Audioslave Out Of Exile

Audioslave Out Of Exile: When Audioslave released their self titled debut album back in 2002, Soundgarden fans and Rage Against The Machine fans alike breathed a sigh of relief. Melded from two of the most influential bands of their time, both with completely different sounds, nobody really thought it could work.

However, Audioslave surprised everyone and gained loads of new fans in the process. It was the hit single 'Cochise' that made people sit up and listen and eat their words. It was actually quite good and music journalists everywhere desperately tried to back peddle after slating the album.

Audioslave clearly had a point to prove with their first album, they wanted to be seen as credible musicians in a new band and not the ex members of Soundgarden and RATM. They did indeed prove their point and their debut album went on to sell over 2 million copies.

So, we come to Out of Exile. Well, it has definitely come straight out of the 'if it aint broke don't fix it' box of tricks. When Audioslave are at their most rockin', they are in a class of their own but if that's what you are looking for you might be a tad disappointed with this album.

Recorded in just two and a half weeks, Out Of Exile is a more grown up, mellow collection. When Chris Cornell was quoted saying this record was going to be one of the greatest rock records ever in a well known music mag, I was expecting something pretty big. Its not that Out Of Exile is bad, it's just that it seems to be lacking something. Vocally, Chris Cornell sounds as dazzling as he ever has but as a whole the album is just well, simple. Sure there are the powerful chords and emotional lyrics we have come to expect but there is nothing to instantaneously tug at your ears to make you think they have poured their heart and soul into it.

Opening track 'Your Time Has Come' although catchy enough, sounds uncannily like 'Cochise' whereas listening to the opening verse of first single 'Be Yourself' you could be forgiven for thinking you were listening to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The album continues with a similar funky feel on most tracks while 'Heaven's Dead' is a bluesy, quite depressing little ditty which sounds like it would be more at home on Chris Cornell's solo CD 'Euphoria Morning'.

So is Out Of Exile actually any good? Well, there is not a great deal of innovation and it's certainly not slap in the face rock n roll. It's more of a sedate grower and the template is basically the same as 'Audioslave'. There are enough reasonable tracks to satisfy the fan, but it falls way short of being one of the best rock records ever, unfortunately we have heard it all before.