THE DROP
King Ultramega — the all-star Chris Cornell tribute project — just dropped a cover of Soundgarden's "Birth Ritual" featuring the guy who co-wrote and drummed on the original, Matt Cameron †‡. Released one day after what would've been Cornell's 58th birthday, this one shifts the deep-cut Singles soundtrack rarity from its bass-driven original into a guitar-forward arrangement with Lzzy Hale on vocals and Joe Hottinger on guitar †‡.
WHAT TO KNOW
- Matt Cameron co-wrote the original "Birth Ritual" — a Badmotorfinger outtake that landed on the Singles soundtrack — and plays drums on this version †‡
- Lzzy Hale handles vocals while Halestorm bandmate Joe Hottinger recorded guitars using a tuning he'd never used before, running through Bogner Snorkler and Wizard Hell Razor amps †‡
- The arrangement emphasizes Hottinger's guitar work over the bass-driven approach of the original †
- This is the second Soundgarden member to appear on a King Ultramega track, following Kim Thayil on "The Day I Tried to Live" ‡
- All musician participation supports MusiCares ‡
THE TAKE
Having the drummer who actually lived the song — and appears performing it in the Singles movie — gives this the kind of legitimacy most tribute projects can't touch ‡. Cameron says the tribute "sounds true to the original" ‡, and when you're reworking a deep cut rather than chasing "Black Hole Sun" for the millionth time, at least you're doing something that matters to actual fans who know the catalog.