Rage Against The Machine

First, I would like to thank jkavlock for the opportunity to write this guest review. I've been a huge fan of Rage Against The Machine for a long time. They've been an incredibly important band in the formation of my worldview, and even inspired my career. Musically, RATM gets me pumped. I love to lift and work out, and nothing gets me psyched for a good burn like RATM. I turn on Rage, turn it up loud, grab the barbell, and the sweat starts trickling down like tax cuts for the rich. It's thanks to RATM that every time the sun's out, my guns are out. You know what they say - "curls get the girls." Lyrically, RATM helps me understand the world we live in. They sing about all the things I love - Manifest Destiny, landlords, burning things, corporations, the system, and a nice game of bridge ("For all the diamonds/They'll use a pair of clubs to beat the spades"). They give proper respect to the thin blue line ("Those who died are justified, for wearing the badge") and the stars and stripes ("Ya bowin' down to the flag"). RATM told us to rest assured that "Departments of police, the judges, the feds/Networks at work, keepin' people calm." They helped me understand that if I did what those in positions of power and authority told me to, I could control myself - "And now you do what they told ya, now you're under control." And they described how the education system works best - "The complacent students sit and listen." RATM also recognized conformity, assimilation, and submission as important parts of the American Dream. When Obama was elected president, I knew we had to "take the power back!" and I listened to that track on repeat leading up to the 2010 midterms. I do have to admit - sometimes I just get so pumped listening to Rage and curling big dumbbells that I lose track of the lyrics. But I get the message. These guys SPEAK to me! Rage guitarist Tom Morello even wrote an article about me. He called me "the embodiment of the machine," and that recognition is one of the proudest moments of my career. I wouldn't be who I am today if not for the influence of Rage Against The Machine and Tom Morello. Your Truly, Paul Ryan Former Speaker of the House Former Republican Nominee for Vice President Former Spokesperson for P90X Former and Current Advocate for Privatizing and Ruining Medicare and Social Security President of the Misunderstood Lyrics and Messages Club

Sony/Epic were smart to sign RaTM, it was the perfect act of controlled opposition. Frat boys and other privileged heirs of the machine enthusiastically embrace RaTM because they know the lyrics won't actually bring about change. In context, this album can only be considered a patronizing capitalist insult to those who are getting ground up by "the machine". That said, this shit rocks.

Oh man, I love this album so much. It's just so damn good. Almost 30 years later, and it holds up so well. Almost too well, honestly. The lyrical themes feel super relevant to today's America and that's kind of depressing. Actually, given current events, it's super depressing. "Some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses." Damn, del la Rocha. It ain't changed yet. The machine is still grinding along despite our rage.

I still feel like I'm getting away with something whenever I listen to this album. Best track: Know Your Enemy

The power; the anguish; the angst. Fuck the system; fight the power; and Fuck Paul Ryan

Anything less than five stars for this album would be a travesty. The sound; the lyrics; the message is timeless and is the perfect snapshot of the feelings of America at the time of release.

5 UUUGGGHHHsss out of 5.

Man - I want to vote so fucking bad right now! Morella and de la Roche for President. Seriously though - great music, well-executed and performed. The lyrics are simple, poetic, and poignant. Rage is one of my favorite all time bands. Also enjoyed the cameo by Maynard (Tool is also awesome and better be on this list at some point).

I am aware that this is a beloved and important work. I was not into it even a tiny bit. Guitars drown out the lyrics. Very repetitive, very riffy, very angry. Basically a guy shouting (NOT singing) a phrase over and over again while a band plays an unrelated riff. Without the shouting, this would basically sound like an angry jam band. I've seen some reviews along the lines that this album "merge[s] the seemingly disparate sounds of rap and heavy metal". It does not. It’s not “rap” just because he’s not singing. It's just shouting, barely rhythmically, and most of the time not remotely melodic. And listen: that's obviously on purpose, but it doesn't transform into something different. I don’t even like the atonal guitar solos. I’m sure they’ve very difficult, but I do not find them pleasant to listen to. I respect Rage Against the Machine, but for my money, they can go on raging without my participation.

