"Louder Than Love" is the second studio album and major-label debut by American rock band Soundgarden. It was released on September 5, 1989, by A&M Records. After touring in support of their debut album, Ultramega OK (1988), Soundgarden left SST, signed with A&M, and began work on their first album for a major label. The songs on the album featured a metal-leaning grunge sound with some tracks featuring unusual or unorthodox time signatures.
Due to the nature of some of the lyrics, particularly "Big Dumb Sex," a Parental Advisory sticker was placed on the album packaging. Louder Than Love became the band's first album to chart on the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 108. The band supported the album with tours of North America and Europe. It was the last Soundgarden album to feature the band's original bassist, Hiro Yamamoto. The album was later reissued on January 25, 2002.
The album's recording sessions took place from December 1988 to January 1989 at London Bridge Studios in Seattle, Washington. The band worked with producer Terry Date. The album was mixed by Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero at Mediasound in New York and House of Music in West Orange, New Jersey.
Frontman Chris Cornell remarked that, during the sessions, Hiro Yamamoto had distanced himself from the band, which led to Cornell writing a significant portion of the album. Cornell wrote seven out of the album's twelve tracks and described the sessions as a "positive experience," despite the band's internal struggles. He noted that while there was considerable angst and frustration, Terry Date was very supportive.
Cornell mentioned that the band aimed to avoid 1980s production techniques, although he felt the album was "a few degrees too produced and too clean," he still wouldn't want to change any of it. Bassist Hiro Yamamoto left the band after the sessions concluded, choosing to return to college due to his frustration over not contributing much to the album.
