Soundgarden - Superunknown (20th Anniversary Vinyl 2LP)

Superunknown is the landmark fourth studio album from American rock band Soundgarden, originally released on 8 March 1994 through A&M Records. Featuring the unforgettable singles Black Hole Sun, Spoonman, Fell on Black Days and The Day I Tried to Live, the album stands as one of the defining releases of the 1990s alternative rock movement. Combining crushing guitar riffs, psychedelic textures, unconventional rhythms and the extraordinary voice of Chris Cornell, it captures Soundgarden at their creative and commercial peak.

Emerging from Seattle's influential grunge scene alongside Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains, Soundgarden developed a distinctive sound rooted in heavy metal, hard rock and psychedelic experimentation. On Superunknown, vocalist and guitarist Chris Cornell, guitarist Kim Thayil, bassist Ben Shepherd and drummer Matt Cameron expanded their musical approach, creating an album that balances raw aggression with haunting melodies and atmospheric production.

Produced by Michael Beinhorn and Soundgarden, the album was recorded at Bad Animals Studio in Seattle. Its rich arrangements and powerful performances demonstrate the band's willingness to experiment with unusual guitar tunings, shifting time signatures and intricate song structures while maintaining an unmistakably heavy sound.

The album opens with Let Me Drown, an explosive introduction built around distorted guitars and Cornell's soaring vocals. My Wave follows with a driving groove and unconventional rhythmic structure, while Fell on Black Days explores depression and emotional uncertainty through one of the band's most memorable melodies. Its restrained verses and powerful chorus showcase Cornell's remarkable ability to communicate vulnerability and intensity.

Mailman closes the first side with a slow, menacing riff and dark atmosphere, highlighting Soundgarden's roots in heavy metal and their talent for creating music that feels both unsettling and compelling.

Side B opens with the title track, Superunknown, a restless, rhythmically adventurous song that captures the album's experimental spirit. Head Down introduces psychedelic guitar textures and hypnotic rhythms before giving way to the album's most celebrated recording, Black Hole Sun.

With its dreamlike imagery, swirling guitars and unforgettable chorus, Black Hole Sun became one of the defining alternative rock songs of the decade. Its surreal music video and distinctive sound helped introduce Soundgarden to an enormous international audience, while its haunting atmosphere remains instantly recognisable.

The second LP begins with Spoonman, an explosive hard rock anthem inspired by Seattle street performer Artis the Spoonman, whose percussion performance appears on the recording. Its unconventional rhythms, powerful guitar work and infectious chorus made it another signature Soundgarden track.

Limo Wreck follows with an ominous, slow-building arrangement, while The Day I Tried to Live combines complex rhythmic shifts with one of Cornell's most emotionally powerful vocal performances. Kickstand closes the third side with a short, energetic burst of punk-influenced rock.

The final side opens with Fresh Tendrils, a heavy, groove-driven track that showcases the band's intricate interplay. 4th of July follows with one of the darkest and heaviest riffs in Soundgarden's catalogue, drawing on doom metal influences to create an intensely atmospheric performance.

Half, written and sung by bassist Ben Shepherd, introduces an unusual psychedelic interlude before Like Suicide delivers an expansive and emotionally charged conclusion to the original album sequence. Building from restrained passages into a dramatic guitar-driven climax, it stands among Soundgarden's most ambitious compositions.

The vinyl edition concludes with She Likes Surprises, a bonus track originally included on international editions and the original US vinyl release. Its melodic guitar work and distinctive arrangement provide a fitting final addition to this celebrated album.

Upon release, Superunknown debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 and became Soundgarden's most commercially successful album. Its combination of alternative rock, grunge, psychedelic rock and heavy metal helped redefine the possibilities of mainstream rock music during the 1990s.

The album earned Soundgarden two Grammy Awards in 1995, with Black Hole Sun winning Best Hard Rock Performance and Spoonman winning Best Metal Performance. More than three decades after its original release, Superunknown remains an essential recording for fans of powerful guitar music, adventurous songwriting and the Seattle alternative rock movement.

This 2014 20th Anniversary Edition celebrates the album's enduring legacy with audio remastered from the original analogue tapes. Pressed across two heavyweight 180g black vinyl LPs, the edition presents all sixteen tracks from the original vinyl configuration, including She Likes Surprises.

Housed in a gatefold sleeve with a 12-page booklet featuring photographs and artwork, this anniversary reissue offers a beautifully presented way to experience one of the most influential rock albums of the 1990s.

Supplied brand new and sealed.

Available from Heathen Records, your independent Australian online record store specialising in new and collectible vinyl.

Details

• Artist: Soundgarden
• Album: Superunknown
• Format: 2LP Vinyl
• Edition: 20th Anniversary Remastered Edition (2014)
• Vinyl Colour: Black
• Vinyl Weight: 180g Heavyweight
• Original Album Release: 8 March 1994
• Anniversary Reissue: June 2014
• Genre: Grunge / Alternative Rock / Hard Rock / Heavy Metal
• Record Label: A&M Records / Universal Music
• Catalogue Number: 3778981
• Barcode: 0602537789818
• Producers: Michael Beinhorn and Soundgarden
• Remastering: Remastered from Original Analogue Tapes
• Packaging: Gatefold Sleeve with 12-Page Booklet
• Tracks: 16 (Including She Likes Surprises)
• Condition: Brand New and Sealed

Tracklist

LP1 – Side A

• A1 Let Me Drown
• A2 My Wave
• A3 Fell on Black Days
• A4 Mailman

LP1 – Side B

• B1 Superunknown
• B2 Head Down
• B3 Black Hole Sun

LP2 – Side C

• C1 Spoonman
• C2 Limo Wreck
• C3 The Day I Tried to Live
• C4 Kickstand

LP2 – Side D

• D1 Fresh Tendrils
• D2 4th of July
• D3 Half
• D4 Like Suicide
• D5 She Likes Surprises