A band like no other in their greatest album. This is one of the most aggressive political (non-hip hop) album I've heard, covering themes of anti-capitalism, police brutality, the power of the people, eurocentrism in education, and even government conspiracies behind the deaths of MLK and Malcolm X. There is energy behind each of the tracks, carried out by the ingenius innovation of combining metal and rap (two powerful genres that achieve separate goals) in a way that has never been done so well before. Not to mention the incorporation of funk (you can really hear it in "Wake Up") to engage the audience and get them moving about. De La Roche has one of the most recognizable voices in the music industry, carrying out insane deliveries of his political messages. This isn't singing or rapping in any traditional means, but employing his team's instruments and his grunts to express himself freely. But by no means is he the sole star of the show. The guitar solos are among my favorites. The bass line and drum work are also incredible, creating a unique melody that makes the tracks not only distinguishable but also creates a medium for the guitar and vocals to shine. On top of their instrumental collaboration, all members of the team had contributions to the overall art direction of the album, and you can really hear each of them in each track. No one is left behind. There are absolutely no weak tracks here. "Bombtrack" is the perfect intro track. "Killing in the Name" is one of my favorite songs of the 90s. Some tracks are lighter to help balance the intensity of others, focusing more on the artistic sound (e.g. "Bullet in the Head", "Fistfull of Steel", and "Township Rebellion"). I love that epic two-minute end of "Freedom" that refuses to close out the album. There is always something to like about each of the tracks. If I'm ever in the mood for something with so much energy but also melodic, Rage Against The Machine is what I'd go with.

My dad in 1997: why do you have my fender and a monkey wrench in your room Mason stop messing with my stuff! Me: *all of 11 years old and doing tom morello shit to the fender with the wrench* FUCK YOU I WON'T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME

Listening to this takes me back to seeing Rage headline Leeds festival when they were playing mostly songs from this album. Me and my mate Rich crowdsurfed out while they played Killing In The Name - I got one of the best memories of my life, he got some wanker stabbing him in the leg with a fork. What a show, what a band, what an album.

Laughably overrated by the reddit demographic. There were some good guitar moments and some cool grooves throughout but other sections fell really flat. 6/10

Very apt considering the absolute state of everything at the moment.

Intense, unadulterated heavy protest music. Perfectly heavy, funky, and angry. This album lives up to its name!

In its favor are the relatively clean production, the obvious politics, some broad hot licks and a band name/album title that is ultimate in truth in advertising. On the downside is the adolescent rage, the sameyness, and the length – my god, is this too long. Generic, white suburban rage is all fine and perfectly acceptable in its place but really should avoid going on too long – an analogy to outgrowing one’s youthful idealism. This record could’ve conserved energy and increased its impact by being 33-50% briefer. Beyond a few glimmers of impressive playing, it’s not really necessary to hear this before death unless one plans to die very young – and before developing more refined tastes.

This was perhaps supposed to inspire me to feel rage against the machine, but all I felt was rage against Rage Against the Machine.

Now that's how you start an album - the bass line and guitar picking to open Bombtrack are awesome (created by Commerford). The raw and politically charged lyrics, de la Rocha's rap rocking, and pulsing instruments set the stage for the rest of the album. You get to hear a bit of Morello's unique scratch playing at the end too (he is a guitar god). I believe it is from him using the end of the guitar's amp cord on his strings. Creative genius; he makes so many sounds that you think are synthesizer but it's all his guitar. I also love Killing in the Name (their signature tune), Take the Power Back (Morello's solo at the 3min mark - wow), Bullet in the Head, Know Your Enemy (more epic Morello), Wake Up (de la Rocha is ferocious on this track), and Fistful of Steel (Morello's creativity on display again in first few riffs and high-pitched scratching - not turn tables kids!) but I admit I always found Settle for Nothing a little boring. Still, the totality of the album makes up for one so-so song. It fueled my teenage years; I want to give it to my 12 year old son right now to listen to, but might be a bit too soon. One of the greatest bands of the grunge/alternative years and one hell of a debut.

It's okay I don't get the hype. Rage against the machine bitch you are the machine

Is there another rap+rock record that’s even remotely as listenable as this one? It would kind of stand alone if for no other reason than that, right? But throw in “some of those who work forces are the same that burn crosses,” and try to imagine that on a major label album being sold predominantly to white kids and… can we just go back to the 90s already? Also, “Settle for Nothing” SLAMS. Forgot about that one.

