Rage Against The Machine

I did not get RATM when I was in high school. Now I do. Some of the most visceral music of the 90s, and still relevant today. Expertly played and produced, yet retains a raw edge that cannot be denied.

Quite enjoyed this but was in a bad mood 7/10

FUCK YOU I WON'T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME

Revolutionary. It defined a generation. How can we say words about this album. To say it speaks for itself is both absolutely true and trite at the same time.

So powerful. 5 stars

A metal album I could actually listen to!

That's hard dude 4/5

I’m hyped for this

No

Hell yeah.

I was there when this album dropped and it meant everything to me. I am not the only one and the angst of the times and the fears that corporate capitalist greed had slowly taken over everything was as real then as it is now. (It DID take everything over; we did not pay attention or were overpowered by the strength of hate). Anyhow, this IS that pot-stirring, and it IS that relevant to this day. It also happens to be what I would simply call the most "badass" album I ever heard. Is it redundant? Maybe. Is it completely insane? Probably. Does it make you want to get up and do stupid stuff like jump out of airplanes and try speed skiing? Yeah. Is it really all that? Yes. Yes it is...

Classic album, but I’m past my raging against anything days.

It was really good. It was Nice to finally hear - you cant not love Tom morello

Such a hard hitting album. One of the best hard rock debuts ever. Still sounds fresh over 30 years later. Nothing else really sounded like this at the time and that made Rage legends. They were smart to break up before they lost the magic. This album should be in every hard rock/metal collection.

This album fucks. To write something that not only is lyrically relevant when it came out as well as thirty years later, but to have it still rock out is an incredibly admirable feat. Outstanding production, unique vocals, original writing, the entire album is wholly enjoyable from start to finish. 5/5

Good solid album, Not sure how I've missed listening to more of them.

Apart from one great song. A pretty mid album.

One of my favourite angry days albums.

Banger

Immaculate record. Gets better every time I hear it. Simple, but biting anti-authoritarian lyrics shouted over the funkiest, grooviest riffs you'll ever hear. I find myself bobbing my head to every single song. I feel like a lot of people who aren't as familiar with hip hop don't realize how incredible it is that this was released in 1992. A whole YEAR before Enter the Wu Tang, Rage' was putting out music this cutting edge and extreme. Other than some of the flows being intrenched in that late 80s style, this sounds like it could have come out yesterday. *Heard before.

gott stuff

Sick riffs, shit vocals.

jesus I fucking hate rap rock

"Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!"

Hell yeah.

It’s right there in the name: Rage. These dudes are pissed about everything. I get that to an extent. But while I like a couple of the songs and there is some really interesting music happening, for me it doesn’t produce a pleasant listening experience. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-rage-against-the-machine?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

it was alright

Pre-listening thoughts: I don’t do metal. Post/during listening thoughts: I still don’t do metal. And I REALLY don’t do it when it’s mixed with rap??? 1/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: none my god what even was this album Least fav tracks: all of them like they all sound the same to me

Good for when ur angry

A really solid album with a lot of power and uh... rage. Can't believe this was released in '92. Feels like it could be an album from this decade.

Scratches that itch in my brain.

Iconic protest record.

Good stuff, but again, not my style.

Bombtrack 4.2 Killing in the Name 4 Take the Power Back 3.8 Settle for Nothing 3.7 Bullet in the Head 3.9 Know Your Enemy 4 Wake Up 4 Fistful of Steel 3.7 Township Rebellion 3.5 Freedom 3.7 Score: 3.85

What a debut. Hard hitting, infectious and full of hits

I probably saw this coming when i went into this album but I love Rage Against The Machine. I only really had experience with two of this albums singles being Killing In The Name and Bombtrack (mostly the Stone Sour cover) and they are great songs but the other songs in the album are no slouches either. The guitar riffs were some of the most creative i have ever heard and really prove how good of a guitarist Tom Morello really is. The vocals are also the perfect kind of aggressive for this album. This is most definitely one of the best albums i have done for this project and is very deserving of it's global review score. Best Song: Take The Power Back Worst Song: Know Your Enemy

Rage Against the Machine is the debut studio album by Rage Against the Machine, originally released in 1992. Rage really came out swinging on this debut. This thing is full of heavy riffs and angry vocals. Say what you want about the lyrical content, it really makes you want to fight for something. Others have called it "frat political rock" or "cheesy" but I honestly like the lyrical content. I think it comes off as authentic enough. The vocal delivery makes it feel authentic to me. The vocals are just so powerful. The musicianship is great on here too. Tom Morello is a very interesting guitar player. The bass is heavy and in your face. Even funky at times. The drums are aggressive. Don't even get me started on that album cover. Very very powerful. How could you see a record in the store with that cover and not buy it.

Jeg er ikke helt færdig endnu men har krydset midterlinjen nu, og anden halvdel af det her album ved jeg udmærket godt er 10/10 og 5 af de største bangers fra hele det årti. Nem nem 5’er

Ekstremt groovy, passende vred. Eneste kritik er at sangene godt kan lyde lidt for ens

What a defining album and it was their debut.. Zack has a lot on his mind and it gets communicated very clearly and angrily. Tom Morello is also on a mission to change the way a guitar sounds. These riffs are just SO GOOD. Top quality and a no-brainer 5⭐️

One of the handful of greatest albums I've ever enjoyed listening to over the course of my lifetime. There are eight absolute bangers on this album that I would put up with any other rock songs in the category of 'Songs That Make You Want To Go Crazy', and one song ('Know Your Enemy') that is in the inner circle of my favorite songs of all time. I don't know what newer generations think of Rage Against the Machine, how they have aged into a new era, but to me and my 40-year old viewpoint they remain as relevant and important as ever, and their music -- This album especially -- continues to be unlike anything made before it or since.

Revolutionary, leftist, aggressive

Some great tracks

Such great energy in this, killing in the name and bombtrack always slaps

When I was almost at the end (by that I mean track 8, ‘Fistful of Steel’), I was like: “Man, do I even like rock?”, “Am I enjoying this or nah?” It got me conflicted. Chile. I don’t mean that it’s shitty but I’m mid about it. it’s because I don’t listen to much rock though. And that has got me dirty, also because it’s pretty hard for me to handle long tracks. It makes me tired, cause every time I listen to a song, I follow them lyrics in Genius to understand the meaning. I put effort in it. And seeing that them are minimum 4 and a half minutes long, got me gasping. Though I like some tracks, I consider them a bit of standouts from the others, they are ‘Bullet In the Head’, ‘Wake Up’, ‘Freedom’ and ‘Township Rebellion’, I exclude ‘Killing in the Name’ cause it’s the most popular one and I consider that a standout on its own. Though for me it’s 4. I have to admit lyricism made me raise the rank of it, cause i think it’s hard to talk about so many deep meaning in an album, and in 1992 they did it. Even before other artists of our time did. It’s really brave of them.

Just about tore my throat out during the drive to work thanks to this!

This shit is fire.

já ouvi

I honestly really like this rap rock. I just got back into linkin park and rage was the precursor to that. The album cover also being so iconic and me not knowing much about it before a few months ago made this perfect to list to now! Nothing more to say enjoyable and influential

Perhaps this is another artist that I will revisit down the line and change my mind on. But upon my first two listens, I just really wasn’t in the headspace to fully appreciate this album. The influence of the beastie boys and other hip hop/rock artists of its time are heard throughout the duration of the album, but it just feels too bland for my liking. Honestly I’m getting Kid Rock vibes and cringing out

This is definitely more up my alley! Heavy beats, lots of different sounds and styles, and funky riffs. I knew Rage was political, but this was the first time I've listened to an album straight through and it was more "eat the rich" than I expected (totally ok with that). Good album to work out to.

