The surviving members of Soundgarden are continuing work on the long-awaited posthumous album built around unreleased recordings made with Chris Cornell before the singer’s death in 2017.
In a new interview with LifeMinute, guitarist Kim Thayil discussed the ongoing process behind the material, confirming that he, drummer Matt Cameron and bassist Ben Shepherd are still collaborating with producer Terry Date, who previously worked on classic Soundgarden albums such as Louder Than Love (1989) and Badmotorfinger (1991).
According to Thayil, some of the songs have existed for more than a decade and were developed in various stages before Cornell’s passing. “This material has been in existence for over 10 years in some cases, 14, 15 years,” the guitarist explained. “It was in various stages of writing, sharing, learning and recording.”
The musician added that most of the songwriting had already been completed and that the current work is mainly focused on finishing recordings and expanding ideas that originally existed as rough demos and sketches. “There were things demoed by me, Matt, Chris and Ben. But they were very rough demos, sketches,” he said. “Now we need to finish those sketches.”
Thayil also emphasized that the process has been very different from previous Soundgarden albums, largely because there is no traditional label pressure or strict production schedule involved. “There isn’t a record label budgeting time and money,” he explained. “With everyone’s professional and family obligations, we have to coordinate and find the time to work on it.”
Despite the complexity surrounding the project, the guitarist stated that completing the album carries enormous emotional and artistic importance for the remaining members of the band. “It’s very, very important to all of us,” Thayil said. “It’s important for the legacy of Soundgarden. It’s important for the legacy of Chris Cornell. It’s about doing right by our collective work and our friend.”
Since Chris Cornell’s death in May 2017, the future of Soundgarden has remained uncertain. Over the years, the band and Cornell’s estate were involved in legal disputes concerning unreleased recordings and ownership of unfinished material.
While there is still no official release date or confirmed details surrounding the album, Thayil’s latest comments make it clear that work continues on what could become the final musical chapter of Soundgarden alongside the voice of Chris Cornell.