Rage Against the Machine is my go-to when I'm frustrated. No joke, I wrote my dissertation listening to Rage Against the Machine and Nine Inch Nails. I angry-write, I guess. Listened to this album and Renegades over and over (NIN contributed mostly with Year Zero). The music rocks and the lyrics are thought-provoking. I always find it amusing to watch live videos and see all the angry white frat boys moshing to this - wonder if they realize they're part of the machine the band is raging against (like Paul Ryan being a fan). Pretty sure I'm part of that machine too, but I still like to rock out to some Rage.

I have many hazy high school memories of being packed in a smoke filled car “going on a run” listening to albums like Cypress Hill’s “Black Sunday”, Tool’s “Undertow”, Beastie Boys’ “Check Your Head”, Dr Dre’s “The Chronic” and of course this perfectly executed masterpiece by Rage Against the Machine. All four musicians complement each other sonically in the tradition of Zeppelin, Sabbath and the Stones and just like those bands they established that connection on their debut album. These guys appeared out of nowhere with a new sound that feels like they’ve been developing it for 10 years yet this genre bending album came out only a year after the band formed. As a young musician, I idolized everything this band could do as a four piece. They kept the formula simple and the musical parameters narrow so they could focus all their creative energy on bringing the angriest and funkiest blend of hip hop and rock that made you think while simultaneously dancing in the fire they ignited. Each band member was incredible but as a unit they were untouchable. I was so mad that I missed their recent tour when it came around because as much as I loved this band I never got to see them live and now it’s looking like they’ll never tour again.

Man I really love Rage Against The Machine. It's just so heavy, and the grooves are extremely cool. The riffs are usually very unorthodox with Tom Morello and his witchcraft, but just work so well. Extremely fresh. Zack's rapping works very well together with the rock and sounds cool. The political messages of their music isn't something you can miss, but it's not anything I take in very much, and not either what makes their music good in my opinion. Zack really feel like the personal manifestation of a militant vegan though. There are a handful of absolute bangers on this album, like 'Bombtrack', 'Killing in the name of', 'Wake up', 'Bullet in the head' etc. Perhaps the other songs don't really reach the same heights, but they're still damn good all of them, can't really name a weak song. After listening through the album you notice a particular song formula they use. Almost all of their songs end the same way; there is a break where Zack sings slowly, then it ramps up and ends with him chanting one of several phrases with all other instruments going max. Basically the same on 'Wake up', 'Bullet in the head', and 'Killing in the name of' for some obvious ones. Anyways, I think this deserves a weak 5. Evil Empire might be a better album, not sure, but this one is still damn good. But like you notice in my review, I am a bit biased. This is probably not anything for everyone, but I do think everyone should give Rage Against The Machine a try at least once.

5 I’ve talked about blending politics with music before with artists that I appreciate, such as Dead Kennedys, Public Enemy, and hell, even those one dudes from The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, but come on, is there any one artist that has ever done it better than Rage? (If your answer to that question is Ted Nugent, Kid Rock, or Tom MacDonald, I suggest you don’t read any further… and perhaps question your life choices). I mean, come on, it’s all right there in the name - these guys came out of the gates swinging, pissed off, and not afraid of dropping names and receipts. And what an album cover - a photograph of Vietnamese monk Thích Quảng Đức burning himself alive as a form of protest against the government oppression of Buddhists - it’s a chilling image, but man, does it capture the spirit of both this album and group perfectly. As for the individual songs, everything here is fantastic and so effective in what it sets out to say. The opening bass lick of Bombtrack is nothing short of iconic and such a great way to kick things off, in terms of both this album and their live shows (I was lucky enough to have seen one of the like ten they did in 2022). That track segues into what’s probably the group’s best known tune, and for good reason. Calling the police force out as racist is a powerful reminder to question any and all authority and something I can only imagine was bold in 1992. I know this was coming off the heels of the Rodney King beating, but in many ways, the song also feels ahead of its time given modern events - which is truly a sad statement to make. One can only hope the aftermath we’re seeing from the recent George Floyd protests and subsequent increased political involvement from the younger generation puts us on a path of reform. Anyway, there’s a lot more I could probably say about each of the songs here, but I’ll keep it at shoutouts to my favorites, including Bullet in the Head, which has a great message about American propagandization and probably the best closing to any song here, and Wake Up, which serves as a call to anyone who doesn’t believe our country’s long (and continuing) history of racism at a governmental level - wake up! I truly think Rage is one of those groups where there was truly nothing like them before they showed up on the scene, and honestly, nothing like them since. While I don’t think a lot of rap metal has really held up over the years, something about Rage’s music feels just as cool as it did 30 years ago. No one can rap quite like Zach, no one can shred guitar quite like Tom, and no one can deliver a message quite like the four combined. Once again, I cannot overstate just how sad it is how well this album still holds up all these years later, but I can only hope the music continues to inspire many generations ahead to continue the fight against injustice (no, not you, Paul Ryan). Finally, if you’re reading this before November of 2024, please go out and vote.

I was a teenager in the early 90’s and have ears…of course I love this record. There’s a few tracks that I have always skipped (settle for nothing, fistful of steel, township rebellion) and even listening to the record in full today, they still don’t really do it for me and feel like retreads of other songs on the record. But the ones that work…they fucking work. “Freedom” is one of the greatest songs of the 90’s and no one will convince me otherwise. Call Rage what you will: Hypocrites, Led Zeppelin meets Public Enemy, whatever. This record is hot fire and they are probably the only mainstream rock band in the last 30 or 40 years to vehemently advocate for truly radical change in American culture with their music, interviews and public appearances. The subject matter on this record, recorded some 30 years ago, still rings true today and Rage hasn’t changed their tune one bit…which makes the recent phenomenon of conservatives on Twitter and in real life clutching pearls about Rage Against the Machine being “woke” or “socialists” unceasingly amusing to me. Where have they been for the last 30 years? How many times did they have to listen to it for the words to sink in? Sorry to get political, but with this band, that’s baked in. Actually, not sorry…deal with it. Overall, a heavy-hitting record, but one that I almost never listen to in full. A solid 4.

An LP fueled by righteous anger alone. The lyrics and instrumentation are simple, but the furor with which each is delivered brings each track to a level greater than the sum of its parts. Big props to Morello for indulging in some nu-metal guitar tones in a way that feels experimental without dating the album.

I was working at a record store when this came out and I scoffed at it - Rage Against The Machine, brought to you by Epic/Columbia/Sony. The machine is profiting off you raging at it. So I guess actually the revolution will be televised after all? Although ironically (tragically?), Gil Scott Heron's record label was eventually acquired by...wait for it...Sony. I have enjoyed a handful of experiences that made me consider making a movie because they would make a great scene. One was at about 3am on a weeknight in Miles's basement apartment in Willimantic. We were cranking tunes, as you do, so loud we could barely hear the cops pounding on the door, to where they were pretty irritated by the time we finally opened up. The front door opened into the kitchen and the tunes were cranking from the adjacent living room. The music happened to get quiet just as they were lecturing us. I figured Miles or Mike or Lori had turned it down while the rest went to the door. We were completely acquiescent and apologetic and they bought it. You could tell they didn't want to be there and didn't see enough worthwhile in busting us idiots. Maybe that's white privilege, I dunno. I was looking the lead cop right in the eye as we were saying our final apologies when all of a sudden there is this voice screaming from the next room "NOW YOU DO WHAT THEY TOLD YA!!!" repeating louder and louder, over an increasingly intense beat somewhat reminiscent of Red Hot Chili Peppers' BloodSugarSexMagic (which came out the year before). My eyes were still locked with the cop's but at the same time I felt like I was having an out of body experience that could have lasted a second or a week, or both, like Interstellar when they go into the black hole. Suddenly, everything snapped together and I found myself a step or two behind my friends sprinting for the volume knob. p.s. I read somewhere that former GOP Speaker of the House Paul Ryan likes to crank RATM when he's working out.

Peak divorced dad rock. It really has not aged well.

