Just ahead of Soundgarden’s induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this weekend, members of Anthrax, Arch Enemy and more have teamed-up to deliver an on-point cover of Superunknown’s classically moody “The Day I Tried to Live” — and they even got ‘Garden guitarist Kim Thayil to join them.
The cover arrives through the King Ultramega project steered by bassist Mark Menghi. It also features drum-backing from Anthrax’s Charlie Benante — who’d previously slammed through a cover of Soundgarden’s “Rusty Cage” with Menghi — and soulfully raspy vocal work from Arch Enemy frontwoman Alissa White-Gluz.
“I felt that I needed to try to embody his unique power and swagger when delivering the vocals here,” White-Gluz said in a statement of approaching late vocalist-guitarist Chris Cornell’s lyricism and soaring melodies. “He has always had such a remarkable way of wording things: ‘I stole a thousand beggars’ change and gave it to the rich’ – just so, so good.”
She continues of Cornell: “He always managed to grab our attention with narrative and keep our interest with thoughtful word choice and intriguing messages.”
The guitars are handled by none other than Thayil, who noted in a statement that performing the track outside of Soundgarden’s framework “allowed me to open myself up to the creative risks of sharing an emotive and artistically intimate experience with other creative individuals, and … this has proved to be rewarding and encouraging, for me, of future similar collaborations.”
Benante added that “The Day I Tried to Live” is a beautiful piece of music, and that he tried to stay true to Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron’s performance.
You can catch the cover via the player up above, while a limited edition 12-inch EP featuring this cover and the previously delivered “Rusty Cage” run-through between Menghi, Benante, Alice in Chains’ William DuVall and Mastodon’s Bill Kelliher can be pre-ordered here, via Reigning Phoenix Music.
As previously reported, Soundgarden will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday (November 8th). Surviving members Thayil, Cameron and bassist Ben Shepherd are expected to perform Soundgarden songs alongside featured guests.
Earlier this week, a behind-the-scenes, rehearsal room photo of the band pictured them hanging with Pretty Reckless vocalist Taylor Momsen, Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell, Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready and founding Soundgarden bassist Hiro Yamomoto.