Soundgarden releases first album in 13 years through ‘Guitar Hero’ video game

Soundgarden releases new album through video game

NEW YORK — After a 13-year break, Soundgarden is releasing its new album through the “Guitar Hero” video game series — and its frontman believes it’s the perfect way to reintroduce the band to a new generation.

“In the obvious way, it’s going to reach a certain amount of younger people that either may or may not know about Soundgarden,” frontman Chris Cornell said in a recent interview. “No matter what, I feel like releasing it this way is going to reach a lot of people who have not heard our music or have not heard a lot of it.”

“Telephantasm” is a retrospective CD that features some of the grunge band’s biggest hits from its 1990s heyday, as well as unreleased cuts.

It was released this week as part of “Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock.” It’s being touted as the first time a new album has been released in conjunction with a video game; it’s already been declared platinum, based on the games shipped. It will be released Tuesday as a traditional CD.

Cornell said this isn’t the first time Soundgarden has had its music featured in a video game, but this new partnership is a rarity, and the “Guitar Hero” partnership is the perfect marriage.

“I thought about doing this ever since I’ve heard about the game and what it is. I think the musical arrangements lend itself so well to what the video game is,” the 46-year-old singer said.

“Guitar Hero” is published by Activision Blizzard Inc.

Associated Press writer Carmen Castro contributed to this report.