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The Lowdown: Musical trio from Rage Against The Machine team-up with ex Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell to record cracking debut album.

It's a few years now since Zack De La Rocha split from Rage Against The Machine leaving the remaining musical trio without a singer. The band vowed to carry on and set out in search of a replacement. It's a few years more since Chris Cornell split Soundgarden, sensing their best days behind them. Since then Cornell has been quiet, releasing just one solo album, the mellow "Euphoria Morning". Fortuitous then for both parties that their paths should cross; Rage desperately hoping to find someone with the presence to replace a very original frontman, Cornell seemingly unsure of where to go next in his career.

After a year and a half of legal wrangling between respective management and record companies the fruit of their collaboration has finally reached the public. Its name - Audioslave (having attracted such a high profile replacement for De La Rocha, Rage thought it better to start out with a new band moniker). Its sound - pure Classic Rock. Quite surprising when you consider the musical backgrounds of those involved, Rage being the originators of the oft imitated Rap Metal sound, Soundgarden being the most musically out there band of the grunge explosion.

The album opens with the single "Cochise", all Zeppelin swagger and emotive vocals, and the classic rock feel hits straight away. The following number of tracks continue in a similar vein and it soon becomes clear what Audioslave are all about; powerful mid-paced traditional style rockers with huge riffs and even more huge choruses. The musicians flex their muscle from the off providing both delicate and thunderous backing, over which Cornell sings like a man with an angel in his throat and a darkness in his soul. The result is an extremely convincing and genuine rock band, and nary a hint of post-grunge irony. Five songs in and the pace finally slows with the semi balladic "Like a Stone" before the album lifts again on "Set it off", a song unbelievably reminiscent of Ronnie Dio era Rainbow. Cornell's voice here is superb, finding a cool blues groove somewhere between Dio himself and Paul Rodgers.

Right in the middle of the record, Audioslave really stake a claim for iconic classic rock status, placing two massive, epic tracks back to back. "Shadow on the Sun" starts off slow building each time it reaches the chorus before breaking to allow Cornell two verses with very little musical accompaniment. He delivers another startling piece of singing before the band kick back in and bring the song to a furious climax while Cornell screams the refrain in pure rage. "I am the Highway" is much more considered and a real mood piece, almost acoustic in scope and quite beautiful. After this the album remains strong, standouts being the funky "Hypnotize" and the metal "Bring Em Back Alive", before changing gear again completely and finishing with two ballads. This closing sea change gives the whole 65-minute disc a really memorable ending. "Getaway Car" is sweet and soulful and wouldn't sound out of place on Chris Robinson's solo album. Closing track "The Last Remaining Light" floats and sways with a dark emotion sounding somewhere between Sabbath's "Planet Caravan" and "Children of the Sea".

So Audioslave catch everyone unawares by sounding nothing like either of the bands they formed from and, top-notch producer Rick Rubin on board, come up with a stunning debut album full of unbridled and memorable songs, performed passionately and sung by a truly gifted vocalist. What's even better the band have already got most of their second album in the can and I for one can't wait to hear it. Here's hoping they become huge.

Further Listening: Rage Against the Machine "The battle for Los Angeles"; Soundgarden "BadMotorFinger".

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