It's a shame RatM has joined with the machine. Tom Morello is a joke.

Диссонанс: как можно всерьез рейдж против машины, если ты существуешь только благодаря крупному лейблу Сони? Как вообще можно выпускать такую музыку на одном из самых больших лейблов, не лицемерно ли это? В дополнение сюда, из этой группы родилось множество стыдных банд [которые я любил в детстве]. Энивэй, альбом окэй. Лучшая песня - Killing in the Name.

5/5

Still not my type of music.

Regardless of any issues I take with their premises (though only a few), it’s damn fine rock and roll. The in ovation and technicality, paired with the passion and emotion, make this an incredible album.

I like the sentiment and for the reason it's a high score from me. However it isn't terribly original and the lyrics are a bit lame and repetitive but if that's what's needed to get through I guess the means justifies the end.

Good start, dies off toward the end

Will never listen to again

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

HEY YO, IT’S JUST ANOTHER BOMBTRACK!

Probably over listened to so it's hard to go back with fresh ears. Marginally overrated imo, not one you can listen to day after day, but still a powerful, hard-hitting album. One of the few rap-rock combos that worked. 3.5*

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.

*Face-melting guitar solo* Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me! Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me! Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me! Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me! Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me! Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me! Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me! Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me! Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me! Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me! Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me! Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me! Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me! Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me! Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me! Motherfucker!

This album is perfect it has no flaws. You might like something else more or their lyrics on later albums might hit better for you, but this album is truly p[perfect at what it's supposed to be. Pure passion, musicianship, and raw SOUND this thing is absolutely fucking huge. The bass tone alone could make this perfect. On top of that I think the ideas and themes are still so potent and important and come from such a real place, especially being released around the time of the Rodney King riots. Awesome music, awesome message, awesome performance, and if you say "well if they like communism so much why are they rich from people buying their music" then you clearly just don't understand the subject matter, what else are they supposed to do lol. But also fuck their stupid price gouged tickets maybe everyone's right

Hated it

I’m not quite sure how something so enthusiastic can also be so dull. Quite the achievement.

Such angry young men! F*ck you, I won't do what you tell me either! I appreciate their activism through lyricism and literally *showing up* to protests and driving their fans to take action, vote, and be heard. The music is an interesting blend of metal and rap which is a little much with my morning coffee. Maybe would give an extra star if I'd listened at 3pm instead!

political limp bizkit.

More to it than just angry.

:/

Awesome

4st

I used to scare my peers with this album. It's got a lot of raw power and energy and was unlike most others at its time. Morello had a weird technique and relied almost exclusively on gadgets and tricks for tone.

I was first introduced to RATM from watching The Matrix a few years after this albums came out, and hearing "Wake Up" for the first time probably marked the beginning of my foray into this genre. Lots to like on here, and bonus points for one of the more affecting album covers I've seen.

Hm.. Ik ben niet zo fan van het scream zingen van RATM. Killing in the name is een klassieker, sure, maar een heel album met eigenlijk precies hetzelfde recept vind ik vrij vermoeiend. Elk nummer is precies hetzelfde: rustig intro -> gitaargetokkel -> zacht zingende frontman -> langzaam opbouwen -> SCHREEUWEN WE HATEN DE WERELD FUCK HET SYSTEEM -> MUZIEK GAAT HARD MEE -> SCHREEUWENDE GITAREN OOK -> zacht gitaargetokkel weer, tot we bij het volgende refrein zijn, dan beginnen we weer opnieuw. Nee dit album is dodelijk saai. Prima boodschap en teksten, sta ik volledig achter, maar muzikaal is dit echt geestdodend, als ik nog 1 gitaarsolo moet horen ga ik VVD stemmen. FAVO: Killing in the name, Know your name

It was a good album. First rock one ive ever listened to. or seemed a little too hard for me but there was defo a message that they were trying to get across

one of the best ive heard in a long time — passionate, urgent, and unbound

got this on a picture disc

So good

fucking awesome

I hate listening to albums that have a really good song on them. I love Killing In The Name Of, but there's no way a whole album could be as good. I was right.

Pretty much what I expected lyrically from what I already knew about this album. I really rate the concept and the use of music to spread this message. + points for sick band/record name and sick cover Having been gradually introduced to heavier sounds than I was used to through bands like the Hives, I found myself enjoying the sound of this music a lot more than I would have previously. I like it! It’s a little intense lyrically to just slap on casually though I feel.. Hightlights: - Bombtrack ! - Killing in the name - Bullet in the head - Know your enemy - Wake up

If all rap-metal was this sincerely angry and on-point, I wouldn't hate Red Hot Chili Peppers so much.

Liked it. Bass and guitar dove the album forward well

I thought I would like this more but the only song I liked was “Killing In the Name”, especially the bit where it goes wee woo wee woo wee. The guitar was cool throughout the album though 👍🏻

Love it.

Bombastic, really fw this album

Came into this album expecting to hate it. Putting rage in the same bracket as limp bizkit and system of a down is an insult. The angsty white dudes in this band actually have some real shit to say. Might relisten

One of the most influential metal albums of all time or whatever, I get it. Maybe this helps get the album's point across, but better production and being less repetitive would make this album 100 times better.

Iconic and whatnot. In this kind of became what the album and the band set out not to be.

GOAT

Classic

When this album originally came out, I didn't like it. As a youngster, I didn't like the "rap rock" aspect of it, and I wasn't into heavy music like this. However, into the early 2000's, I started listening to much heavier metal and hardcore, and groups like Orange 9mm brought me back around to Rage Against the Machine. At this point, I view this album and the follow-up as timeless classics, brilliant, and inspirations to musicians that play all kinds of music from hip-hop to rock to metal to even people that can just admire the lyricism.

A few good lyrics but it’s too staccato to be enjoyable.

Vocal. Too much screaming. Made me feel anxious! Same throughout album.

ah, memories...!

Angry rock-metal. I might have liked this more if it was 1999 and I had just seen The Matrix for the first time at the age of 13, but it's good that an anti-capitalist (although unusefully general) message still has a mass appeal. I approve the message, the music not so much.

rage's debut album makes a strong political statement right away the moment the listener presses play. fusing metal, rap, and a little bit of funk, this album is an ambitious contender in this list. anti-censorship, anti-authority, and straight up hardcore leftist. it has a wickedly hardcore sound, but the lyrics couldn't be anymore blunt. that's not to say i don't agree with what they're saying, it's just so unbelievably straightforward and vulgar in how it is said, which... makes it at times feel like a punk band from a liberal arts college. tom morello is a god.

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.

