In celebration of SOUNDGARDEN's long-awaited studio return, King Animal, BraveWords has teamed up with Universal Music Canada to give away a gorgeous Black Epiphone Les Paul II! And yes it will be signed by the band!

To enter the contest, send us an email to contests@bravewords.com with the subject line "Soundgarden Axe Attack!". The winner will be chosen at random. Contest closes February 10th. Please include your snail mail in your email! Canadian residents only please.

In honour of our killer Soundgarden axe giveaway, the staff at BraveWords figured we’d pull out our old flannels and celebrate the Ten Greatest Soundgarden Riffs Of All Time.

Yes indeed, good ol’ swami of sound Kim Thayil has taken his slide rule to metal and calculated some beauties over the years, some of which the outshining old-timer has placed upon the band’s choice new album King Animal. Without further adieu, let’s shake the rusty cage and see which riffs of Kim’s snarl back. It's time for #1!!!

Ten Greatest Soundgarden Riffs Of All Time

1) ‘Jesus Christ Pose’ (Badmotorfinger, 1991)

This malevolent Thayil riff marries Sabbatherian doom to the dark, tribal post-punk of Killing Joke and Bauhaus. With ‘Jesus Christ Pose’’ issued as an advance single from the album, we have memories of folks being freaked out at how thickly heavy Badmotorfinger was gonna be. And yet, sure, the album killed, but nothing was as lethal as this lead salvo to the temples.

Ten Greatest SOUNDGARDEN Riffs Of All Time

10) ‘By Crooked Steps’ (King Animal, 2012)

9) ‘Room A Thousand Years Wide’ (Badmotorfinger, 1991)

8) ‘Been Away Too Long’ (King Animal, 2012)

7) ‘Limo Wreck’ (Superunknown, 1994)

6) ‘Get On The Snake’ (Louder Than Love, 1989)

5) ‘Rusty Cage’ (Badmotorfinger, 1991)

4) ‘Hands All Over’ (Louder Than Love, 1989)

3) ‘Flower’ (Ultramega OK, 1988)

2) ‘Superunknown’ (Superunknown, 1994)

1) ‘Jesus Christ Pose’ (Badmotorfinger, 1991)