Rage Against The Machine

Expectation: -> I never got into Rage. Can't really explain it, as I like similar music. After listening: -> I’ve never liked Rage but like many bands in similar genre. Not once can I recall searching for one of their songs on Spotify or ever. But I recognize a lot of this album and it’s incredible. Late to the game but better late than never. 5/5 Track ranking: Killing Bombtrack Power Settle Bullet Enemy Steel Wake Freedom Township

I've heard most of it, but still a great album. No notes.

It’s not my style

Limp Bizkit with a social conscience..?

Has to be a 5 star. Era defining tunes, iconic vocals, established a new music genre(?), uber political lyrics. Lets not forget how controversial the album cover is as well. Still as relevant today.

Challenging, thought provoking, political. Quite an album. Disturbing cover of political unrest underpinning it all. Has to be 5*

Abit on the nose a points…? No, it just slaps you in the face and demands your focus. Everyone is on top from here, Zach’s pained screams, Tom’s riff. No skips, total rager, perfect 10

Bulls on parade is one of my favourite songs. I put on the album during my commute home last night. The rest of the album all sound very similar. Could just also be that I was not really in an angry mood, and wasn’t feeling the vibe!

A call to arms, an album for our times Heavy rifts, great beats, if this doesn't get you out of bed nothing will.🤯 Favourite track: Take the Power Back (from Trump America 🤔)

Oh yeah!

5/10 My feelings towards this album are a bit conflicted. I love political music, and this RATM is very vocal about their politics here. The music itself is quite strong. But I don't really like the repetition of lyrics and the screaming vocals. This is yet another album where I'm left wondering how to rate something that is objectively good but I don't actually enjoy.

my favorite album so far. at first I was worried about all the noise and discord but I learned to love it because it really captures and accentuates the lyrics which are so good and so poignant in this political climate even though the album is 2 decades old. 3?

*Incredible album, especially for 1992. Love the political messaging and guitar work. *A few tracks go a little long and its tough to pick which album is their actual best....they are all so good!

Listened to this millions of times, love it

Yeah! Nothing gets the blood pumping like Rage. That said, while I love me some revolution, do I though? As a kid, this was potent stuff. I fucking loved the violence baked into this. It was a call-to-arms. "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!". But as I got older, it felt silly. I know in my mid-twenties I jammed out to this stuck in traffic on my way to work. Wow, real "raging" stuff there. The band, working well within the 'machine', made more than enough money to live comfortably the rest of their lives. Revolutionary stuff. I'm older and deeply cynical because of this obvious contradiction (not specifically *this*, but this band is disillusioning) and better understand this album as a societal release valve of sorts. That's why it has been co-opted by less savory elements of our society (politely stated) and I guarantee it's on the top of a bunch of aging cops' playlists as well. The irony is so thick you could run a knife through it. So, politics and society aside, musically this still absolutely fucking rocks. You could just have them blow raspberries over the lyrics and it would still be great. So, I'm going to rush outside at 6:00 am, rage up my driveway, kick over my (empty) garbage can, and yell (in my mind -- but I'll move my lips!!) "Fuck you I won't do what you tell me!"... ... Then pick it up and bring it back up to the house I have my home equity loan against so I could send my kid to college, and still be online for my 8:00 am zoom. (5/5) Pretty sure the revolution never happened. The emotions for it are here, just not the plan.

What is there to say about this album that hasn't beensaid a thousand times before? Revolutionary in every meaning of the word. Provocative and aggressive without a hint of backing down. It's in the name of the band and in the name of the album. If you're not angry, you should be. And my secret? I'm always angry.

