By Crooked Steps
Soundgarden · 2013
4 min · 1 track · alternative rock
A gritty fusion of hard rock and grunge, blending heavy riffs with Chris Cornell's soaring vocals.
Top tracks — play these first
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By Crooked Steps — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of struggle and resilience, featuring powerful guitar work and dynamic shifts that highlight the band's classic sound.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The single effectively blends classic Soundgarden elements with modern production, though its standalone nature limits cohesion.
What we noticed
- The track features a heavy, distorted guitar riff that drives the song forward while maintaining a steady mid-tempo pace.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Marks Soundgarden's successful return after a long hiatus, re-establishing their presence.
- Themes
- grunge revival· heavy riffs· struggle and resilience
- Moods
- Introspective· Melancholy
- Career context
- By Crooked Steps was released as part of Soundgarden's comeback album, King Animal, marking their first studio release in over 16 years since Down on the Upside in 1996. This album signified a return to form for the band, showcasing their signature sound while navigating contemporary influences.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Alice in Chains· Stone Temple Pilots· Pearl Jam
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 By Crooked Steps 4:00
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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