I'd kind of wondered if we'd get Rage Against the Machine in this collection, and I'm glad we did. I really enjoyed this album when it first came out, and have listened to it quite a bit over the years, without *too* much embarrassment. I think what's always intrigued me about the band and the songs is how much tension there is between the very white-mosh-pit-college-crowd vibe of the music and the unsettling antiestablishmentarianism of most of the songs. It's very weird, even now, to see the video for "Killing in the name of" (a really powerful song, in my opinion) and all the mosh pit action by people and fans that very likely are or will become the target of the song's eviscerating social commentary; I'm also very ambivalent about the subtitled commentary in the video for "Bombtrack" (about the violent repression of Peru's also-violent Shining Path movement), one that I suspect few of the typical Rage fans pay much attention. (The "Freedom" video, on the other hand, tells a truly compelling story about Leonard Peltier, yet I wonder how much most people who love Rage have ever paid attention to that story.) All that aside, some of my favorites from this album (in addition to "Killing in the name of"): "Settle for nothing", "Know your enemy", and "Wake up". Too bad that "Bulls on Parade" isn't on this album too. I've always felt like Rage Against the Machine is what the Red Hot Chili Peppers could have been if (a) they chose a more political stance, and (b) stuck with more interesting music and lyrics. (On a side note but somewhat related to this comparison, I'm bummed to find out I missed seeing Rage Against the Machine at Lollapalooza by one year, and instead got the (very very very late) Red Hot Chili Peppers in addition to a number of great acts before them.) I'm also constantly surprised that, as far as I know, no presidential campaign has foolishly and unwittingly adopted any of Rage's anthemic songs for its campaign (I'm thinking particularly of a recent former president). Perhaps their use of the upside-down American flag kind of dissuades the more perceptive ones....

First time listening to an album of theirs but I did recognize Killing in the Name. Their blend of screams, yells, and metal-ish sound doesn't work for me, there were a few moments where the music, especially the bass, sounded pretty good.

yeag

I used to love this album, and I used to love the production. The vocal style still works for me, raw, barely compressed, very dry. Like you're in the room with de la Rocha and he's personally screaming at you about injustice. The drumming style works for me too. But the clean, barely distorted bass feels like it lacks presence in the upper mids and the rhythm guitar sound reminds me of the midless-mush of ...And Justice For All. From a song writing perspective the first few tracks are iconic. Nothing beats Killing in the Name for passion and feeling. But after this the album tapers down to half time grooves and grunting with sporadic, amellodic and arrhythmic guitar solos from Tom Morello. It's hard to be too harsh on an album that includes Killin in the Name, but I spent most of my listen feeling like I wanted to listen to more interesting bands that these guys were inspired by or have inspired. Everything from Pearl Jam to Evergreen Terrace and Lamb of God.

Pretty rockin’. Great use of cowbell.

La rivoluzione, la libertà e la violenza. Gran bel disco.

It’s crazy how much power Rage’s debut still holds today. It not only sounds clean with immaculate production, but it sounds unique, which is insane because this album launched a thousand mediocre rap-rock ships. It’s one of those records that just feels like it’s always been around, and even though many tried to Xerox it, the sound still sounds singular. You can tune your ears to just one instrument and find joy in every song here, and every song is amazing. I will say, though, that I think it’s hard to swallow as a full, single listen. In many ways, it’s the only Rage album anyone ever needs to hear, and arguably the only rap-rock/jock rock album worthy of anyone’s time. Anything more is almost too much. Arguably, that starts to become evident once you’re about 75% through with this record. Around that point, the schtick becomes predictable – funky rhythm section groove with a heavy metal punch, vaguely-leftist populist lyrics about the ills of a nation-state under capitalism that build to a rally-cry chorus, and Morello’s signature switchboard glitchy solo riffs that feel off-kilter but aren’t all that strange once you lock into their groove. It’s a great formula, but it’s formulaic, and that wears thin even in this self-contained presentation. It’s why Rage’s later material has lost most of its luster nowadays (although the stuffy production on those albums don’t help), and it’s why the whole genre went belly up by the end of the decade. Thankfully, when you pull the songs out on their own, this predictability isn’t really an issue, and even when it’s exhausting, I know this album is still very, very, very good. Rage’s debut is tight in a way few albums are tight, and it’s really hard to dislike, even if this isn’t your genre or your worldview. It’s a clear high water mark with a specific goal in mind. Also, a great workout record! Wish they didn’t peak so soon, but at least this album still stands as tall as it ever did.

The monster sitting at the pinnacle of angry 1990s rock.

Wow...I really liked this one. I particularly enjoyed the band's ability to replicate the genre conventions of Hip Hop whilst maintaining that Rock sound. The instrumentation is probably my favorite thing about the album. I particularly enjoyed Morello and Commerford's effects throughout. E.G. Morello's "record scratches" on Fistful of Steel and Commerford's "808s" on Township Rebellion. And, of course, I commend the band for taking an unapologetic stand against our nation's poor politics and betrayal of both its citizens and global citizens. Still rings true today. (They're goated for releasing this on an Election Day lol) And I appreciate the acknowledgement of both Rock and Hip Hop as protest genres born of necessity. Will be adding this to the rotation. 5/5

Great mix of rap vocals and rock/metal instruments. Perfect for head banging along to, or vibing while performing other tasks.

It's angry, it's interesting and it ROCKS! Banger grooves!

Gonna have to relisten to this one. I know its a classic but i just wasnt blown away. The rap rock thing doesnt work for me and the lyrics sound like stuff ive heard a million times from lefty twitter

I like Rage, but an entire album is too much. They’re not very dynamic, all the songs sound the same for the most part. So an hour of it is draining. The album is very high energy, and has some really cool instrumentals. But even the guitar solos, while innovative, are kind of same-y throughout. I love a rage song every once in a while, and can appreciate what they contributed to music. However, the album as a whole had me wishing it was over by the halfway point.

Generally not a metal fan, but the energy here along with the rap style vocals and political statements make this a massively energetic and exhilarating album.

The first RAGE album is an unmatched classic. Never before or since have rap and rock been been merged with such excellence. There's not a dud track on the record. It's all killer, and all killer.

Wore this out back in the day, don’t like them as much anymore

No. 249/1001 Bombtrack 3/5 Killing In The Name 3/5 Take the Power Back 2/5 Settle For Nothing 2/5 Bullet In The Head 2/5 Know Your Enemy 2/5 Wake Up 2/5 Fistful of Steel 1/5 Township Rebellion 2/5 Freedom 2/5 Average: 2,1 Did not enjoy this at all. Every song sounds similar.

OHHHHHH YEAH THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT

This is a classic for a reason

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.

I knew I liked KITNO, but didn’t expect to enjoy the rest of the album as much as I did. Think it spoke to my menopausal rage 👍🏻

"Before closing my eyes and moving towards the vision of the Buddha, I respectfully plead to President Ngô Đình Diệm to take a mind of compassion towards the people of the nation and implement religious equality to maintain the strength of the homeland eternally. I call the venerables, reverends, members of the sangha and the lay Buddhists to organize in solidarity to make sacrifices to protect Buddhism." These were the last words left on a note by the Buddhist monk Thích Quảng Đức before he committed an act of self-immolation in the middle of a busy road in Ho Chi Minh City in June of 1963. This was done in protest of the repression and persecution of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese government during the Vietnam War. He is the man on the cover of this album. I begin this with his story because it represents the values at the forefront of this band’s whole existence. Political freedom and agency. “Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me”. To those that believe that in recent years this group has become complacent and began conforming “to the machine” (as vomiting-inducing as that is to say), the music was never for you to begin with. And to those that lick the boots of the ones Zack is speaking about, but claim that you “fuck with Rage”, you are blissfully unaware of the messages they are trying to convey. I’m aware that all of that seems like a bunch of exposition for nothing. But it actually matters a lot more than the music itself. I’ll still talk about the music though. Rage Against the Machine’s titular debut is one that struck the music industry with the same magnitude as the meteor that ended the dinosaurs reign on the Earth. It proved to the world during a time where metal was at its most dumbed down and derivative that metal could actually mean something. And from track one to track ten, it is an onslaught. This is unequivocally the best record to ever bring rap and funk together with metal music. Nothing else even remotely reaches the same level of quality. Tom Morello gets a lot of flack for being too much of a one-trick pony. But the creativity he brings to the music with his riffs and solos still feels very uniquely him. His sound is instantly recognizable. You immediately know it’s him playing when you hear it. And he proves how effective simple riffs can still be when played with power. The performances from all three musicians backing Zack are very impressive and high-level, but still feel grounded and don’t overdo it. The production is also legitimately mind-blowing. Every instrument comes through so clearly, and these songs sound fucking massive. This debut is marvelous not only for its musical content, but also for its demands of action and change. I come from a place of privilege and luck, so these messages are important to me and my journey in learning more. And we can all do our part to contribute in some way, even in small amounts. So remember, never stand on a silent platform. Know who your enemies are. Fuck Paul Ryan. Free Palestine. Rage Against the Machine forever. Rating: 10/10!

