reminder of early Soundgarden with heavy, almost-drone like guitar and swaying, psychedelic vocals that last several bars; a style you don’t hear very often in modern music.

King Animal is a solid album, and includes all the grunginess you’d expect from a Soundgarden album. But the release of “Live to Rise” set expectations that were too difficult to live up to with the album. Individually, the tracks won’t define an era the way “Black Hole Sun” and “Spoonman” did back in ’94, and this king may have to settle for prince this time around.

Essential Tracks: “Been Away Too Long,” “Non-State Actor,” “By Crooked Steps,” and “Worse Dreams.”