Variety: 1 Adequacy: 4 Listenability: 4 Uniqueness: 4 Emotionality: 4 = 3.4 rounded down to a 3 “Woop-woop! That's the sound of da beast” I remember this album being pretty mind blowing when I first heard it. It sounded like nothing else to my ears. I think maybe the only Faith No More I’d heard was “Epic” at this point. And the Chili Peppers were already well into their softer more melodic era by this point. A middle school friend had the uncensored version and it was clear this was going to be some heavy shit just based on the cover. It was probably the first album I actively took in any political message from. Maybe aside form the various big charity songs of the 80s. This was different though in that it felt dangerous. I think the recent few years have shown that the band still has relevance and I'm fully expecting this to hold up light years better than a lot of its contemporaries THE TRACKS "Bombtrack" - Right out of the gate we get that familiar mix of funk, hard rock, and furious messaging. Very solid opener. "Killing in the Name" - This one still gets a lot of radio play. A LOT. I hear it several times a week on satellite radio. And it has lost none of it's effect. I'm guessing it may have blown up again partly in response to the rise of fascism in the U.S. I’ve definitely seen it used in at least one hugely viral video ( thank you for your service Portland Freedom Frog). “Some of those that work forces/ Are the same that burn crosses” unfortunately is still a very topical lyric. Zack de la Rocha’s vocals and Tom Morello’s unique guitar work have never sounded so inspirational. That last minute. Damn... "Take the Power Back" - Leaning heavier into the funk here. Zack de la Rocha’s spoken word delivery is one of the few times I’ll make an exception to that sort of thing, and he’s fine here. This just felt too mellow for me. And that’s really only i comparison to everything around it. Also not a fan of the more traditional guitar part around 2:44. Possibly the thing that ages this the most. "Settle for Nothing" - Quiet opening of this is the grungiest they get I think. The beginner’s poetry slam stylings quickly dissipate though and we get thrown into a HEAVY section before fiving back in to the morose, Musically there’s an echo of Slint. When it gets loud though de la Rocha’s voice get’s ragged. We get some more post-rock beats, and Morello noodling. I’m torn on this. I dig the contrast, but the content not so much. Rage is known more for in your face effective lyrics as opposed to anything deep, but this feels a bit shallow. "Bullet in the Head" - Weird one here full of squealing guitar affects, and some we get led down some almost Primus-y paths. All this serves more to distract from the message I think rather than to highlight it. Unconventional guitar work I’m fine with, but this is just a little goofy. The section from 3:10 on though... that’s what we came for. C+ turns into an A+ by the end. "Know Your Enemy" - Another slow start but it gets into the groove way faster than the last one, and stays on target for the duration. De la Rocha at his most fluid here I think. Some rare backing vocals, provided by one Maynard James Kennan ( who I would not be familiar with for another year maybe?). "Wake Up" - I guess Morello is a Zeppelin fan. Another solid number. But they’ve done it way better, many other times. "Fistful of Steel" - Getting some Helmet or even Tool vibes here from the guitar in the opening, but then Morello Morello’s it up and turns his piece into a siren briefly before chug-chugging back into that awesome heavy sound. The contrast works wonders here, and de la Rocha gets into a more sing songy flow. "Township Rebellion" - Another good but not great track. This one makes me wonder what a de la Rocha rap album would have sounded like as gets into nice flow here. It doesn’t last though. And then we get a weirdly conventional guitar bit just before the halfway point that feels teleported in from some other, lamer group. This one changes speed one too many times and feels like a Frankenstein of a track. "Freedom" - What a closer. Rightfully feels like a sum of everything we’ve heard before it. They eve give Pearl Jam a run for their money with some layered guitars that any arena rock band would have been proud of. This is the song I think of when I think of de la Rocha’s, and the band’s intensity. That last minute + is pure gold. HIGHLIGHTS - "Bombtrack" - "Killing in the Name" - "Know Your Enemy" - "Fistful of Steel" - "Freedom" MIDLIGHTS - "Take the Power Back" - "Settle for Nothing" - "Bullet in the Head" - "Wake Up" - "Township Rebellion" LOWLIGHTS FINAL THOUGHTS As much as I like Rage as an entity, and dig their messaging, musically I’ll always consider them a singles band. A VERY strong singles band. But I think over their handful of albums I could pick and choose to make a killer compilation. Still, even the worst material here is very listenable and feels cohesive as all get out. In fact, I bet if you mixed all their albums together, most people would not notice anything out of sorts. They are also a band I have to be in a certain mood to listen to. One does not casually throw on a Rage album to listen to as background noise while doing some paperwork or getting some cleaning done. Or maybe some do. Just not me. More than anything, Rage is one of the more reliable bands from this era. We’ll see if more of their stuff pops up on the list, but I would be very surprised if any track form them ended up in the lowlights. My only other complaint here, other than some sameyness that creeps in, is that the production feels far too polished in parts. PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - Just scrape those highlights off and mix them in with the ones from the next two albums FURTHER LISTENING - The Real Thing by Faith No More - One Hot Minute by Red Hot Chili Peppers - Undertow - by Tool - Toxicity by System of a Down - Meantime by Helmet

