Kim Thayil on what Soundgarden’s album is like

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.”