Skip to main content

Sorry Audioslave, But Your New Song Sorta Sucks

After the 22-second snippet released last week failed to shed much light on what Audioslave's first single in six years would be like, we got revelations galore thanks to the full length track's radio premiere earlier today.

After first listen, it seems Audioslave are content to underwhelm with their hotly anticipated return; Live To Rise certainly doesn't match the bombast of any prior Audioslave release.  Instead it merely plods along down the path of generic rock that's been so well worn by countless hack bands (many of which also appear on the upcoming Avengers Assemble soundtrack) that it less resembles a path proper than a slick, muddy concert site as the Lollapalooza crowd files out.  But hey, enough out of me; check out the new Audioslave single for yourself:



Edit: Upon further reflection, I remembered that this isn't Audioslave but Soundgarden.  And the wait hasn't been six years, it's been fifteen.

Okay, I kid; I knew this all along.  But you get the joke, no?

Honestly, this song does nothing for me or for Soundgarden's legacy.  In the late 80's thru mid 90's, Soundgarden were the refreshing take on what so many labelled "grunge".  Always bringing strong hooks but never shy of wild experimentation, it was the appreciation of their willingness to go on a sonic adventure that endeared me so to this band.  To hear them shitting out this cookie-cutter dumb rock fare saddens me.  I can only hope that this is one of the songs they threw away while recording their new album (slated for release later this year); there may be some folks out there who want a new Audioslave album, but they're in the distinct minority.

Still, Live To Rise is sure to be high art compared to some of the other absolute drivel that's set to appear on the Avengers Asstacular soundtrack.  You've got Five Finger Death Punch's nauseating From Out Of Nowhere cover from a few years back, an electronic mix of an Evanescence song, and Shoot To Thrill (I assume a cover of the AC/DC track) by Theory of a Badband.  Not to mention throwaway tracks by the like of Papa Roach, Buckcherry and Bush.

If you're into that sort of thing, the Avengers Asscracks soundtrack comes out May 1.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Year in Rock 2025

  Alright, I've got some explaining to do.   By now anyone who's visited this blog is well aware of how infrequently I've used this space in recent years; aside from the occasional fertile year of content, I really haven't posted all that often over the last five years or so. There are many reasons for this, which have already been outlined in previous apology posts; but, essentially, it boils down to my own laziness and the cold reality that blogs are, like Refused (again), fucking dead. So, I wouldn't hold my breath for a triumphant return to reviews, or even semi-regular posts, but:   a) I feel like Year in Rock posts have always belonged here and, even though I've experimented with different methods of presentation recently and been satisfied, the "blink and you missed it" unveiling via Facebook stories this year was perhaps ultimately a disservice to the records I lauded. After all, cramming the list into short videos isn't too far off from ju...

Year in Rock 2013 Nominee: Arctic Monkeys

ARCTIC MONKEYS Do I Wanna Know? From: AM Released: September 10 That Year in Rock 2012's Single of the Year R U Mine? ended up on this album is pleasing, and it fits the motif well enough. But R U Mine? isn't what makes Arctic Monkeys' fifth album an Album of the Year contender. Sweaty, sultry and pulsing with sexual energy, AM is the kind of record that's just as effective whether you're chilling out after a long day, staring into a mirror prepping yourself for a late night clubbing session or setting the mood for some escapades in the boudoir.

Year in Rock 2023: Album of the Year #10-1

Now we're getting somewhere; the top ten, where there are no duds or mids, only bangers. Also, no more teasing it out; let's wrap this up!  What I've learned this year from my ten faves this year is that it is indeed still possible for a dude approaching his fifties to more or less stay up to date on the new school. Of course, there are some listed here that got a boost from playing tribute to the old school, but there is an undercurrent happening in rock that points to the future. But, I'm getting ahead of myself; here come the champs. 10 MILITARIE GUN Life Under the Gun June 23, 2023 • Loma Vista Highlights Very High Will Logic Never Fucked Up Once Rising from the ranks of the still-potent L.A. hardcore scene, the debut record from Militarie Gun (following a trio of EPs) bears a dash of polish that's expected with backing from a larger label; the tension and energy remain, though, resulting in one of the catchiest hardcore albums I can think of in recent years. 9 ...