"A lot of people who are cynics have completely abandoned the idea that music can affect political change, abandoned it entirely as a product of cultural cynicism. That's completely defeatist. Music will always be able to engage people." Zach de la Rocca, to Rolling Stone magazine, November 1999 Sorry, this is a band that requires citations. Or not. You need context. Or you don't. Sorry, I’m going to borrow part of Rob Harvilla’s shtick from his episode on “Killing In the Name” for the “60 Songs that Explain the 90s” podcast. Highly recommend it. The conundrum of Rage is that as an act the art they produce carries forward their political views and message with every song, but the musical style is one that co-ops (don't call this a co-op) the thinking part of your brain and has you thrashing about. Yes, you can rage against the machine (whatever you think the machine is). You can be filled with the momentary energy to shout "Wake Up!" or "Fuck You! I won't do what you tell me!" I wasn't suburban, but I was still a rural Midwest/Southern white teen that would bounce off the walls when RatM came on, but did I know all the of the political shit they were talking about. No. Didn't need to to enjoy the heavy hip-hop/rock sound. But maybe I would think about it later, or maybe I wouldn't. I found Evil Empire in the wild before I ever heard this album. This was one I had to go back to once my mind had been taken over by heavy metal and hip-hop music. I love it, on a visceral level. "Bombtrack"; "Killing in the Name"; "Take the Power Back"; Settle for Nothing"; "Bullet in The Head"; "Know Your Enemy"; "Wake Up"; "Fistful of Steel"; "Township Rebellion"; "Freedom". Put on any track and I’m fist pumping and screaming. Fuck Authority. But now I'm middle-aged with an office job I commute to. How do I Rage Against the Machine now? This album can awaken a teenage revolutionary sentiment in me, but then I wonder did I fail 17 year old me. Would he be disappointed in me? Should I care what my ignorant 17 year old self thinks? He's a little shit with no understanding of responsibility. Fuck you, do what I tell you! Okay so I got a little too existential there. Rage seemed like an important band who made important music. To a 90s teenager (me) they seemed necessary. Their music seemed transcendent. For me that was thanks to Tom Morello. 90s and beyond rock guitar god. I was also quite a big fan of Audioslave. "No samples, keyboards, or synthesizers used in the making of this recording." This was in the linear notes for this album. All that funky soloing was Tom and his guitar. I thought this guy was a wizard. The album cover, the messaging the early influence on what would be the combination of hip-hop and heavy metal. this album is an artifact of my youth and one that continues to seem relevant as I age. Or not. All of which are American Dreams. All of which are American Dreams. All of which are American Dreams.

This is one of those albums I can appreciate for how good it is, but I don’t think it’s for me. Guitar, bass and drums sound amazing - the vocal style is just not for me (although I find the lyrics very interesting and thought provoking)

Hate this whole genre

Rock muy pesado para mi. Grandes solos de guitarra tho Next one

Headbangers all day, fuck the system lol

I remember this being a lot more fun when I was a teenager...

Not for me. Sound was basic and the vocalist was just screaming the same line on repeat in entire songs. Didn't finish the album. I get the anti establishment and anti war view and why they made the songs that way, but I couldn't make it sound nice to me.

These songs sound huge and anthemic. The infectious bass grooves adds a funk flavour to their metal sound and Tom Morello gets some unique sounds out of his guitar whenever he isn't delivering crushing riffs. The most impressive thing about this album is how Zach de la Rocha can deliver his politically charged lyrics without ever sounding preachy - the man is simply pissed off! The influence of this record can't be denied and I'd argue that they were just as influential as Nirvana were. You can hear the seeds of nu-metal being planted here to hearing elements of modern bands like La Dispute on the spoken word delivery on 'Settle For Nothing' and I can hear a chugging Turnstile-esque riff on the pre-chorus of 'Know Your Enemy'. This debut outing by the band sounds as fresh as it did when it hit shelves in 1992 and unfortunately the lyrics are still as relevant.

I think I’d probably err close to a 4.5 if I could but probably one of the most influential albums of the 90s with numerous all-timer singles. It’s closer to a 5 than a 4 though, and unlike others on this list I’d rate 4 stars and think “is this really one of the 1,001 compared to other omissions?” RATM is undoubtedly something that should be on anyone’s version of the list.

cool beats! i don’t love this kind of heavy heavy rock though, it hurts my ears.

