Cornell and co back with a bang!
Audioslave recently pulled out of a series of European dates, including the Reading and Leeds Festivals, with the reason of wanting to finish the new record being cited. Now that it has arrived, has the European fan's patience for live shows been rewarded with a cracking return?
From the moment you put this album on, and working through the opening few tracks, it is clear that this is to be as riff heavy as ever. Title and opening track 'Revelations' announces their return perfectly and is classic Audioslave at their finest. In 'One And The Same' the pace is stepped up a notch and we're treated to a spot of aggressive metal style screaming from Cornell.
As ever with Audioslave the hard and the soft are mixed and matched effortlessly. 'Sound Of A Gun' is a little less in your face but still a mighty rock track that could work well as a single, and 'Until We Fall' is a progression of this, but more mellow and radio friendlier, think 'Like A Stone'.
'Original Fire' was the first single lifted from this record, and as a taster for what was to come, doesn't seem to have captured the imagination in the same way as previous first singles, I'm thinking of 'Be Yourself' which remains one of their finest releases to date. 'Original Fire' ticks all the boxes to make a rock single, but there are plenty more on this record that have a better instant grab factor, pressing the skip forward button once gets to a fine example of this. 'Broken City' is for me the stand out track. It has the funk edge that we've come to expect from Red Hot Chili Peppers, and as Chris Cornell's vocals belt out the chorus there is a classic seventies rock feel to them.
Aside from the heavy riffs throughout, appreciators of fine guitar playing can enjoy some classy solos too, 'Shape Of Things To Come' is just one of many that stands out.
Unlike some albums you hear, this is far from being top heavy, with great single options popping up throughout the twelve tracks. 'Wide Awake' is another stand out mass appeal powerful rock anthem in the making, however it is also possibly their most political to date as it is about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
'Revelations' pitches inspirations from classic rock and funk head on, and Chris Cornell is unquestionably one of the finest rock vocalists of a generation. Although Audioslave doesn't have the same raw aggression as Rage Against the Machine, the rest of his band mates are still a musical powerhouse. At times this record doesn't always live up to the high standards that Audioslave have created for themselves, but there are enough highlights to make this a record worth owning.
So we this side of the Atlantic have waited a bit extra to see them in action, now it's time for Audioslave to haul their arses over here and play live, for although this album does take a few listens to really get under your skin, what is clear from the outset is that Cornell and co have another twelve tracks that will blow the walls out of any venue they choose to visit.