King Animal

It’s Soundgarden, and they’re awesome! If you don’t know this already, what are you playing at?!If you’ve listened to Soundgarden before and thought ‘meh’, this review is hardly going to change your mind is it? And why would it eh? The opinion of a complete stranger.... unless it’s you reading this mam!This is a beautiful package, on heavy, coloured vinyl and amazing packaging! It sounds pretty damn awesome too!!

Having grown up in the 1990s I am pleased to see many of the great rock bands like Soundgarden and Alice in chains are still keeping the rock n roll spirit alive for both bands have released very good albums recently. Indeed grunge seems to be having a bit of a renaissance with modern bands like Dead Sara incorporating grunge elements while Nirvana remain as popular as ever despite kurts death.This album opens with real rocking intent in 'Been away to long' and maintains momentum with the slightly political 'Non-state actor' that contains an awsome guitar riff. The album as a whole is really strong and I like most of the tracks but if I had to pick my favourite tracks it would be the melancholic 'Bones of birds', the acoustic led sombre ballad 'Black saturday' and the gospel tinged bluesey album closer 'Rowing'. This is a great track to finish the album on and pretty much sums up life in a beautiful metaphor. But it is a wonderful image, that all we can do to survive, is to keep rowing against the wind and the rain and face up to any storms that come our way. To survive we literally have to keep our heads above water and breathe. Nobody knows where they are going so lets keep rowing forwards and enjoy life.Anyone with an interest in rock music are more than likely aware of Soundgarden but if you are yet to listen to this animal of an album I would urge you to check it out and lets just hope they don't stay away for too long this time!

I was very excited to see Soundgarden on Jools Holland's show and had no idea there was a new album! Superunknown is one of my all time favourite albums and I can't rate Chris Cornell highly enough as a songwriter and singer. So I watched the show and was impressed with Been Away Too Long, a good rocker. I was a little confused by Taree, I thought to myself this probably sounds better on the album and makes more sense there, which it does. Great to see them play live.Like a few comments here I was a little disappointed with the album - at first anyway, from a purely "Soundgarden" aspect. Not really a "dirty" enough sound, it's certainly not a continuation from Down On The Upside, although there are flavours of old like the very beginning of "A Thousand Days Before". But then that was a long time ago and they were never realistically going to pick up like they've never been away.Having listened to it a few times I must say I really like it. The opening track is just great and the best way to kick off. I won't give a run down of all the tracks as this is just personal preference. I will say "Halfway There" is pure Cornell solo album (not that one we won't mention though!) but I'd rather it on the album than not as it is wonderful. Some really good songs, a few ok ones, no awful ones thankfully.Overall I think a 3.5 or 4 is just about right. Short of their past best and a little inconsistent but in the current climate of dross and considering the break, rather good.

I have been a fan of Soundgarden since Superunknown, and listen to their albums often. I have loved this new album of theirs and have listened to it solidly everyday. The production and mixing is unbelievable, all due to Joe Barresi. The songs lack the focus of Superunknown and Badmotorfinger however, otherwise this album would get five stars. Overall you are getting a Soundgarden CD, written by the whole band, and not a Chris Cornell solo album with his mates as a backing band.Soundgarden have not felt the need to make a point, or prove themselves. They have no reinvented the wheel. They have just picked up right where they left off 15 years ago. Strangely the gems seem to be left for the end of CD, but even the more obscure tracks come into their own, given time. I never liked all the tracks on Superunknow or Down On the Upside at first, but today all are good and part of the listening experience.2012 has a different listening culture and different expectation to 1994. BUT I am sure you will enjoy this one if you are a fan.

Soundgarden are back, and long overdue!Their sound has slightly evolved but the core of Soundgarden is still there, the time signatures, nutty riffs and wailing guitars (needs more of this from Kim).On the first few listens you might feel alienated but the more you listen the more it grows on you (classic Soundgarden) and for only a tenner you shouldn't be disappointed.Chris has gotten on a bit so his voice isn't what it used to be (to be expected, but don't let this put you off)I'd also mention that Matt out did himself on the drums in this album, I would argue it's some of his best work.Overall great purchase, I hope they can release another album because there are very few bands that can come back together after nearly 2 decades, pushing 50, and still out perform and songwrite most bands today.10/10