Soundgarden drew up the
template for grunge music with their astonishing 1988 debut, Ultramega OK, but
with their sophomore release, Louder Than Love, the Seattle quartet began the
remarkable metamorphosis that would, in just a few short years, transform them
from hotly-tipped local favourites to fully-fledged rock icons. Soundgarden (whose debut had been released by
Californian indie SST) became the first Pacific Northwest act to sign to a
major label when they inked a deal with A&M in May that same year. To record their second album, Soundgarden’s new label
hooked them up with Terry Date, a savvy producer with a background in prog-rock
and metal acts such as Dream Theater and Metal Church, and who would later
produce Apple, the solo album by pre-Pearl Jam outfit Mother Love Bone. Noting the album’s dense, metallic sheen, Rolling
Stone commented that the songs were “lean, mean and fighting fit” and that
“Chris Cornell has the sort of soaring, muscular voice that [The Cult’s] Ian
Astbury can only dream of”. Louder Than
Love provided Soundgarden with an all-important commercial breakthrough when,
following its September 5, 1989 release, it peaked just outside the Top 100 of
the Billboard 200. It was only the initial shot across the industry’s bow, but
it showed that the momentum behind the Seattle grunge sound was building.