A powerhouse new supergroup, King Ultramega, has emerged to honor the legacy of the late Chris Cornell — and their debut hits hard. On July 18, the collective released a thunderous cover of Soundgarden’s iconic “Rusty Cage,” with William DuVall of Alice in Chains taking the lead on vocals.
Joining DuVall are some of rock and metal’s heaviest hitters: Mastodon’s Bill Kelliher on guitar, Charlie Benante (Anthrax, Pantera) on drums, and bassist Mark Menghi of Metal Allegiance, who also conceived the project.
Initially launched during the pandemic as a casual jam session, the project gained momentum after Soundgarden’s own Kim Thayil joined in, re-recording his original guitar part. The result? A faithful yet fresh homage to Cornell’s seismic impact on music.
“This is about love for the music and respect for Chris,” DuVall shared. “And if it helps MusiCares in the process, all the better.”
Future King Ultramega tracks will span Cornell’s expansive catalog — from Soundgarden to Audioslave and his solo work — with contributions from legends like Joe Satriani and Alissa White-Gluz. Proceeds will benefit MusiCares.
More than a tribute, King Ultramega is shaping up to be a powerful celebration of one of rock’s most unforgettable voices.
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