Great album. Raw and powerful.

A classic rap-metal album, one that has been incredibly influential on me. So grateful I discovered this in college and that I had an excuse to listen to it again. The anger is so righteous and powerful, and honestly inspiring as well.

Some great grooves, hard hitting riffs and if you are in the mood for RATM nothing else will do. It’s a great album that for me is slightly let down by Zak de la Rocha’s vocals which after a couple of tracks grate a little, best listened to in instalments if possible. 4.2

Still remember the first time I heard this on Ruaraidh Martins Sony Walkman outside the science building one morning before class when I was in S1. Still sounds amazing now.

Excellent heavy metal. Sometimes you need an angry song in this album has tons of them. Morello is excellent with riffs galore. However, anger can only go so far and it gets tiresome to hear someone yelling over and over.

Great. Exceeded expectations. For some reason, I didn't pay enough attention in the nineties. Killing in the name, Take the power back (love the bass), Settle for nothing (that guitar after minute 3), Bullet in the head... All tracks are great. Great and powerful lyrics, distinct sound (unique guitar sound), great singing... You can really feel the rage. Even the album cover is amazing. 5 stars.

es que mi problema es la voz del loco y se me hace repetitivo :(

Some great songs, and great lyrics. However, I want a little more depth in the presentation that their later albums have.

Wowie, quite the album. Lots to think about.

This one rocked my world when it came out! It sucks that they get lumped in with some shitty bands from that time because they meant business. The message & the delivery of the message was, is, and will always be crystal clear & direct! No fucking joke!

I have listened to a couple of the songs previously and liked them, but I listed to this album a several times on different days and it just works wonders with my brain and mood. Didn't plan on this - but this album is a banger.

Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me!

Had been a while since I had really listened and ironically listened to it on the way to hear Tom Morello play with Springsteen last night. A lot of anger that feels very close to home right now.

Loved this album for years

powerful and raw

A punchy listen but an enjoyable one for the most part. I feel a bit biased, only knowing one song going into it and that probably being my favourite. I don't know if the others might grow on me eventually but Killing in the Name is definitely the highlight for me on this. Would have loved to have had the other songs blow me away but didn't happen unfortunately.

Mas o menos, muy heavy o pesado para mi gusto, aunque tampoco está mal

Cool riffs, cool production, cool vibe. Performances all around solid

Just not my cup of tea.

Absolute banger.

First time listening to metal rock, kinda scared.

Excelentes temas, clásicos del rock y del niu metal, siendo referentes en lo que es la composicion de piezas de guitarras con efectos (Tom Morello, ídolo).

Obv

Broke my skull wide open when I was in high school. I love his voice, his emotion, the flow and the message behind every song. I often criticize albums for all sounding the same, but I think there's also something to keeping the energy up through the whole thing. FUCK YOU I WONT DO WHAT YOU TELL ME!

30 years on and still sounds great. Each song is a banger. Great bass, Morello’s guitar, De La Rocha’s effortless movement between rap and screaming. That you served this in “No Kings Day” was the chef’s kiss.

Solid tracks on this album, along with Killing in the Name of, a.classic anarchist call to arms. There were a few groups around this time mixing rap and hard rock, or metal, but these guys really stood out.

Loved this, the sound was exactly what I needed while I was baking

This album has everything. Riffs that compare well to the best metal albums. Funky, groovy bass. Rap vocals that actually fit with the music and don't sound terrible. Not only that, the lyrics are important too. I would complain a bit about the lyrics being repetitive, but the number of people out there that listen to Rage and don't understand what the are saying is unreal. Maybe they need to repeat them more.

Love the message, hate the music

One of the best rock albums of all time, no question. Rage Against The Machine's sound is one of the best and most unique ever. Super great listening. Wake Up was my fav song and first listen with Bombtrack and Bullet In The Head as my other highlights

Not for me

Raging against bill Clinton? Oh buddy, you don’t know how good you had it. These songs are more relevant now than ever. But I fucking hate the squeaky guitar. You lose a star for that shit.

