Soundgarden are continuing work on their long-awaited final studio album featuring late frontman Chris Cornell, with guitarist Kim Thayil saying the group is focused on completing the record in a way that honors their legacy and their late bandmate.
The project has been in development for years, following Cornell’s passing in 2017, and was further delayed by legal disputes between his estate and the surviving members of Soundgarden. Those issues have since been resolved, allowing progress to resume.
Last year, Thayil confirmed that the band were more than halfway through tracking the album. In a new interview with LifeMinute, he offered further insight into the current stage of the record and how the remaining work is being approached.
“This material has been in existence for over 10 years in some cases, 14, 15 years. It was in various stages of writing, sharing, learning, recording.”
He explained that much of the foundation was already in place, with the remaining work focused on refining existing material rather than starting from scratch.
“So what we need to do is finish that process, and most of the process, most of the writing had been complete. So it’s mostly about recording.”
Thayil added that the recordings exist in a rough, early form and are being carefully built into finished tracks.
“There were things that had been demoed by me, by Matt, by Chris, by Ben. But, again, demo. They’re very rough. They’re sketches.”
He described the process as more creative reconstruction than traditional studio recording, comparing it to completing unfinished artwork.
“You start with a little pencil sketch, and you fill it in with whatever, chalks or oils or pastels.”
Because of scheduling constraints and the absence of a traditional label timeline, the band are working at their own pace.
“There isn’t a record label budgeting time and money, with a particular schedule. With everybody else’s obligations, professionally or with family or whatever, we have to find the time and coordinate amongst ourselves to address the work.”
Despite the challenges, Thayil stressed the importance of completing the album in a way that respects both the band’s history and Cornell’s contribution.
“It’s very, very important to all of us. It’s important for the legacy of Soundgarden. It’s important for the legacy of Chris Cornell. It is doing right by our collective work. It is doing right by our partner and friend.”
Reports have previously indicated that at least seven songs featuring Cornell’s writing and recordings are expected to appear on the album, including “Road Less Traveled,” “Orphans,” “At Ophians Door,” “Cancer,” “Ahead Of The Dog,” “Mermas,” and “Stone Age Mind.”
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[Via Blabbermouth]
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