I just want to make it absolutely clear I have no problems with rage. And I fuckin love machines. I mean rage is perfectly normal. Natural even. And machines god bless em. You just wanna stroke there robot heads and day there there. It's not their fault they were made that way. They are a victim in all this and anybody who suggests otherwise is completely and utterly missing the point. And briefly returning to the gallant subject of rage. It's bold. It's beautiful. It's the past. It's the future. It's now. Oh and by the way this album sucks ass. Which makes it sound better than it is. No man, I mean it really sucks. More than a three year old licking a great big lollipop. More than a vacuum cleaner. More than a new born baby More than Larry the fuckin lamb who's just been born into this strange but beautiful world. Before I finish this review just ask yourself why? Then as who? Then ask what? Then ask where? Then ask how? And last but definitely not least ask where? Only then can you truly understand the way of the ninja. Only then can find peace within. Only then can you listen to this album and realise what complete piece of arse wank it really is.

FUCK YOU I WON'T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME

Fuck posting an infographic to your insta story, this album has me ready to start hurling Molotov cocktails. The instrumentals go hard, the vocal delivery goes hard, the messaging goes hard. Full of righteous indignation and a vitriol for our current system, the album is energetic from the first note and never lets up. This album unfortunately still feels very much relevant today three decades later. Fav Songs Bombtrack Killing In the Name Take The Power Back Wake Up Fistful of Steel

God damn! I've known about Rage since the 90s of course but I never listened to any one their albums. This is some angry energetic stuff. Not a dull moment anywhere on this album. I feel like going outside and smashing a printer!

Absolute 5/5 record, come on. Amazing production, sick guitar, the whole package slams. Favourite tracks: the whole thing.

Fire, dude

Some people are going to hate me for saying this, but fuck 'em. This is one of the greatest albums ever made. I love Rage Against the Machine. Everything about their music and this album speaks to me on every level. The sound is so crazy and unique and awesome. Everything from Tom Morello's unconventional guitar playing to Tim Commerford's heavy bass playing to Brad Wilk's intense drumming to Zach de la Rocha's iconic vocal style comes together to form some of the most intense music I've ever heard. And I love it. There's something magical that happens every time you hear one of Zach's famous UGHs that truly makes you feel like raging against the machine. Speaking of the machine, let's talk about the writing of the music! You see, unlike some people, I actually understand what they're saying in these songs. This is some truly revolutionary stuff. It's a shame that a lot of it still applies over 30 years later. All of these songs go crazy. "Bombtrack" might be one of the greatest album openers ever. It perfectly sets the stage for what the next 9 songs will entail. And it's immediately followed by "Killing in the Name"?! How did they make an album this great?! That song is, of course, amazing. "Know Your Enemy" is another one of my favorites from the album, and the presence of Maynard James Keenan in the bridge is the closest we'll get to having a Tool album on the list. I can't believe there's not a Tool album on the list. Overall, I love this album. It is an aggressive, powerful album with so much to say. These messages are rapped and screamed in ways that I could never. I don't know what else to say. Maybe I should think less about what to say and more about what to do. That is the ethos of Rage Against the Machine. 5/5. Four in a row, baby!

This is a no-brainer 5 star album for me. It was released my Freshman year of high school and it still feels relevant today. And yes I get the “protest songs in a major label” album critique, but this debut is such a pure statement of who this band is Morello’s guitars are great, the production on the drums and base brings them to the front, Andre La Rocha‘s rap-rock vocals are very passionate. That this presaged some of the later 90s rap rock is irrelevant. This is a classic! And look at the date I submitted this. You better believe rage against the machine is still relevant.

Hell of a pick for this on Election Day 2024. This album was released on Election Day 1992. Just neat.

This is an incredible album! I bought this when I was about 14, there's nothing quite like listening to RATM when you're an angsty teen! I remember singing 'F*CK YOU, I WON'T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME' with gusto (but actually quietly, because I couldn't let my parents hear - my Mum to this day has never heard me swear) A 5 star album that I will love and listen to until the day I die. The heavy bass lines always hit in such a good way, and the way de la Rocha speaks/raps/yells feels like it compliments the music/themes in a way singing never would. The use of the Malcolm Browne's photograph of Thích Quảng Đức on the cover is both powerful and disturbing! Also love the appearance by Maynard James Keenan on Know you Enemy. Fave Track: Freedom 'Anger is a gift'

It's not a phase mom.

This is the anti capitalism anthem album. Truly living up to their name. The lyrics are incredible.

