Roger Kisby, Getty Images
Grunge pioneers Soundgarden have begun plotting their first studio album in 15 years. According to a new announcement by the revered Seattle band, the follow-up to 1996's 'Down on the Upside' is expected "very soon."
"Over the past few months, we've been busy jamming, writing and hanging out together -- exploring the creative aspect of being Soundgarden," the group -- frontman Chris Cornell, guitarist Kim Thayil, drummer Matt Cameron and bassist Ben Shepherd -- wrote on its official website. "It feels great."
"We have some cool new songs that we are going to record very soon," the band continued in a post that was accompanied by a photo of the members collaborating in the studio. "Thank you for all of the support!"
2011 looks to be another active year for the band, with a new concert album, 'Live on I-5,' due on March 22. That chronicle of their 1996 west coast tour -- one of the band's last treks before the split -- comes in tandem with a solo "songbook" tour by Cornell, who will be playing a five-week run of unplugged shows that get underway in Austin, Texas on April 1. Cornell intends to draw on material from his solo career and work with Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog and Audioslave.
Soundgarden Perform 'Black Hole Sun' at Lollapalooza
