Soundgarden Set To Begin Recording New Album 'Very Soon'

It's been 15 years since we've been able to say this, but it looks like there's a new album from Soundgarden in the works.

That's according to the Seattle screamers themselves, who took to their official site to announce plans for a new studio record, their first since 1996's Down on the Upside.

"Over the past few months, we've been busy jamming, writing and hanging out together — exploring the creative aspect of being Soundgarden. It feels great," the band wrote, under the headline "Our Goal for 2011: Let's Make a Record." "We have some cool new songs that we are going to record very soon. Thank you for all the support!"

Soundgarden announced that they were ending a 12-year hiatus on January 1, 2010, and then played a handful of shows: one in Seattle under the handle "Nudedragons," then a sludgy Chicago gig ahead of their headlining slot at Lollapalooza.

Buoyed by the success of those gigs, Soundgarden released Telephantasm, a career-spanning collection of hits and sundry, in September, and hinted to MTV News that the album might just be a preview of things to come.

"We're taking baby steps ... Baby Godzilla steps," guitarist Kim Thayil joked.

"Maybe we'll do, like, 'Soundgarden on Ice,' [next]" frontman Chris Cornell laughed. "'Sound-Capades.' I'd watch that."

In January 2011, the band announced plans to release Soundgarden: Live on I-5, recorded on the West Coast leg of their 1996 tour. The album will hit stores on March 22.