Audioslave Shake It Up

"This record is more diverse than the first one," says Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell of his supergroup's second album, due in May. "It's probably less riff rock than ever, but there's a lot of faster, more aggressive songs. Musically, Brad, Tom and Tim were taking huge leaps with their writing."

Among the more experimental tracks laid down by the Rage-meets-Soundgarden supergroup: an R&B-flavored ballad and a techno-infused rock song. Recorded in Los Angeles after a series of performances on the 2003 Lollapalooza Festival, the album follows the band's multi-platinum 2002 debut. Audioslave -- in which Cornell is joined by Rage Against the Machine vets Tom Morello (guitar), Tim Commerford (bass) and Brad Wilk (drums) -- formed in 2001 after Rage disbanded. Following a brief exit by Cornell in the summer of 2002, the band regrouped and released their first album later that fall.

"It was a lot easier this time," admits Cornell, who says the entire album was recorded in two and a half weeks. "Our confidence was higher because we knew each other. We knew where we were as a band."

Audioslave have begun lining up a spring North American tour.

Audioslave tour dates:

4/11: San Francisco, Warfield
4/14: Las Vegas, Hard Rock Hotel
4/18: Houston, Verizon Wireless Theater
4/22: Chicago, Aragon Ballroom
4/24: Cleveland, Agora Theater and Ballroom
4/25: Detroit, State Theater
4/26: Toronto, Kool Haus
4/29: Philadelphia, Electric Factory
4/30: New York, Roseland Ballroom
5/4: Atlanta, Tabernacle
5/6: Orlando, Hard Rock Live