Woooo!! High energy with something to say. Masterful composition and grooves. Compelling stuff. Very few misses here.

Beastie boys like

I don’t know anymore if they are genuine revolutionaries or middle class wannabes. I know Zach de la Rocha’s father was a genuine revolutionary. But is it valid? I suspect it is. But the cynic in me suspects it’s less cred. Too many crappy bands of rich middle class kids botching killing in the name. That’s not ratm’s fault. They also need to swing a bit. 3.5

This is a special art, culture, a voice and style apart. Propulsive power rock defined. Nothing moves like a RATM concert Audience and mosh pit. Its extraordnary. The swirls and heaving. Unapologetic protest music- always and still relevant - frustration, outrage, oppression fear and unrest weaponised as music propaganda. You cant sit still for this. Used as Sound Test music at empty stadiums and outdoor concerts all over Europe for its dynamic range - it is both entertaining (fun) and eery to hear for its contained aggresion. it can sound forboding. But at its best it get the blood up, for sure. Unashamed protest music that taps into a deep rage and malaise around what is wrong. The opposite of pop and pap. They 'get' primitive emotion and expertly weaponise as music. A memoranble eloquence on so much that is unmentionable. Instantly recognisable, but maybe a bit 'male' for much of the audience, as I seem to remember when looking down at their mosh pit - where does a crowd learn those tribal moves?

Pretty sure I’d never listened to this album before. I was familiar with Killing In The Name but that’s about it. Not sure it’s weathered well, although it probably has for those who were teenagers at the time. Too much anger & yelling for me & I wonder if this was the template for so many horrible bands that followed in the nineties.

I was living in a share house in 1992 when this album came out. I had a terrible band with one of my housemates, Andy. "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me" was Andy's motto for living. He must have played Killing in the Name every damn day for a year, screaming along for effect. Twice a day. He loved that song. Which, you gotta admit, is a pretty great song if you're a left-leaning young man who enjoys music on the heavier side of things. The song was ubiquitous in all kinds of settings in 1992. I distinctly remember dancing to this in an industrial night club at 3am one Saturday night, and then hearing it again at the McDonalds when I went for breakfast on my way home at 6am on Sunday morning. It was a sign of the great alternative music crossover, about which I had mixed feelings. It was weird that a pretty abrasive and left political band were releasing records on a major label, getting lots of commercial radio airplay, and selling a bajillion records. Even a few years earlier, it would have been unthinkable. Rage Against the Machine's strengths were also its greatest weaknesses. Zach de la Rocha's vocals are forceful and politically aware (which makes a pleasant change from a lot of gangsta rap and nu-metal rappers, whose lyrics are non-stop violence and misogyny). RATM lyrics often read like the rantings of a first-year sociology student (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnZnnkJxoC8), but at least you don't feel morally compromised by just listening to it, even if it does feel like getting yelled at for an hour. The band is tight as a hipster's jeans, and they can swing like no other heavy band since Led Zeppelin, which is kind of awesome, but they don't really understand dynamics or songwriting. It is one killer, heavy, swinging riff after another, which is kind of awesome, but again, also a bit tiring. And I have this gripe about Tom Morello. I feel like he often confuses turning on a digital effect pedal for a proper solo. I think he is, bar none, the best heavy rhythm guitar player of his generation, but his soloing is not great. Together, though, the RATM band are the best heavy rhythm section around. I will secretly confess I really liked Audioslave, because Chris Cornell brought actual songs with light and shade, and the RATM band brought tight and swinging backing. There are a few killer tacks on this album, but, really, secretly, if you've heard one, you've heard their whole oeuvre. I really liked RATM when this album came out, but I bought the 12" of Killing in the Name, and I have never really felt the need to buy any other record by them. Actually, I tell a lie. My mate Peter has a 7" single of their cover of Fuck Tha Police on it. I'd _really_ like that record too, and then I'm done. 3.5 stars.

It's still punchy yet I felt underwhelmed

The rare 5. This album held a major part in shaping my life. They reunited in 2007 for Coachella. 19 year old me, fresh with my first ever credit card, bought a bunch of tickets on a whim. We ended up going to Coachella 10 years in a row. It sparked my love of live music and festivals. Obligatory: fuck you I won't do what you tell me

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!

Righteous anger captured in a bottle, powerful stuff.

Perfect. You will be hard pressed to find a better debut album. HoF for a reason

Die Kombination harten Rock mit RAP ist überraschend, aber auch genial produziert. Dieses Album ist bei aller Härte gefüllt mit Liebe zum Detail. Sehr gut produziert, klarer Sound mit tollen kleinen Klangspielereien rechts und links im Ohr. Man startet das Album und man kann nicht mehr aufhören, weil man bei jedem Lied staunt, was man sich alles einfallen ließ.Stark.

If you can’t say anything nice …

Rating: 10/10 One of the greatest debuts and albums of all time. Incredible mix of rap and metal with amazing performances and songwriting from all of the members. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Worst song: Settle For Nothing.

One of the greatest debut albums ever. Every single song is an absolute banger. Rage has helped this old guy more than anyone will ever know. When the frustrations of life were hitting me hard, a couple beers, headphones and singing Rage at the top of my lungs always seemed to make me feel better. I had the privilege to take my son to see the first live performance in 11 years on July 10, 2022 at Alpine Valley. Originally scheduled for 2020, after 2 years of postponements due to Covid, I got to experience one of the greatest live shows I have ever experienced. Sharing the experience with Luke will be a memory I'll never forget. Zack blew out his leg a couple nights later in Chicago, so we saw the only show of the reunion where we saw the full energy and Zach being able to bounce around the stage. I get goosebumps just typing out my memory. Bombtrack is my favorite tune of any Rage songs, but I could shout along with any song of this album. Probably any album. I could go on and on about how much I love these guys and their music. I still rock out to these guys on a regular basis and they are one of my favorite bands of all time. Even when my son was born, there was some discussions of naming him Zach. I probably blew that when I told my wife the reason. Ha. This may be favorite album I have heard from this list. Or at least it feels that way because I have rocked out to RATM all week. Just beautiful. I can't get enough. 5

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.

This album whips. Aside from Killing In The Name being overplayed to the point of absurdity (I never liked that one very much to begin with) this is consistently killer.

Elsker

This album needs no introduction. I remember the first time I listened to this as a kid when my neighbor brought it over to my house. I instantly fell in love with Rage's sound. As I've gotten older, I've realized that I had no idea what I was listening to - and now that I know, it adds even more meaning to the album. Sadly still relevant 22 years later. Aside from the music itself, this is also a phenomenally well recorded and produced album. The combo of Andy Wallace / Bob Ludwig at the helm for mixing / mastering can't be beat. I'm lucky enough to own an original 1992 vinyl press of this - and even as someone who generally questions the "vinyl always sounds better" mentality, this one really does. When I have friends over who have never heard a hi-fi system, this is high on my list of albums that I use to show how good recorded music can sound (I'll get off my audiophile soapbox now) IMO Rage never quite captured the magic of this album again, even though I do like their subsequent work. This album is just too good to beat.

