King Animal cover

King Animal

Soundgarden · 2012

71 min · 18 tracks · alternative rock

A dense tapestry of heavy riffs and brooding melodies, capturing the essence of grunge's evolution in a modern context.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Been Away Too Long Start here — This opening track sets a powerful tone with its driving rhythm and reflective lyrics about absence, signaling Soundgarden's return to form.
  • →
    Non-State Actor — With its politically charged themes and complex instrumentation, this track exemplifies the band's ability to meld heavy rock with thoughtful commentary.
  • →
    Blood on the Valley Floor — This song features haunting melodies and introspective lyrics that highlight the band's signature sound while exploring deeper emotional territories.
  • →
    By Crooked Steps — The track combines a catchy chorus with gritty guitar work, making it a standout example of how Soundgarden evolved while staying true to their roots.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

58 /100
Treeline
Higher than 49% of albums we've rated

The album showcases strong songwriting and production but lacks full cohesion due to its length and bonus tracks.

What we noticed

  • The first half of the album features a consistent use of heavy guitar riffs and dynamic shifts, while the second half introduces more atmospheric and melodic elements.
  • Several tracks incorporate unconventional song structures, with abrupt tempo changes and varied dynamics that challenge traditional verse-chorus forms.
  • The album's production emphasizes a raw sound, with vocals often layered over dense instrumentation, creating a wall of sound effect.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. 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.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • wave-like pacing with intensity
  • introspective moments of reflection
  • gritty sound for late nights
  • gradual build towards catharsis

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer instant gratification
  • seek standalone hit singles

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Late Career Highlight — It marks a strong return after a long hiatus, showcasing continued vitality.
Themes
post-hiatus reflection· political disillusionment· grunge revival soundscape
Career context
King Animal is Soundgarden's first studio album in over 16 years, following their breakup in 1997. Released in 2012, it marked their return to the music scene after a lengthy hiatus and showcased a matured sound while retaining their signature grunge elements.
New to Soundgarden? Find your way in →

Tracklist

  • 1 Been Away Too Long Start here 3:36
  • 2 Non-State Actor 3:57
  • 3 By Crooked Steps 4:01
  • 4 A Thousand Days Before 4:23
  • 5 Blood on the Valley Floor 3:49
  • 6 Bones of Birds 4:23
  • 7 Taree 3:38
  • 8 Attrition 2:53
  • 9 Black Saturday 3:30
  • 10 Halfway There 3:16
  • 11 Worse Dreams 4:53
  • 12 Eyelid’s Mouth 4:39
  • 13 Rowing 5:09
  • 14 Worse Dreams (demo) 3:21
  • 15 Black Saturday (demo) 3:16
  • 16 By Crooked Steps (demo) 4:24
  • 17 Bones of Birds (demo) 3:27
  • 18 A Thousand Days Before (demo) 4:25

What to play next

Echo of Miles: Scattered Tracks Across the Path
Listen next

Echo of Miles: Scattered Tracks Across the Path

2014

This album continues the heavy, experimental sound with a mix of unreleased tracks.
Telephantasm
Go back to

Telephantasm

2010

It sets the stage for King Animal with a collection of key tracks from their career.
Full Soundgarden discography Where to start with Soundgarden Artists like Soundgarden
alternative rock hard rock heavy metal

If this landed

Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.

Black Gives Way to Blue

Black Gives Way to Blue

Alice in Chains

Shares heavy riffs and introspective lyrics, embodying a matured grunge sound post-hiatus.

Wasting Light

Wasting Light

Foo Fighters

Combines powerful rock anthems with a raw, organic production approach reminiscent of grunge's spirit.

Perdida

Perdida

Stone Temple Pilots

Explores reflective themes and melodic depth, creating a modern take on grunge influences.

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata