Soundgarden were the heaviest of the Seattle bands. Chris Cornell's four-octave vocal range soaring over Kim Thayil's detuned, dissonant riffs and Matt Cameron's polyrhythmic drumming. They drew as much from Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin as from punk.
Superunknown was their masterpiece, producing 'Black Hole Sun,' which became grunge's most surreal and memorable video. Cornell's suicide in 2017 was a devastating loss.
Key Albums
Psychedelic metal meets pop songwriting. 'Black Hole Sun' and 'Spoonman.'
Heavier and more complex than its peers. 'Outshined' and 'Rusty Cage.'
More varied and experimental, with acoustic textures alongside the heaviness.
Why They Matter
Soundgarden brought genuine metal heaviness to grunge, and Chris Cornell's voice remains one of the most powerful instruments in rock history.