3.5

Heavy. Love the feeling of the whole album.

This is such a great album. Track after track just really hits. Not a bad song on the album.

i just fkn hate rage against the machine, the music is dumb jock rock and the lyrics are so fkn stupid, champagne socialists, whatever man

album legal gostei muito

Angry metal rap. Would like it better as a teen. Well executed.

Great album but too violent for me

I DUCKING LOVE THE RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE!!!!

Nur laut reicht nicht. Zuviel Rap, zu wenig Musik.

Wouw!… This is cool and groovy RnR all the way!

I miss them so much

I remember being so blown away the first time I heard RATM as a teenager. Morello’s signature wailing guitars paired with the charisma of de la Rocha’s energetic funky, hip hop vocal delivery sounded so fresh at the time. Time hasn’t changed my opinion of their debut release, it still rips, the energy is unparalleled, it’s so good. 5 stars

Unfortunately, not my style and couldn't really understand the lyrics.

Quite good

Visceral! American as fuck!!!

This album fucking rocks.

Me at 16: Rage Against The Machine is the best band ever Me at 22: While influential in their time, there’s a certain political naiveté to RATM’s lyrics that makes it hard to take their music seriously Me at 33: Rage Against the Machine is the best band ever

Arguably more important now than when it was recorded. Fantastic album.

hell yeah

"You either love RATM or you don't understand them." - my friend

This album bangs hard and doesn’t let up. Very powerful and heavy from start to finish. Best Song: Wake Up

Music to set fire to your local precinct to

Rap meets heavy metal. I get the rage, but this is all a little cacophanous and one-nite for me.

Absolute masterpiece. Not a single second wasted on this album.

Rage Against The Machine is great stuff, huge sound, angry, aggressive, impassioned, memorable and lasting riffs, thunderous bass driving the whole thing along, it's epic. The first seven tracks are outstanding, think it tails off slightly at the end, which probably stops it getting a 5, but it's the highest of 4s.

This is much better! Flies out of the traps very quickly (no gentle intro here!), Bombtrack and Killing In the Name are a really full on start, and it doesn't really let up at all. Tonnes of energy and emotion throughout, fades a little towards the end. Doesn't quite make a 5, it's a bit too cringey in places and has all the subtlety and nuance of a brick through a window, but it's easily a 4.

It was ok. Not my cup of tea personally but it had great energy.

Few classic songs.

Hell yeah

Its loud and crass but it really makes you feel its music. When the lead singer really shouts and screams, you can feel every bit of rage coming out of him, it's impressive. I like most of the songs here and even the ones that I didn't add to my playlist I found to be alright. There's not a lot that's bad here and it's got some killer instrumentals. The fact that the lyrics are so simple yet even now hold meaning to current political climate is damn impressive (and sad).

I was expecting this to be a 3* album, since I've never liked "Killing in the name" that much, but "Bombtrack" is such a banger that made me immediately reconsider this. Easily one of the best opening tracks I've ever seen.

Not the kind of music I like to listen to. This moved me in the wrong direction.

A lovely self titled debut that brought the fire and spark to the mainstream.

Goes hard asf in the gym

I've always liked the popular Rage songs, but not necessarily something I want to listen to front-to-back. Screaming "Bullet in your Head" for mintues on end isn't exactly calming. Still, good stuff.

big 3

Fantastic debut album. Lot's of energy, rocks very hard

Good-ish album. I'm not sure what to say about this one. It's obviously a very popular and well-received album, but I can't help but find RATM kind of a dorky band. It's like edgy teenager stuff, but it does have a cool, interesting sound. Vocals/flow are excellent as well. It's not that great though. ***

Oh, this is so good. Every single track. Saw them live at the first everT in the Park. Memories. And that photo on the cover is disturbing and iconic

A coherent album despite the screaming.

I was just too young to understand Rage when they were still together but they dominated my stereo time on middle and high school. The Battle of Los Angeles is my go to, but I always forget that this debut was absolute fire. Killer band. Great, if ultimately impotent message. Tim and Tom are a fantastic duo. Love this band.

Top tier album, every song slaps. 5/5.

Good music but, I'm not too fond of the symbiosis of Rock/Metal and Rap.

Everything a protest album should be. This album doesn't hold back anything with the aggressive vocals and gritty sound of the lead guitar with seriously deep lyrics that can paint a brutal picture of the inequalities and injustices that this album aims at.

A high 4 if not a 5, but I rarely give out 5s

Oh, man. This is a tough one. On the one hand, the genre-blending is a pretty darn great idea. Metal and rap? Badass - at least in theory. (Particularly for its time.) We see themes that are frequently covered in each of these "parent" genres, including anti-capitalism, police brutality, the broken education system, assassination of political figures, and corruption. There's a brutal, wild anger in the music that's very nearly unmatched. The instrument playing is almost too perfect for the mood RAtM is trying to convey. It's loud, disarming, terrifying. The guitar and bass, while playing the (great) riffs, are perfectly in sync, and I'm also a big fan of the ridiculously atonal guitar solos. (If they'd been contrasted with some coherent vocal melodies, I would've liked them even more.) The drumming is your classic metal crash bonanza. It's fast, energising, and fitting for the music. On the other hand, the singing (which is very much a centerpiece element) could use some improvement in a few ways. The vocals are mostly unmelodic screaming, with very few actual melodies to make the tracks singable or memorable. The songs then have to lean heavily on the riffs, which thankfully are much better. This isn't a deal-breaker for everyone, nor is it for me, but it's something that could be amended. In addition, the lyrics don't exactly mince words, getting directly to the point with each and every line: "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me" (x16) "See through the news and the views that twist reality / Enough, I call the bluff, fuck Manifest Destiny" "Networks at work keeping people calm / You know they murdered X / And tried to blame it on Islam" It's almost too in-your-face. And that's not really a fault of the band, who remains stoutly true to this revolutionary new genre. It's the fault of the genre itself. 4/5 Key tracks: Know Your Enemy, Wake Up, Bombtrack, Killing In The Name

Just another funky radical bomb track.

Well, Happy Birthday to me! I love this album, and seek this out often enough. I do believe this is by far their greatest album. No need to skip anything on hear. Everything comes together perfectly, the guitar, bass, drums, and the vocals. I don't normally love yelling and screaming as vocals, but in this it seems absolutely necessary. Very fitting for the times we are currently going through, 30+ years later...

5a direkt. Behöver inte ens lyssna men gör det ändå. Den har tyvärr inte åldrats alls. Då menar jag att texterna är obehagligt aktuella fortfarande efter 30+ år. 30!!! Kan inte fatta. Spelade valda delar för min son och hans kompis. Men de var inte lika imponerade. "Vad arga de låter" Exakt! Va lite mer arg! Kan behövas. Jag älskar denna skiva. Är är samma sound genom hela och det gör inget. Jag tröttnar inte.

Visste att detta skulle bli mycket bra. Det är till stor del tack vare Tom Morellos gitarrspelande och musiken i övrigt. Egentligen är det konstigt att det är bra, "sången" och texterna är egentligen rätt töntiga, om man tänker efter. Men det gör man inte, man går på känsla!