Rap-rock done right, with a heavy leftist message. Aggressive, heavy, and groovy. Memorable bass playing that stands out but isn’t flashy, with Morello’s signature oddly effected guitar squealing and scratching on top along with plenty of heavy riffs. De La Rocha’s vocals are delivered with intensity and deep anger at injustice and really elevates the music. Vocals/lyrics aren’t the first thing I pick up in music, but he absolutely commands your attention. It kicks ass, it’s fun, it grooves, it sends a message - and it does it all at a high level.

Well, this album makes sense for inclusion on this list, given that it is one of the finest hours of funk metal that has gone on to influence several bands after. Every member on Rage Against the Machine delivers on their debut. Tim Cummerford’s bass slapping is infectious and has several moments. Brad Wilk’s drumming is well-accented, punches when needed, and makes use of a variety of percussive instruments, particularly the cowbell. Tom Morello’s guitar soloing and riffage are some of the most experimental sounds out there. Rounding it all out, Zach de La Rocha commands an excellent balance between rapping and harsh vocals. A lot of the songs are meaningfully constructed, where the riffs stick to memory and there are several movements and percussive breakdowns in between. As for the lyrics, I get that Rage might not be as beloved, given that they are a political band and the American political landscape has changed a lot in the past 30+ years. That said, it cannot be denied that a lot of the themes they touch upon are still relevant issues in the modern age, including the pursuit of freedom and justice, accountability, police brutality, racism and domestic abuse. Love it or hate it, there are reasons this album has maintained relevance to this day. Go into this one with an open mind. - thinking 5 stars

One of the best debut records ever, if not the best. Captured a time, anger, and created their own genre.

Una bestialidad de disco

Oh man. the grooves and beats are real bangers. I can't imagine the success that this band could have had if it's message was more main stream. I just love the groove of the guitars.

Ein prägendes Album meiner Musikgeschichte.

Incredible album. Its produced really well. Tom morello guitar work Is amazing, and so is the bass work. The drumming is great and the politically charged lyrics are incredible as well. 5/5

who up raging against they machine rn

Bomb tracks

Damn listening to this in a state capitol was funny. This is pretty badass music. Awesome guitar work by Tom Morello and Zach de La Rocha's vocals are pretty stellar too. He means every damn word here.

What an amazing album. It hits so hard and doesn’t stop. Rage has an incredibly distinct sound. Between Morello’s unique guitar work and the aggressive de la Roche, no one ever sounded like this before. Or since. And then part of Tool shows up in the middle of Know Your Enemy and it just gets better. It has always seemed to me that from that point on the album had a more Tool-esque feel to it, too, while still remaining decidedly Rage. Lyrically, they’re a very intelligent band as well. Whether or not you agree with their politics, they’re not simply parroting things they’ve heard, these guys are informed and dedicated. While I generally believe that musicians should stick to music and stay out of politics, they got into music to express their politics. Their not simply using their fame to spout off about things their uninformed about. Besides, it is so incredibly heavy it’s hard to not be moved.

Absolute classic and 5 star album. Bombtrack, Killing in the name of, Bullet in the head, know your enemy, wake up, freedom, take the power back. One hit after another.

FRRRREEEEEEDDDOOOOOMMMMM!

Saw them back in '93 (with Tool supporting) at a show that got upgraded from a 550 cap room to a 1,500 venue. It was so good. Every few days I wind up thinking "We need a band like RATM now." Does this album ever go out of fashion?

Passion, energy, heavy guitar/drums and great lyrics. Every song is a banger. I'd give this a 6 if I could.

Such a good album! Weird thing about Killing in the Name is that it was a constant throughout all club nights at uni - Drum and Base night, goth night, standard trendy music club - they all played this and everyone would all sing along another remarkable thing is that no one seems to listen to the lyrics of Rage - I've learnt so much reading into Hoover, MLK's assassination after listening to lyrics - but I guess the tunes are so banging the political message is ignorable - which is a shame. Bombtrack is by far my least favourite track - start at 2 and work down and it's a 10/10 album

classic album 10/10 glad i listened all the way through

Rage Against The Machine's self-titled debut album is chock-full of dissent and insubordination, agilely achieved through elements of rap and metal imbued funk. Zack de la Rocha's uncompromising delivery of his lines leads the phalanx of badass drum beats and distorted guitars, accomplishing the marvel of music built for purpose. The exemplary alliance of music and direction is further amped up by this album being their debut - never wavering, always sharp-witted.

