Soundgarden: Been Away Too Long

8.9

Soundgarden is back, right where they left off in 1996 (Down on the Upside). Introducing quirky time shifts, oddball percussion on the verses, Kim Thayil's alien guitar tone, this is a fresh addition to the Soundgarden catalogue. It's high energy feel good rock with some unpredictable changes and atmospheric sounds. They were always more innovative than the rest of the grunge band plethora, there's no reason why they wouldn't be good again. Soundgarden only actually made five albums and split at the pinnacle of their success. Whether the record's going to be a classic, we shall see, but it will be interesting regardless.