Jag har aldrig varit något superfan av RATM, vilket jag tror beror på att jag generellt inte tycker det skrik-rap-rockiga och pubertala uttrycket är jättebra (samma med t ex Beastie Boys). Med det sagt så gav jag den här skivan många chanser och de har verkligen sina stunder när de är grymma, men för mig blir det i längden lite för repetitivt över en hel platta. Vissa låtar, t ex Settle for nothing, tycker jag är rent plågsamma (trots den Kirk Hammet-inspirerade gitarrslingan). Stark trea.

No.

Fight the war, fuck the norm. Know your enemy! Morning light hits like a fucking hangover. I drag myself out of bed, fight that old demon, and lose again. It's a dirty habit, one I swear off every night and succumb to every morning. Jerked off. Pathetic. I lace up my shoes, step into Hackney's chaos. The canal's my escape route, a vein of calm cutting through the city's relentless pulse. Feet pounding pavement, I find some peace in Victoria Park, greenery sprawling out like a lover's embrace. The world is noisy, but here, it's just me and my thoughts. Gym time. I hit the elliptical, 30 minutes of sweat and breath. “Dark” plays at 1.5x speed, reality bending as I push through. I'm lost in the story, lost in the motion. Time's a twisted mess, but I keep going, keep moving. Then it's time to sculpt. Brachioradialis workout, arms burning, each rep a protest against mediocrity. I want those 3D arms, muscles that scream through my sleeves. Rage Against The Machine blares in my ears, every note a battle cry. First time through the album, and it's a fucking masterpiece. Five stars, no contest. "Killing in the Name" roars through the earbuds. Tom Morello’s guitar is a siren, a call to arms. “Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me” becomes my mantra, each pedal stroke a defiant act. Sweat pours, muscles burn, but this is where the fight is real. Every drop of sweat a stand against the voices that say "you can't." Time to lift. "Bullet in the Head" blasts through the speakers. The raw aggression, the biting critique of media and corporate control, it’s fuel. My brachioradialis screams under the weight, muscles carving out those 3D arms. Each rep is a punch, each set a rebellion against the lies and chains. "Know Your Enemy" kicks in as I hit the heavy sets. Morello’s riffs strike like lightning, de la Rocha’s voice electrifies. The political charge, the call to resistance, it’s all there in the lift, in the burn, in the fight to be better, stronger. Each lyric a reminder that the struggle isn’t just out there; it’s in every moment of self-doubt, every push against complacency. "Fistful of Steel" pounds through the last of my energy. Drenched in sweat, invincible in spirit. The message is clear: use your voice, your body, your existence as a weapon against the injustice. Aggressive riffs, pounding drums, the rhythm of my heartbeat. This is beyond the gym; it’s a call to arms. Rage Against the Machine’s debut isn’t just music; it’s a manifesto, a revolution. It’s a radical blend of rap, metal, and funk that transforms, ignites. This album isn’t just five stars; it’s a blazing comet of truth and defiance. It’s a partner in the weight room, a motivator on the track, a companion in the fight for something real. Tim Commerford teaches us that the bass is a goddamn heartbeat, a pulse of revolution. It’s not background noise; it's the core, the driving force. His bass lines in Rage Against the Machine—they aren't just notes. They're punches, they're protests, they're power. Precision and groove, complexity and simplicity, all mixed into a raw, relentless drive. Tim shows us the beauty in the balance, how to weave through a song with funk, rock, and metal, never overshadowing, always underpinning. He teaches us that mastery isn't just technical skill; it's knowing when to strike and when to let the silence speak. It's about resilience and consistency, every performance marked by raw commitment and passion. His bass lines—they’re lessons in rebellion. On stage, he's a force, a living embodiment of the music's spirit. It’s not just about playing; it’s about feeling, conveying emotion, making statements. It’s about connection, a visceral link between musician and audience. Tim teaches us authenticity, to stay true, to channel our passions, to scream out against the bullshit. Dedication, fearlessness, those are his teachings. Every riff, every line is a call to arms, a reminder to persevere, to hold onto integrity. It’s about more than music; it’s about resistance, about challenging the status quo, inspiring change. His bass is a weapon, his music a battlefield. And then there's the visual impact. Tim shirtless, those blackout tattoos—a canvas of rebellion. He looks like a warrior, a living work of art. The tattoos aren't just ink; they're statements, layers of identity and defiance. Tim Commerford teaches us that rhythm is rebellion, and the bass is its beating heart, pounding in sync with a body that's carved out its own path, defiantly, boldly. The album powers me through the grind, the monotony, the fight against mediocrity. Each note, each lyric, is a spark that lights the fire within. Rage Against the Machine isn’t just an album; it’s the soundtrack to my war cry, the beat of my rebellion. This album's on the list – "1001 Albums to Listen to Before You Die." I'm ticking them off, one by one, a new experience every day. My pilgrimage. Today it's RATM, tomorrow, who knows? It's a journey, each sound a new frontier. I walk out of the gym, arms pumped, spirit on fire. The day’s mine. This life, this gritty, raw existence, is about small victories. And today, I fucking won.

Great energy. Got a Christmas no 1 as well what more do you need to Zack de la Rocha

5 stars. I love this album. I've always loved this album. I will always love this album. Agree or disagree with their politics, there's no debate that this album is an amazing debut. Bombtrack in the running for best opening track off a debut album. Settle for Nothing is the one weak link on the album...lyrically and musically it's the one song that just doesn't resonate with me. This is the sound of righteous anger. No one talks about Rage Against the Machine being the successors to LA Hard Core punk but you can hear it on some songs. Morello is underrated as a guitarist, you hear a song he plays on and you know it's him, there aren't many guitarists whose signature sound is so recognizable. This is the sound the Beastie Boys would have had if they'd been given a record deal by a punk label instead of a hip hop label. This was a band of and for me at the right time, they brought something familiar, something new, something interesting, something angry right when all of that was the thing I wanted to hear. Hard to separate the quality of the album from how I felt when I first heard it. Freeeeeedom! William Wallace would be proud. Your anger is a gift...it was on my t-shirt and in my mind. Great debut album, one of the best ever.

Slim yet powerful, RATM's discography is among the ones where I Iike every song. They rock hard with their half-shouted vocals, their simple yet head-banging riffs, and their slick guitar that almost sounded industrial. The lyrics are pretty solid too. Repetitive and powerful, like protest slogans. I love how they're particular and universal at the same time. Overall, they're one of my go-to artists whenever I want to bang my head, raise my fist, or do both. This album in particular is not really my favorite but it's still packed with their most beloved singles.

Great

peak rage!!!

anal bum a day 4 alright the generator REALLY doesn't want us to give up this time Rage Against the Machine is one of those bands that is just so culturally significant that this HAD to be on the list. Politically charged funk metal band RATM releases one of the most iconic debut albums of all time on November 3, 1992, the day of the presidential election of Bill Clinton. This record is chock full of insanely catchy riffs and sarcastic writing. The energetic delivery of Rocha's vocals really sells the whole thing, and it's pretty hard to not yell along. FUCK man this album is fire. 8/10

fire

Just a dude complaining for an hour

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.

There are some real bangers on here. Many of the songs overstay their welcome for me, but most tend to have at least a portion that I enjoy. I did end up with a light headache by the end, though, so I can't go too high with my rating.

