Chris Cornell, iconic frontman of late and legendary nineties band Soundgarden, has announced that he is quitting as singer for Audioslave, the band that he fronted with ex-Rage Against The Machine members for the past four years.

After announcing details of his upcoming second solo album, Carry On, Cornell announced his departure from Audioslave. "Due to irresolvable personality conflicts as well as musical differences, I am permanently leaving the band Audioslave," he announced. "I wish the other three members nothing but the best in all of their future endeavors."

Speculation had been rampant of Audioslave's demise this year, first arising at the news that Cornell wasn't interested in touring behind the band's third LP, Revelations. Instead, he planned to focus on recording a second solo album, a follow-up to 1999's Euphoria Morning. Rumors of a breakup intensified earlier this month when news broke that the wildly popular and dearly missed Rage Against The Machine was reuiniting for a one-off show at this year's Coachella Arts & Music Festival. Rage vocalist Zach De La Rocha departed the band in 2000, leaving an absence that Cornell would later fill, forming Audioslave.

Appropriately labeled a "supergroup," Audioslave was critically hailed and commercially successful. The band did not equal the greater sum of its parts in the end, however. The general consensus among fans was that, while Audioslave was good, they weren't great, and certainly not on par with the incredible success of the previous bands of all parties involved.

While Cornell preps Carry On, due May 1st, the rest of what was Audioslave (drummer Brad Wilk, Bassist Tim Commerford, Guitarist Tom Morello) will reform Rage Against The Machine with Zach De La Rocha for a sold-out, festival-closing headline gig this April at Coachella. The anticipation among countless Rage fans is thick in the air; De La Rocha has been a virtual ghost since Rage broke up in 2000, and his venemous, inimitable airtight flow has been sorely missed. Hopes are high that Cornell's announcement indicates a greater likelihood of a full-tilt Rage reunion, but time will tell.

With Cornell's new album on the horizon, undoubtedly followed by a lengthy tour, it's not likely that we'll be hearing his legendary Soundgarden wails anytime soon. Whether or not all hope is lost for a reunion remains to be seen.

Steve Lillywhite (Rolling Stones, U2, Dave Matthews) will produce Carry On, the thirteenth album Cornell has been involved with throughout his career.

Tracklist for Carry On:

"Safe and Sound"
"Scar on the Sky"
"Finally Forever"
"Disappearing Act"
"Billy Jean (Michael Jackson cover)
"Ghost"
"Arms Around Your Love"
"She'll Never Be Your Man"
"Killing Birds"
"Silence the Voices"
"No Such Thing"
"Poison Eye"
"Your Soul Today"