20 Most Underrated Hard Rock Songs Of All Time
18. Beyond The Wheel - Soundgarden
As the grunge movement began taking over the airwaves in the early 90's, not every band was pulling from the same mix of classic rock influences as Pearl Jam and Nirvana. Instead of aligning themselves with their peers, Soundgarden took the power of Black Sabbath and combined it with an alternative ethos.
Though the band wouldn't see any mainstream attention until albums like Superunknown and Badmotorfinger, "Beyond the Wheel" was the moment where everything started to come together. Set at a dirge-like pace, this song manages to keep the slow tempo interesting with Kim Thayil's droning guitar lines and atmospheric riffing. That's only the beginning though, with Chris Cornell coming in with a chorus that sounds like the pained screams of fallen angels. Considering the more punk rock attitude of the band's debut, this track stands out as something much bigger than anything else in their catalog.
As opposed to being a regular hard rock throwdown, "Beyond the Wheel" sounds like watching the apocalypse up close, with Cornell as your anguished guide. Long before Kurt Cobain tore up the scene with "Smells Like Teen Spirit," songs like this is why Soundgarden were initially seen as the breakout stars of the Pacific Northwest.