In 1988, a new band called Soundgarden released their debut album, Ultramega OK. More than just an album title, it was what the band thought of the way the album sounded. They weren’t fans of the mix, but when A&M signed the band, instead of remixing their debut, which was on SST, they began working on Louder Than Love, which came out in 1989. Last year, the band got the original multi-track tapes, and gave them to famed engineer Jack Endino to clean up. On March 10th, a remixed and remastered version of the album, along with six eight-track versions of demos from the album, were remixed.

It’s interesting to hear early Soundgarden. They helped birth the grunge sound, but their music sounds more like their then-contemporaries The Melvins. Of course Cornell’s howling vocals set him apart from just about everyone else. If you’ve only heard “Black Hole Sun” and “Spoonman” on your local “rock” station, give a listen to “Beyond the Wheel.” Even if you grew up with the band, the cleaned-up version will definitely sound new to you.

Ultramega OK wil lbe released on March 10th on Sub-Pop on vinyl, CD and even cassette, and is available for pre-order now. Here’s “Beyond the Wheel” 

[Via Rolling Stone]