Kim Thayil offered an intriguing description of Soundgarden’s upcoming album, which features material written and recorded by Chris Cornell before his death in 2017. And with no release date yet confirmed, it’s likely to arrive a decade after the tragedy.
Personal disputes got in the way of early plans to complete the work, but after they were resolved the band rolled into action and the end is in sight. Guitarist Thayil was heavily involved in the process, which he said were unlike his previous studio experiences.
“It was very different,” he told KOMO News. “You don’t start at one point with song ideas and demos and record the drums and build it. We had to work in a different direction. The songs were by and large done, but the recordings and the performances weren’t, except for what we had with the vocals and some drums.”
He continued: “It was very forensic in nature. And, again, spending a lot of time in the studio listening to the material… presented a lot of enthusiasm, an opportunity for us – but it's also a little bit difficult. You’re constantly balancing the duty towards the material and towards a beloved friend’s work. and our work together. So it was very unusual.”
Asked what fans should expect from what will be Soundgarden’s seventh album, following 2012’s King Animal, Thayil said: “There are quirky elements. It’s very introspective. I mean, all of our work has been somewhat that way, but this is a little bit more so. And if you can imagine a lullaby paired with psychedelia, that's kind of what's going on there.”
He said he couldn’t choose a favourite song from the expected 8-to-10 track title because it was “always changing,” and added: “We’ve been working on this on and off for a few years, and I think every song has been my favorite at some point!”
He confirmed that a release date was still under discussion, partly as a result of the band’s history since Cornell’s death. “We’re dealing with the record label, trying to work out contractual understandings. And you have to think about the promotion, the production... all those processes are in motion.
“And again, it's very different. It’s been so many years, a lot of these contractual obligations expired – so we have to kind of work them out again.”
Soundgarden will play the halftime show at the Seattle Seahawks’ season-opening game against New England Patriots on September 9. They’ll be joined by old friends Taylor Momsen and Mike McCready for the set.
