The enduring legacy of the late, great Chris Cornell is being hailed by a new collective project comprising Alice in Chains’ William DuVall, Mastodon guitarist Bill Kelliher and Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante and more. Under the wink-wink moniker of King Ultramega, they’re kicking off a cover series with a diesel-burning take on Soundgarden’s “Rusty Cage.”
The cover arrives two days ahead of what would have been Cornell’s 61st birthday — though the rendition technically premiered online in 2020 as a COVID-era lockdown jam between DuVall, Kelliher, Benante and King Ultramega cornerstone Mark Menghi. It was remixed by Josh Wilbur, and was likewise remastered and partially re-recorded for today’s re-release.
Benante drives the first half’s fast-and-punky rhythm into your brain like a rusty Phillips-head screwdriver. Kelliher grinds into the irregular metering with metallic heft, while bassist Menghi wah-basses Ben Sheperd’s low-strung four-stringin’ like a pro. DuVall, meanwhile, rolls into the red with a Cornell-saluting screech.
“I just leaned into my love for the song and my immense respect for Chris,” the Alice in Chains singer said in a statement. “Since the instrumental track Bill, Charlie, and Mark sent hewed so closely to the original, I thought it best for me to stay in that ballpark, as well.”
He continued: “Again, my reason for participating was simply taking on an interesting challenge when so much of the world was shut down. I had no thoughts or ambitions for this beyond our posting it on social media five years ago.”
The “Rusty Cage” cover has been re-released via Reigning Phoenix Music. The label have partnered up with the MusiCares Foundation to highlight the legacy of Cornell and Soundgarden, as well as to “support the mental health and well-being of music creators.”
While future singles have yet to be detailed, King Ultramega plan to release more Cornell covers — spanning Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog and Audioslave — featuring contributions from Soundgarden’s own Kim Thayil, as well as Joe Satriani, Arch Enemy’s Alissa White-Gluz, veteran session drummer Kenny Aronoff and others.
Proceeds from each single release will benefit MusiCares.