THE DROP
Lzzy Hale just dropped a cover of Soundgarden's "Loud Love" with Testament's Alex Skolnick and Pearl Jam's original drummer Dave Krusen as part of the King Ultramega tribute project *†. They tracked it live to analog tape in the same room with real amps — the way Cornell's generation actually made records ‡.
WHAT TO KNOW
- King Ultramega is bassist Mark Menghi's ongoing Chris Cornell tribute series, signed to Reigning Phoenix Music, with previous covers featuring Mastodon's Brann Dailor and Soundgarden's Kim Thayil *†
- Krusen met Cornell and Matt Cameron back when Pearl Jam was cutting *Ten* and Soundgarden was working on *Temple of the Dog* — he calls tackling the drum parts on "Loud Love" intimidating *†
- Recorded live to reel-to-reel tape with Skolnick and Menghi playing together with amps cranked for the first time ‡
- Proceeds go to MusiCares for mental health services and addiction recovery support in the music community *¶
THE TAKE
Hale says she discovers something deeper in Cornell's lyrics or higher in his range every few years, and calls his authenticity something that "can't be taught or trained for" †. Tracking a grunge classic live to tape with Seattle-era players instead of grid-editing it to death is the kind of respect Cornell's catalog deserves.