Soundgarden + Tomahawk | Tracks

“Been Away Too Long”
Soundgarden

A few unearthed outtakes and a disposable cut for the Avengers soundtrack are all Soundgarden has given us in the two years since the reunited grunge vet headlined Lollapalooza. Granted, members have had their hands full, mostly drummer Matt Cameron with his Pearl Jam obligation but also Chris Cornell, who’s held on to his spotty solo career. Turns out the four-piece has been toiling away behind a proper comeback album, and “Been Away Too Long” seems to acknowledge that in its title. It’s a surging, riff-heaving beast of a song that doesn’t waste any time getting to the point. Cameron’s impeccable pulse underpins the buzz-saw guitars of Cornell and Kim Thayil. Through it all, Cornell, in his best banshee wail, counters the aggression with a more vulnerable tone: “No one knows me / No one saves me / No one loves or hates me.” Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to regroup after all. What could be a worse reception than ambivalence?