Rarely has a debut album come with such a massive weight of expectation burdening it's very release. But after the first word of the collaboration between the musical trio from Rage against the Machine and voice of a generation; Soundgarden's Chris Cornell, the gauntlet was thrown down. Surely they could not fail.

Cornell was joined by expert guitarist Tom Morello, bassist Tim Commerford and drummer Brad Wilk for this mighty alliance. Cornell wrote lyrics, the other guys wrote the music. One of the boasts that appear on the inside sleeve is that 'all sounds are made by guitar, bass, drums and vocals'. Why such a ridiculous disclaimer? Well, some of the incredible sounds created here, especially by Cornell's voice and Morello's guitar, are startling to believe are made by these simple instruments.
Morello's expertise on six-string apparently comes from a dedicated 12-hour-a-day practice schedule, but Cornell's incredible vocal capacity is God-given.

2) 'Show me how to live'
Probably the best track on the album, this leaps out of the speakers and uses your eardrums as punching bags. The third UK single, a foreboding riff is rolled in, with uneasily whispered verses, and funkified drum beats. As the first comes to an end, you sense you're in for something special, and the band don't disappoint, with a tsunami of a chorus, crashing strings and drums led by an insane howling chorus from Cornell about being crucified! I can't decide whether this is about Jesus, Frankenstein, or a possessed person, but it is lyrically flawless, and brings intense satisfaction! Enjoy!

4) 'What you are'
A US single, this alternates between longing, whispered verses, and bellowed choruses about a partner who just takes, until Cornell is; 'free of what you are'. The incredibly loopy guitar licks are the highlight, Morello confounding expectations of how a guitar should sound.

6) 'Set it off'
The bizarre vinyl-scratching sound effects made by Morello's guitar on the intro. have to be heard to be believed, then we have a strange 'swish' effect, before this monster grinds into life, with a superbly funky bass and drum beat, and hard-rock guitar. Cornell sets his vocal tones to hard 'n' heavy, and we have a degree of swearing for this bellowing behemoth about what sounds like a dying cult leader whose last words to his 'flock' are to start a fire! Excellence.

8) 'I am the highway'
This slow-burning power ballad takes some digesting, but satisfies when you take it for what it is. Okay, that makes no sense, but it is slow, and affecting, in that Cornell puts on his soul voice, and sings to, presumably his partner, about his perceived importance;
"I am not your rolling wheels,
I am the highway,
I am not your carpet ride,
I am the sky"
Backing instruments are splendid, especially the atmosphere created by Morello's guitar.

12) 'Light my way'
Faster track, but similar in many ways to the last, i advise you to read the printed lyrics to understand just how good Chris Cornell's wordplay is. The tempo kicks right up on the bellowed chorus, and this is a grower, with strange effects going on throughout, no doubt from the twisted fingers of Morello.

14) 'The last remaining light'
Highly ironic and fitting title for this album, which not only contains a lot of fire and arson references, but has a flame as the main logo and cover art. Of course, it also heralds the end to a tremendous album. Dizzily spinning in melody and direction, Morello adds a touch of psychedelia, and more orthodox blues touches here and there, while Cornell alternates between hazy vocals, and power-howling as only he can pull off. A quite masterful end from four highly accomplished musicians.