Ladies and gentlemen, the kings of grunge are back and, it’s safe to say, better than ever. Soundgarden released Tuesday its sixth studio album, _King Animal_, a long and at times bitter 16-year hiatus from its last recording.

When frontman Chris Cornell belts, “I’ve been away for too long” on the album’s opening track, “Been Away Too Long,” listeners can tell fans weren’t the only ones missing the magic of Soundgarden’s past.

_King Animal_ stays consistent with a blistering mix of classic rock and the menacing, grungy riffs that brought Cornell and Co. to prominence. “Live to Rise” shines by capturing a more melodic side of the band, obviously influenced by Audioslave, while still maintaining the off-end guitar styling of lead guitarist Kim Thayil.

Overall, _King Animal_ proves to be the perfect re-coming out party for a band that needs no introduction. If you’re a fan of real rock ‘n’ roll or just plain good music, this is a must-have for your collection.