Soundgarden Are “Pretty Close” To Completing Their Final Album With Chris Cornell

Soundgarden have shared a major update on the long awaited final album featuring Chris Cornell, confirming they are “pretty close” to completing the project.

In a new interview with Allison Hagendorf, the surviving members Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron, and Ben Shepherd, opened up about the emotional and creative process behind finishing a body of work that began before Cornell’s death in 2017.

A Record Built From Their Last Sessions Together

The material stems from demos and rehearsal recordings created between 2015 and early 2017, a period the band now sees differently with hindsight. They’ve reunited with producer Terry Date, who helped shape Louder Than Love and Badmotorfinger, but who insists on keeping the band’s natural sound at the centre. As Thayil explains, “There isn’t a signature Terry Date thing. It is him helping the band be the band.”

Cameron added that some of the material hinted at a creative shift for Soundgarden: “There was a couple songs that felt like it was kind of a new chapter or it could have been a new chapter… it’s bittersweet, of course.” Despite that heaviness, he said the process has been rewarding: “I’m really excited for people to hear it… we’re pretty close [to finishing it].”

Hearing Chris Cornell’s Voice Again

Working with Cornell’s isolated demo vocals remains one of the most difficult parts. Cameron admitted that hearing his voice soloed is “overpowering,” but stressed the importance of staying focused on completing the work for the right reasons. Shepherd recalled hearing early playback in the studio and being hit by the weight of it: “Holy hell. That SOUNDGARDEN. It’s so cool to hear it again.”

A Final Chapter After Years of Delays

The project follows years of legal disputes between the band and Chris Cornell’s widow, Vicky Cornell, over ownership of the recordings, delays Thayil believes impacted the emotional process. Still, he calls the current moment meaningful: “It’s a way to post tribute to our beloved brother… we don’t take that lightly.”

With the band newly inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Soundgarden are approaching this final album as both closure and a celebration of their collective history.