Chris Cornell was never afraid to take chances. From the groundbreaking roar of Soundgarden to the fire of Audioslave, he carved a place as one of rock’s most powerful voices. Yet alongside the thunder, he also carried a quieter side—a songwriter drawn to reflection and vulnerability. That side came into focus ten years ago, when he released Higher Truth, an album that revealed the man behind the myth.
Originally released on September 18, 2015, Higher Truth stands as the last solo album of new material Cornell released during his lifetime. Produced with longtime collaborator Brendan O’Brien, the record was built with a stripped-down approach—Cornell and O’Brien handled much of the instrumentation, leaning on loops and small arrangements rather than a full band. The result was a deeply intimate soundscape where his voice and words were the center of gravity.
At the time of release, critics gave the record mixed but respectful reviews. Some wished for louder guitars and bigger hooks, while others appreciated the courage in scaling things back. Songs like “Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart” brought aching melodies to the surface, while “Before We Disappear” and “Murderer Of Blue Skies” revealed Cornell’s gift for writing about loss, time, and love with unflinching honesty. The title track, “Higher Truth,” seemed to speak of his lifelong search for meaning, reaching toward something beyond the moment.
Looking back now, Higher Truth feels less like an outlier and more like a final chapter Cornell intended to share with the world—a reminder that strength doesn’t always roar, sometimes it whispers. A decade later, listeners are rediscovering its depth, finding solace in the way he stripped everything down to what mattered most: words, melody, and truth.