What's to say the first Album that I bought and fell in love with. Was it the driving bass, amazing guitar, screaming vocals, unrepentant Marxism or raging hormones? This album was like my third parent I still refer back for guidance. It could be that it ruined my life or saved it. It was the first time in my life where I felt it was ok to swear to justify my feelings and politics. What a glorious thing.

One of my favourite albums of all times. I’ve listened to this album cover to cover so many times. So many bangers that I don’t know which is my favourite. Bomb track is a killer start, killing in the name is an anthem, take the power back and wake up are great. Know your enemy gets me going every time.

Iconic one-liner lyrics fueled by chugging riffs from Tom Morello. Simple yet powerful. Not every song stands out but it’s still a fun album to revisit. I also completely forgot that Maynard (TOOL) does guest vocals on Know Your Enemy

Tom Morello is a revelation. The angsty vocals are passionate and admirable, even if they are on the other end of the political spectrum from me.

Raw energy - brilliant

RHCP with a harder edge and political message. A lot of anger and rebellion expressed in these songs. Can't imagine trying to sing these every night at a show. Tom Morello's style is so unique.

Why is there so much rage? What did the poor machine do?

Album 315 of 1001 Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine Rating : 4 / 5 Nice album. Great debut. Released the day Clinton was elected President. It's political themes meshed perfectly for what was going on at the time...at this time, one could say. Anthrax yesterday and this today. I'm feeling energized!

I had such an incredible takedown of this album written up, and it's killing me that I can't find it in my notes. Vitriol to vitriol. My writeup today will never measure up to that, a shame. Incredible, incredible music with a band that is so locked and loaded, perfectly rehearsed, just unbelievable energy and sense of groove, whose performance is so insanely good, stylized, high energy, that you can almost unwittingly ingest its politically asinine message, like second-hand smoke billowing from a factory, the unintended side-effects that nobody asked for. We are all passive casualties downwind of Zack de la Rocha's sloganeering, delivered with the conviction and righteousness that only anger can give you. This music is the companion to much anger– real anger of real, dispossessed people, whose mistreatment must be dutifully politicized– and just the garden variety that all teenagers possess. Anger attracts both camps, and the point of the anger usually gets smuggled in. And here it is, unsubtly spewing forth with so much accompanying baggage, and the trappings of the self-styled revolutionary, that it has to have crossed your mind if this is just a parody of a person– if real people are uncritically buying what they’re selling. That's the double-edge sword of music: you *do* take it more seriously because it's music. Because, with music, you’re hit with the emotion first. The point– the intention– just comes along for the ride. And everyone has been angry before. Scrape even an inch or two off the surface and you'll realize that, if this was just some guy at a rally yelling these things into a megaphone, even some the most hardened activists would be shuffling away to keep their distance. It’s stunningly cringey. I truly see no difference between the tactics in this music and those of those dubious, neo-Nazi skinhead bands. The starting point is anger, and you just get a buffet of political options from which the sellers are peddling to the buyer. I find this all deeply unserious. Maybe it is supposed to be unserious– at least, that’s the common motte-and-bailey retreat that people commonly use– “it’s just music! It’s just entertainment!” Okay, then. Find-and-replace these messages with those of the white power movement. Imagine a music whose lyrics, beneath layers of high energy guitar solos and unbelievable vocal performances, bears some uncanny resemblance to the politics of the January 6th rioters. Any takers? On that note… I would be surprised if the be-camoed, military LARP-ing rioters of January 6th *weren’t* playing “Take the Power Back” from their backpack bluetooth speakers. “They just didn’t understand the message!” Nope. The message isn’t that profound. The anger comes first, and the aesthetic of revolution, rebellion, anarchism is just the cynical way by which that anger is deployed by the politically smart. 4/5

Until today, my familiarity with this band basically had to do with the fact that I saw Tom Morello induct KISS into the Rock and/or Roll Hall Of Fame. And I immediate loved the guy. I then learned he was a member of bands with names I absolutely hated. I'd then see him show up in music docs talking about bands I loved (turns out, he also toured with Springsteen and the E Street Band for a spell). It wasn't enough to compel me to, you know, try listening to any of Morello's bands, let alone his seminal outfit. That was just a bridge too far for whatever reason. This may never be my favorite genre, but damn if I didn't love this album. It's "run through a brick wall" music. It might not be an album I play repeatedly or even revisit often, but it finally proved to me that I really need to stop selling Tom Morello short.