Listening to this on the day of Trump’s attempted assassination hit different

10 out of freaking 10. I repeat, 10 out of freaking 10. Personally, I am not a fan of rap music. However, Rage Against the Machine is a big fat exception for me. They combine dope metal, and sick rapping. The songs in this album are memorable, well-written, and still relevant over thirty years after its release. Let's not forget about the fact that Maynard James Keenan has been featured on its track Know Your Enemy. He is my absolute FAVOURITE singer, and sadly, this album appears to be the only one in this 1001 album thing in which he is featured. Anyway, this album is a 10/10. It certainly is a must-listen album. :)

My definition of crossover.

The first combination of heavy metal and wrap. A very interesting sound. Great musicianship. Definitely need to listen to it again sometime.

This was sick, wish I listened to it sooner.

Nope. No. No thanks. I tried

Every song on this album is filled with burning rage just like the band's and album's name. My only minor gripe with this album is that it begins to sound repetitive as a whole, but because every song contains the same energy and little flourishes get sprinkled in, I can still give it 5 stars. I'm not sure I will listen to the album as a whole again, but I liked every song individually because every song has something special and the energy is amazing. We need this kind of energy in politics today. I cringe when people who swing to the right-wing listen to this and think it speaks to them. I cringe because punk rock sometimes confuses these people into thinking this music is for them and then they steal it and it becomes difficult for left-wing liberals to even listen to, but I don't give a fuck. I like it and I understand the message and I will rage against the right-wing machine who is killing in the name and FUCK YOU I WON'T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME. Right-wing fascists fuck off. Rage is for lefties. Rage is for the people, not the people creating the machine. You have no right to rage against the machine if you are supporting it and helping it grow. You have every right to rage against the machine if you are an unwilling participant in the machine, a slave to the man who put you there. I admit I am a straight cisgender white male and thus I am public enemy number one. My kind has destroyed society as we know it. But please understand there are those of us who are on the side of those who have been buried by society and care for and want to fight alongside those who are frequently disenfranchised. Fuck the machine. Destroy the machine. Break down the walls that keep us locked in our cells. Music like this can inspire these emotions in the right people who will use it to try to make our society better and inclusive for everyone.

Wish they still made albums.

Rage is probably the only nü metal band I can hang with. Super leftist lyrics, the palpable rage and unchanging US politics makes this still feel fresh.

A classic, high energy album that pumps you up to fight against the powers that be. The main issue really is that Rage Against the Machine are very much a part of the machine, especially these days with their exorbitant ticket prices. Regardless of that, they make some pretty good songs.

Less said the better.

Rage Against the Machine Wake up sheeple! Corporations, yeah? The system, yeah? Although I kind of agree with the overall sentiment, lyrically this is pretty artless - it’s hardly groundbreaking to criticise capitalism and express dislike of inequality, but if you are, swearing with vague platitudes about systems and not doing ‘they’ say just sounds a bit crap. It’s not necessarily that they are naive, and I don’t doubt their sincerity and conviction at all, but the words are neither direct and powerful, nor opaque and poetic, so it fails to reach the intellectual articulation that he’s clearly striving for, and consequently it sounds a bit laughable - it has that sense of a teenager with superficial profundity telling you something very obvious that you already know. Musically however this is excellent, or more accurately ‘guitarily’ this is excellent. I know people always say Tom Morello is a great guitarist, but listening to this I completely understand. Although it may not be in my preferred genre, it’s so so good: heavy, groovy, riffy, simultaneously subtle and direct, it expresses the anger and themes of the album much better than the words do. I could quite happily listen to an instrumental-only version of this. Song wise, Killing in the Name is of course excellent and probably the standout. Take the Power Back is, I presume(?), unintentionally Seinfeld. Musically Settle for Nothing is great, superb guitar. Bullet in the Head is good and Know Your Enemy is excellent, possibly running Killing in the Name of close. Wake Up is very Kashmir, and then the remaining tracks are more of the same. Excellent guitar, bad lyrics. Of all the angry rock records, this has to be up there, I would say principally for the guitar - in fact I would prefer an instrumental-only version of this album. It’s tricky to rate, purely on guitar its a 4, but the whole is lesser, so I’ll go with 3. 🐑🐑🐑 Playlist submission: Killing in the Name

No

Not my style of music

I have heard of them and they are not my style of music, but I kind of agreed with every machine they were raging against.

On this album, the combination of something aggressive like heavy metal, rhymes and the rhythm of rap sounds very good. the sound impact gives strength to the political content of the lyrics. the atmosphere is set to ignite the listener with rage. If that was the intention, they nailed it.

Something I’m familiar with which always helps the enjoyment of listening to an album. Not totally my cup of tea but happy to have this on cause it’s definitely a solid record. Makes me feel like I’m at high school again so nostalgia points are always welcome!

What a nice album to get after the 4th of July.

Kan jeg godt lide

I don't like death metal as much as the next guy

First time listening and loved the whole thing. I’ve always loved the photo of the monk so such a cool cover to go with the music. I can see why people love it, it’s not my favorite sound in the world but executed perfectly. I’m excited to listen to their subsequent records. Rating: 4.8

An amazing debut. Bullet in the head, know your enemy and Bombtrack are the best tracks. Also please appreciate this bass work.

Håller så fruktansvärt bra!!!

Perfect

A very strong rock record. I’m not the biggest fan of super hard rock, which I think this is, but this album is pretty undeniable. 4/5

He’s a very angry and repetitive young man. Needs help

They sure are raging

Good stuff. I had never listened to this album in its entirety before. Turns out that when you mix metal and rap, the metal part can make up for much of the awkwardness brought by the rap part. 4/5

This album is what it says it is. I am too old to be that angry so 2 stars or D+.

No good. Commies.

One of the great albums of all time. The message is still annoyingly relevant and the music is still fire.

One of the best albums of my generation

This album can only be considered a patronizing capitalist insult to those who are getting ground up by "the machine".

Honestly liked this a lot more than I expected. Kind of an intense listen so I'm not sure I'd come back it a lot, but glad I gave this a chance.

This is one of the all time classic records from my youth, and something I have listened to a bunch at various times in my life. An easy 5 stars.

Straightforward and a little repetitive, they have a message and go for it!

Fantastic album, really set itself above the music landscape at the time.

Lots of raw energy might take away from the quality of music. The songs themselves were pretty awesome, and the guitar especially was WICKED. But I can't get past the screaming vocals. Dude had a lot to say and I couldn't even understand it.

Despite all my rage, I am still just a ratm in a cage. #167, time to kill a darling. Or, poke it with a dull stick, at least. I was 18 when this came out and even as a German circa middle class cishet white teenager, boy, was I there for it! I still own two copies of this, somehow. Today, I've largely grown out of funk metal while I have absolutely not grown out of the album's sentiments. And here's a problem: "Rage Against The Machine" was my generation's protest music and here we are, 32 years later. Have we taken the power back yet, mommy? Shut up and jump, they'll tell you how high. Feels like listening to unkept promises.

Liked some of this one. Interesting combination of heavy guitar and rap. The themes are still quite relevant today. Good arrangements. However, some of the lyrics and messages can be difficult to follow through the duration and added instrumentals in the songs. Highlights: Take the Power Back Bullet In the Head

Day 36 of listening to 1001 albums, one day at a time. This album is the most perfect mix of metal, 90s rap and punk. It is your face and so amazing and loud. Everything that this album does it makes sure you hear whether you want to or not. Not only was this album revolutionary for mixing 90s rap with metal in such a great way but also has a lot to say. Wake up is my favorite track that talks about the counter intelligence program the FBI used against MLK and Malcom X but also they use Hoover speech in the song. Then in the final song Freedom when they say the line “Anger is a gift” they say it quiet to throw you off because all you’ve heard so far is them yelling. I love this album it’s so awesome and great. I think I am just more mad at myself that I didn’t listen to it sooner.

