BIOGRAPHY: AUDIOSLAVE

The combination of Rage Against the Machine and Chris Cornell looks on paper like something that could be achieved only in a game of fantasy rock baseball, or a really excellent impromptu jam session. This supergroup of noise came together after singer Zack de la Rocha's departure left Rage without a frontman; Cornell's Soundgarden had already split, so the pairing was set. Their debut album is a sonic assault that bears more similarity to Cornell's former team, albeit with actual ballads such as "I Am the Highway," the prettiest of the bunch. "Light My Way" lands at the other end of the spectrum, a full- on pan of boiling water in the face that proves guitarist Tom Morello listened to his fair share of Nugent albums while studying at Harvard. Cornell's lyrics can seem a bit New-Agey when set to Morello's guitar histrionics, but when the group sets to rocking, there is much firepower present. Still, as with most supergroups, or corporate mergers, past résumés hang heavy over these songs. (CHARLES R. CROSS)

From 2004's The New Rolling Stone Album Guide