Kim Thayil Works to Finish 9 Soundgarden Tracks With Chris Cornell Vocals

Q: What does producer Terry Date's return signal for the sound of Soundgarden's unreleased final album?

Terry Date’s return signals that Soundgarden’s unreleased final album is likely to sound unmistakably like Soundgarden rather than like a producer-driven reinvention. That is significant because Date was a key architect of the band’s earlier records, including *Louder Than Love* and *Badmotorfinger*. But Kim Thayil has stressed that Date’s value is not in imposing a trademark studio sheen. Instead, Date is known for drawing out what is already inherent in the band’s music — helping, as Thayil put it, “the band be the band.” In practice, that suggests the new album will preserve Soundgarden’s core identity in tone, mood and dynamics. At the same time, the material is not being framed as a simple throwback. Thayil has described the unfinished songs, built from 2015-2017 demos with Chris Cornell’s completed vocals, as “very Soundgarden-like,” but also more introspective and “distinctively different.” He has said it will not necessarily have the same “quirkiness and viscerality” as *Badmotorfinger*, even with Date involved. So Date’s return points to continuity, authenticity and restraint: a final record rooted in the band’s classic chemistry and guided by a trusted early collaborator, but one that reflects a later, more reflective phase of Soundgarden rather than an attempt to recreate its past.

3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 9

Nine unfinished Soundgarden songs with Chris Cornell’s completed vocals are still being worked on by guitarist Kim Thayil, who said the band wants to finish and eventually release them.
Thayil said the project has stalled partly because Soundgarden lacks a record label to fund completion, with “a lot of other factors” also complicating the process.
The recordings are part of the band’s unresolved work after Cornell’s 2017 death, which Thayil said left a profound personal and creative void.
Soundgarden was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last November, a reminder that the band remains active in preserving Cornell’s legacy even without new material yet completed.

Sources

The Guardian6h ago

Kim Thayil Working to Complete Nine Unfinished Soundgarden Tracks with Chris Cornell Vocals

Loudwire6h ago

Kim Thayil Interview — Memoir, Early Days of Soundgarden + More

Ultimate Guitar6h ago

Kim Thayil on Not Liking 'Black Hole Sun' Demo & Clashing With Soundgarden Producer Michael Beinhorn | Ultimate Guitar

6 Sources

With Chris Cornell gone, is finishing Soundgarden's last album a loving tribute or an impossible guess?

What does producer Terry Date's return signal for the sound of Soundgarden's unreleased final album?

How did Kim Thayil's 'outsider' perspective help create the sound that defined an entire generation?

Soundgarden’s Last Studio Album: Seven Unreleased Chris Cornell Songs and the Legal Fight for Their Release

Overview

Soundgarden's final studio album, featuring Chris Cornell's vocals and songwriting, stands as a powerful tribute shaped by years of legal battles and creative dedication. After Cornell's passing, the band faced prolonged disputes with his estate, delaying access to unreleased material. A 2023 settlement finally allowed the band to complete seven new tracks, carefully crafted to honor Cornell and preserve Soundgarden's unique sound. The album reflects the band's Seattle roots and marks a significant emotional milestone for both members and fans, promising a distinct evolution in their legacy and reigniting appreciation for their influential place in rock history.

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