Audioslave
Audioslave

R.A.T.M.+ Soundgarden = Civilian. No, actually Audioslave.
The story of this group, with their first album, is rather convoluted. Rage Against The Machine were wandering without a singer after Zack de La Rocha's departure. Chris Cornell, after a splendid solo album and having left behind Soundgarden, was looking for a new challenge to tackle. Thus, Civilian was born, and their demos soon began circulating online. But then, surprise, legal disputes buried the project, which soon rose from its ashes under the name Audioslave. More or less the same repertoire, but the new band re-recorded all the songs from scratch and hastily packaged their first CD. And here we are, ready to listen to this work.

The approach to this album can be very different, contradictory, difficult. Fans of R.A.T.M. vividly recall the band's history and potential and want to see how deserving Audioslave is as their heir. But I am a fan of Cornell. And I want to discover how this band can enhance his amazing vocal abilities. The result leaves no doubt, the voice is the astonishing trademark of Audioslave. Cornell, who not only pours his heart out but also wrote all the songs, shares the spotlight with Tom Morello, a powerful and refined guitarist who supports the singer's writing with elegance and energy.

Audioslave's first album is a hard rock record, with references to grunge, like nothing heard in a long time. The compositional level is high without any dips or filler tracks: the single Cochise effectively summarizes its sonic style. Sure, maybe it lacks the creative peak that amazes, or the sonic idea that opens new horizons. But we're not facing an innovative record, Audioslave does not have that pretense nor intention, this is an energetic and direct rock album, without contaminations, no trace of hip hop or other deviations from the main path. This same album played by a group of unknowns would have caused a stir, given the quality of the work. But we are talking about a supergroup, highly anticipated and thus judged with particular attention. Now we await Audioslave to prove themselves in concerts, the true pulse of a band's depth, especially in rock. And then we'll try to understand if behind this fascinating project there really is a band, or if it was just a fascinating commercial endeavor.