KIM THAYIL Speaks On SOUNDGARDEN’s Unreleased Final Album

The final Soundgarden record may eventually see the light of day. Soundgarden was working on the follow-up to their 2012 record King Animal when vocalist Chris Cornell tragically died in 2017 by suicide. The record became a point of contention between Soundgarden and Cornell‘s widow Vicky Cornell for years, though in April 2023 a breakthrough was made when the two parties reached an agreement. At the time, the two stated:

“Soundgarden and Vicky Cornell, on behalf of the Estate of Chris Cornell, are happy to announce they have reached an amicable out of court resolution. The reconciliation marks a new partnership between the two parties, which will allow Soundgarden fans around the world to hear the final songs that the band and Chris were working on.

“The two parties are united and coming together to propel, honor and build upon Soundgarden‘s incredible legacy as well as Chris‘s indelible mark on music history – as one of the greatest songwriters and vocalists of all time.””

So everything’s good, right? Nope. Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron stated in November of that same year that the band was “still in the middle of a dispute with the estate” and that everything was on hold. Though court filings did at least reveal the names of several new songs and their authors, which are:

• “Road Less Traveled” (Chris Cornell/Matt Cameron)
• “Orphans” (Chris Cornell/Matt Cameron)
• “At Ophians Door” (Chris Cornell/Matt Cameron)
• “Cancer” (Chris Cornell)
• “Ahead Of The Dog” (Chris Cornell/Kim Thayil)
• “Merrmas” (Chris Cornell/Ben Shepherd)
• “Stone Age Mind” (Chris Cornell)

Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil recently spoke to Rolling Stone, saying he believes the record will eventually get released despite the legal hangups. So here’s hoping, right?

“I think so. Our objective and goal was always to complete that. I probably have OCD enough to not want to leave something unfinished or incomplete like that, so I think the more we can attend to our body of work and our catalog… I think everyone in the band feels that way. I don’t just to attend to my work, but the collective work, and in this case specifically, the work of Chris.”

He continued: “I have pride for what I did and I want to see that come out. It doesn’t exist in the vacuum. It exists as a collaboration with Matt and Ben and Chris, but it takes on an entirely different weight when you think about what it is you’re honoring, and the work that you’re paying tribute to. It is us collectively. We want to do it proud. And that part of us is certainly one of the most intimate components of what Soundgarden has been since 1984.”