"King Animal" is the sixth and final studio album by American rock band Soundgarden, released on November 13, 2012, through Universal Republic and Loma Vista Recordings in North America and Vertigo Records elsewhere. The album was produced by the band along with Adam Kasper, marking their first studio album in 16 years, following Down on the Upside (1996). King Animal also became the band's final studio album before the death of frontman Chris Cornell in 2017 and the subsequent dissolution of the band in 2018.
In January 2010, Chris Cornell announced Soundgarden’s reunion after 13 years of break-up. Initially, the band was focused on revisiting their old songs, but soon began writing new material. They started working on their first studio track "Black Rain" for the Telephantasm compilation in 2010, and by February 2011, they had begun writing new songs. Recording sessions for King Animal began in March 2011 at Seattle’s Studio X with producer Adam Kasper. These sessions were interrupted briefly due to Cornell's solo tour, but the band resumed recording after that. The band produced King Animal independently after fulfilling their contract with A&M Records.
The album's composition primarily features new material, with some updates to older songs like “Taree,” written by bassist Ben Shepherd in the late 1990s. The sound of the album was described by the band as picking up where Down on the Upside left off, with some heavy moments and fast songs, but also reflecting the band's growth and maturation over their hiatus. Tracks like “Non-State Actor” and “By Crooked Steps” feature intricate time signatures, such as 5/8 and 7/8, showcasing the band's musical complexity.
The album cover art was based on a sculpture by Josh Graham, titled Night of the Last Equinox. The artwork features animal skulls above a field of flowers in a snowy forest, symbolizing life, death, and the human condition. Graham’s artwork, which had a recurring theme of contrasting life and death, was seen as a fitting visual representation of the album's moody and reflective lyrics. Graham also directed the music video for the first single, "Been Away Too Long," and contributed animated backdrops for the band's tour.
Soundgarden signed a deal with Loma Vista Recordings for the release of King Animal, with distribution handled by Republic Records. To promote the album, the band recorded a track-by-track narrative and performed intimate shows in New York, Toronto, and Los Angeles. The lead single, “Been Away Too Long,” was released on September 27, 2012, and was later featured on ESPN’s Monday Night Football and in an episode of Sons of Anarchy. Another track, “By Crooked Steps,” was also used in promotional spots and had a music video directed by Dave Grohl. A music video for “Non-State Actor” was released on October 31, 2012, and a video for “Halfway There” came later in 2013.
The album was released in multiple formats, including CD, double LP, and digital download. A deluxe box set included the CD with three demo tracks, a DVD of the band’s 2012 performance at Hyde Park, and five lithographs. The band also issued King Animal Demos on limited edition pink vinyl for Record Store Day 2013, and a version called King Animal Plus was released later in 2013, featuring live tracks and an acoustic version of “Halfway There.”