For sure an album all should hear, especially Americans, before they die. The messages and lyrics are powerful, and for that time, exposing relative to other music of this popularity. It's still hilarious to me when people seem to miss the target of the anger...

Excellent album. Best tracks are Killing In The Name and Take The Power Back 4/5

Amazing, some tracks drag for too long but it won me over. Might listen to it again.

RATM is good. I just don't love it personally all that much. Pretty cool for a debut album, there's no hiding from the aggression here, it's in your face as intended. Good album but I won't add it to the rotation.

Fuck yeah

Pretty great top to bottom. Can’t ask for anything more from this genre.

Great soundtrack for working for the government

When I waited in line on Ticketmaster in February 2020, I wouldn't have ever thought that I would have funny tales about my experience with Rages Against the Machines but wow, I really like this album and I really like them. I saw most if not all of these songs live and there really is such an electricity that I didn't expect

Metal for rap lovers. High energy, fun to listen to, gets you pumped. You don't even need to listen to the lyrics to feel the message. Zack raps kind of like Chuck-D. Also, the album art is metal AF.

Generational album, words are more true and powerful 30 yrs later. Ahead of its time

Some of those who were enforcers are the same who burn crosses. Never been more truer than today’s day and age right! Someone like Zack and the gang gotta pick up the torch! I like the heaviness of this, the raging against the machine, and Zack’s delivery. Tom Morello is an okay guitar player with a simple technique.

An incredible debut album - socially conscious, loud, innovative, and well done.

Not bad

Energetic. Great band

It's a classic. But hasn't aged that well. Somehow I lost my teenager rage.

Raw energy - brilliant

Easy 5. Production on this is so good. All the songs are good. Holds up real well. Will I listen to again: 100%

LOL I hella has Rage Against the Machine and 30 Seconds to Mars confused in my head for some reason (blasphemous, I know). This kicked ass. What an album to listen to as I drove to work on Monday morning. My angsty ass will be returning to this for sure.

It’s a banger, it was a banger when it was released and it’s aged incredibly well (or I’ve aged with it?)

It's truly a fun album to listen to, you don't have to "get into it", intellectualize your experience or replay the tracks several time to enjoy the ride. I feel like a teenager in a good way

The album absolutely rules. Will take no criticism on it. 5/5

I’ve heard a couple of these before, but first time listening all the way through. Nice hybrid of the rock/metal instrumentals and hiphop/shouted vocals, yet keeping things fairly simple and clean & well balanced. 4/5

Bello tosto, ma mi aspettavo un po' di più.

01) Bombtrack - 7,5 02) Killing in the Name - 10,0 03) Take the Power Back - 7,5 04) Settle for Nothing - 7,5 05) Bullet in the Head - 7,5 06) Know Your Enemy - 7,5 07) Wake Up - 7,0 08) Fistful of Steel - 7,0 09) Township Rebellion - 7,0 10) Freedom - 6,5 TOTAL: 7,50 (75/100) Current ranking: 113/210 Review? Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me...

Straight into the same category as RHCP as music you should be embarrassed to listen to.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGGHNHHHHHHHHHH FUCK EVERYONEEEEE AGGGHHHHGHHGHH

good, feels a bit childish from time to time

Punk/Rap/Rock/Insanity, nice combo. Killing is deservedly iconic. This hits on all bases for me. I love the simple straightforwardness. Wake up indeed.

Back in 2009, when the X factor had hijacked every single Christmas number one for four years a DJ appealed to the British public’s sense of anarchy and asked us to download Killing in the Name, to send a message to the music industry that we didn’t want sappy competition show winners any more. So in the Christmas of 2009, 17 years after its release RATM were at number one in the charts. I don’t love all the songs on this album, they tend to sound the same after a bit, but it is music and innovative compared to X factor bland ballads.

Rage Against The Machine seems to be popping up in my video feeds these days, so it was interesting that this album got served today. I was familiar with it when it was released — I remember the bassist in my band brought the CD to rehearsal and was like, "You have GOT to hear this." We covered "Killing in the Name Of," which was a lot of fun to sing, so these guys were on my radar from the jump. Ultimately, the rap/metal fusion was only interesting for so long, in my book, and I was always an admirer of what these guys were up to though I didn't follow their every release. But holy hell, this is a ferocious album and still has urgency and relevance. And no one, not even these guys (from what I know of their later material) ever matched this in terms of its influence and sheer vitality and emotion in this genre. This is a beast. I wavered... is it a 4-star? It does seem to hang on one emotional note for the entirety, but fuck, it's so good. The riffs kill, de la Rocha leaves nothing on the field, and while Moreno's guitar solos sometimes wade into a bit of a wank, he's creative and explosive and it works on this album. So yeah, the criticisms pale in relation to the sheer energy and fearlessness RATM brings to the fore.

I'm kind of amazed I never checked this album out before. I knew Killing in the Name, of course, but damn! Every song is such a banger. This has to be one of the best debut albums I've ever heard. Tom's guitar work is sublime, Zack's lyrics on-point, and that rhythm section is hard and funky. What a stunner.

Turns out I like politically charged hard rock activists.

So I have always been a fan of RATM. Thank you Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 for bringing Guerrilla Radio into my life. I mean how can you not listen to any of their music and not feel like running through a concrete wall. It’s incredible. Absolute icons. I thought I was going to give this a 5, but honestly the last three tracks were okay compared to some other absolute bangers. This being their debut album makes it all that much more impressive. Hell yeah RATM

There is nothing that hasn’t already been said about this amazing album!

Still rocks

I mean, this album is probably in my top ten at least in terms of the number of times I've listed to it.

It does in fact make you want to Rage Against The Machine

Radfasfggvvdh dgyb

Enjoyed this album, a classic

Never listened to rage against the machine before but i expected it to be more metal. Either way, it was fine.

What an album.

Generational Angst

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.

I have figured out long ago that I'm not a big fan of rap metal, it really doesn't jive with me and some of the worst albums on this list have been from that genre (Kid Rock). Having said that something about this just works. Front and center are the great riffs on this album. They are interesting, heavy and aggressive. The vocals really work to enforce the aggressiveness of the guitar riffs but they are very seldom the focus of the song. I hadn't listened to this album before and as such I found a few new tracks that I really enjoyed, one of these was "Know your Enemy". On this track you can really tell the influence of the flows and rhythm of the lyrics from rap artist like NWA. If I would fault the album it would be it's lack of breadth. Most of the songs follow the same formula and while it is good there is not much variation. Torn if I should give this a strong 4 or a weak 5 but I'll think I'll settle on the latter as this is such an interesting album that I think everyone should give a shot.

Honestly not what I expected. Felt like a Beastie Boys & Linkin Park mash-up… or perhaps I was just hearing how RATM influenced them.

Комменты пятилетних коммунистов в музыкальной форме 7/10

Really liked it. Not my usual fare and won’t revisit soon, but huge respect

Impossible to say anything more 5*

nice blend of rock/rap. aged pretty well too

Love love love it has drive and its CRISPY

STANDOUTS: Killing in the Name Bullet in the Head OVERALL: 1.5/5

It still holds up. Iconic

Fuck Yeah! Every track is a bomb track! Genre defining.

Truly a masterpiece. Such a unique sound, especially for 1992, blending elements of metal and reggae. Plus the energy is through the roof. This is one thing I loved in my childhood that I love even more today ❤️

Good bit of raging.