Appreciated it and liked it a lot more than I expected. Straight punk (from my limited perspective), calling out the status quo and its injustice toward the disempowered. Concentration of ower in society belies the promise of equal opportunity and justice for all. Respect for this.

I like this but it isn’t amazing.

Great concept but the music is too RHCP-adjacent to be truly classic. Always good to hear the best Xmas #1, sets the mood for the season

Great concept but the music is too RHCP-adjacent to be truly classic. Always good to hear the best Xmas #1, sets the mood for the season

A protest song can be good, even great; a protest album, not so much. The album can drag, it is practically one frantically shouted note (not that it doesn't reach for the softer sounds, only that those reaches feel like needlessly clumsy gropings in the dark).

Just listen to public enemy lol

I like a heavy riff, and for a while I was into the stompy, backwards-baseball-cap antics of Faith No More etc. Unfortunately, I didn't hear this back then and for whatever reason, this type of thing doesn't do it for me any more. I appreciate the riffs and the funky moments, but there are other ways to express frustration than by shouting. It probably didn't help that I've already had to listen to Raekwon and Kanye this week. Nor that I'm a British, middle-aged woman being stretched in several different directions.

Dance like you have a big shit in your baggy pants. The earnestness and “I’d prefer not to tidy my bedroom” sentiments don’t grate on me as they did when this came out, though I hear the germ of a lot of awful music that followed. The band do their thing well, panache in the burp burp bass and Morello’s switching between hard rock riff and fancy squiggly sounds, the drums admirably minimalist at times. The album doesn’t have many tunes. After the opener and the sweary one, the next time I checked to see what song was playing was three songs later, Bullet in the Head, the other famous single. The rest is serviceable, bops and races along winsomely, but rely on B-side Sabbath riffs that lack doom or hook.

I remember thinking of Rage as the smart and good rap-rock band, I guess along with Faith No More. It seems like that subgenre could've just ended there and we woulda been fine. But Rage were still always at arm's length for me. Nothing here really gets me. Killing in the Name comes the closest. This just never connected with me.

No.

No

i thoroughly enjoyed the whole fuckin thing. I'll go back through it with the lyrics sometime

Still fresh after nearly 3 decades

A great protest, hard album. Every song means something, there are no bad takes and every member rules. Roche’s vocals rule and Tom morello is one of the coolest guitarists of all time. Amazing stuff

This is a great album. So much anger, but the music is just amazing.

Yessss!!!!! One of my favorite bands/sounds/albums of all time. Kicks you in the balls and you still want more.

Slappa da bass

4.5/5. Hardcore, political, aggressive, love it. Zack De La Rocha comes with killer hooks that make you want to burn the city down. Standout Tracks: Killing In The Name, Settle For Nothing, Bullet In The Head, Wake Up, Fistful Of Steel

The good ol Rage Against The Machine. Such a defining album with all the raw emotion put into this album. Classics like "Killing in the Name" was from this album.

ayooooo

🤘🏻

I remember Nick having this tape and the cover art of the burning guy. I remember not even knowing what the image was, just looked like a bunch of scribbles to me. And the music was scary, specifically "freedom." Reminded me of Derek's cd's, like metallica, pantera, and gwar. Obviously this is a great album, but its message has changed drastically to me these days.

Maybe 5 stars would have been meer appropriate - definitely 5 star in 1993 - but now listening to it in one go.. ..it is a bit exhaustive, oh wait, let me just give 5 star anyway..

It’s a classic for a reason! It’s not often someone comes along with something to say like de la Roche did. Through in some innovative guitar techniques and turn the energy level up to 11 and you’ve got an album that still holds up 25+ years later.

Rage it the best! One of the best albums ever made.

Every single song slaps, it’s no doubt a 5/5

Pure energy

Back to the heavy mental 🤘🏻

A perfect album

Iconic album

This is so great and still feels fresh. There were many bands copying this style but no one pulls it off like them. What a debut

Now I'm listening to you 1001albumsgenerator 8-)