Audioslave

Years before the misery of Limp Bizkit, Rage Against The Machine proved rap-metal could harbour both political and musical radicalism within its toned and tattooed frame. Nowadays singer Zack De La Rocha spends his time with the Zapatistas and DJ Shadow, leaving his bandmates to recruit ex-Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell for a predictably conservative affair. With sleeve art by Pink Floyd designer Storm Thorgerson and an admittedly superb opening update of Led Zeppelin ("Cochise"), Audioslave are clearly angling for stadium rock idolatry. Sadly, they don't quite merit it yet. The band remain prodigiously well-sprung, and Tom Morello has enough guitar effects to reanimate the hoariest old metal dynamic. But Audioslave is weighed down by Cornell's po-faced bellow, and it goes on 20 minutes too long.

Rating: 2 / 10