The voice of Soundgarden, the power of Rage Against the Machine -- Audioslave is here.
One of the most anticipated musical projects of all time has finally arrived and, yes, it was worth the wait.
With legendary ex-Soundgarden front man Chris Cornell and the seminal Rage Against the Machine trio, bassist Tim Commerford, Brad Wilk on percussion and guitarist Tom Morello backing him up, Audioslave is, in short, amazing.
Audioslave has managed to create a totally new band out of the ashes of two of the most influential bands of the '90s. The combination of two unique musical styles have come to together, breathing life into Audioslave's self-titled debut album.
Old habits may die hard, but when they do, the results can be spectacular.
The band is able to create a complex and vast musical range starting with head-banging rock and going all the way to delicate haunting and back again without ever straying into the realms of clichÇ.
While most super groups tend to be one-time projects with limited appeal outside their respective fan-bases, Audioslave has managed to create -- with very few exceptions -- a unique sound full of seemingly unlimited potential.
According to the Web site, this is not just a one-album band, so in the coming years we may have a lot more to look forward to. Fans, take note: this is not just a side project.
For the most part, the album represents a new sonic playground for its members, but an occasional bleeding of old into new should be expected when two of the era's most recognizable bands come together.
A few of the songs, like the debut single "Cochise," carry an all too familiar tone. Any fan of Soundgarden and Rage Against the Machine can tell that it sounds just like Cornell singing for Rage, though that isn't necessarily a bad thing. While "Cochise" is a powerful testament to what this band is capable of, this throwback track is a rare phenomenon on this eclectic and diverse album.
Plenty of Rage against the Machine's trademark hard rock/funk is present in the merger, but with Cornell more depth is revealed in the sound. Nothing seems impossible for these musicians. The rhythmic rock they are so well known for will probably always be their greatest strength, but nothing should surprise us in the future from this band.
Chris Cornell has ventured out on his own several times with limited success since Soundgarden disbanded in '98, with albums like his 2000 release, Sunflowers.
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Within the first three songs it is apparent how far both groups have progressed musically. The power of Rage mixed with the existential view behind the lyrics and soulful vocals of Cornell create an in-your-face sound that will not soon be forgotten.
Nothing is clear-cut on this album, as is evident in the solitary love song, "Like a Stone." Cornell writes, "In your house I long to be/ Room by room, patiently/ I'll wait for you there/ like a stone I'll wait for you there/ Alone." It's easy to think that he's waiting for a love, but really what he's waiting for is death. The song is about an old man whose friends are all dead and now he's just waiting for his turn.
On the whole, Audioslave has put out one of the most ambitious albums to hit the industry's shelves in years and is easily on par with any other rock album you may have in your collection.
Audioslave is a must have, not just for fans of the original bands, but also for anyone who likes good music.
Fourteen tracks are on the album and not one should be skipped.