The self-titled debut by Rage Against the Machine often feels like a blueprint for what would later be labeled nu metal, blending heavy riffs with rap-influenced vocals and a strong rhythmic drive. The band sounds focused and powerful, with a clear identity from the very start. At the same time, the relentless intensity can become tiring over the course of the album. The lack of variation makes it harder to stay fully engaged, even if the individual tracks are effective on their own.

One time in high school my dad was driving me and my friends on some long car ride to who knows where. I had just been given a dubbed tape of this album and we put it on. I could tell my dad didn't like it but he was managing. We got to Killing in the Name and I started worrying but didn't know what to do so I just sat there. I think he made it to the 15th 'Fuck you I won't do what you tell me', before he yelled something and angrily turned it off. I never listened to this album at home again. This is in my top five albums, perhaps top one.

Pure Rock is not for me. Got until about half way through "Killing in the name" and just gave up because I wasn't enjoy the album. Glad that other ppl rave about this project though. Maybe in another life...

I probably would not like this rap-metal everyday, but today I did!

Not my vibe

Muy energético, me gustan las guitarras con tanto punch todo el tiempo se siente como si estuviera preparándome para la batalla jaja

3-26-26 Listening before school and thinking about how this would be an album my brother would listen to in high school. This has been a long week and I feel like this album kind of reflects how I'm feeling inside. Tomorrow is Friday!

4*

Couldn't care.

An instant classic at the time of its release, those first two tracks hit so hard -- and the lyrics of second perhaps even harder today, in the USA of 2026, occupied as we are by masked, armed agents of the state... You justify those that died By wearin' the badge, they're the chosen whites Some of those that work forces Are the same that burn crosses

8/10 - it's Rage Against the Machine

M9wwd

This record is so iconic I know where I was when I first heard it. Killing in the Name came on the radio and my jaw hit the floor. I was absolutely gobsmacked. This country could use RATM and more bands like them.

Clearly some songs are classics. I can understand why some critics have this in their top 100. But, this is not something I can see myself reaching for.

This album blew my mind when I first heard it. It was inspirational and changed my views of a lot of things. Heavy, political and a little hip hop element

Was alright despite being very american

The sound just how I imagined them to sound

Одразу дисклеймер: гурт, а точніше два його головних учасники - це пряма дискредитація сучасного західного лівого руху і демонстрація повної відірваності від реальності та делулізації. Критика на їхню адресу, що вони антикапіталісти на мейджор-лейблі і революціонери на зарплаті, теж цілком справедлива. Я дуже любив цей альбом. Та й люблю досі, хоча останніми роками не слухаю. Зараз вирішив з такої нагоди переслухати. Гурт я знав досить давно: десь на музиці, що передавалась через компакти чи жорсткі диски, гуляли кліпи RATM. Але альбомами я їх зацінив десь у середині нульових, коли подивився аніме Beck. Там дропали Морелло, який скретчить на гітарі. Маючи тоді вже якусь кількість мегабайт, я скачав дискографію і завис. Цей альбом найкращий у їхній дискографії. Тут є просто іконічні треки, Морелло видає дуже качові партії з усіма примочками та ефектами, у Зака флоу, який ідеально пасує цій музиці. Окремо хочу відзначити ритм-секцію, особливо басиста, з неймовірно грувовими партіями. Колись на фесті довелося побачити Prophets of Rage (RATM без Зака + B-Real + Chuck D), і я пам'ятаю, що майже весь сет не міг відірватися від того, як басист грає. Вчора переслухав і все ще отримав величезне задоволення від альбому. Колись мав квитки на їхній реюніон-тур з RTJ, але спочатку втрутився ковід, а потім якось навіть ідея сходити на їхній концерт перестала бути привабливою.

Це все ще супер класика, жодної слабкої пісні. Як би я не відносився до їхньої позиції, музично це геніально. (але за позицію півбала зніму)

Always one of my favorites

An album for the inquiets and protesters of the world.

Remember when these guys stood for something other than whoever pays them to speak their mind? Ya me too. This album was from those days. I’ll listen but I really despise these guys now. I guess you really can’t fault Zack or zakk or zak for what the band has become now. He’s the angry one but I feel like Tom is the one who has dragged the band into the ground. For those not in the know, Tom is the one who plays his guitar like a loser. As in the way he holds it. Think Dave Matthews and just as stupid looking. Ok anyways. If you want angry and energy, look here. This album nailed it all. Aside from adding slow songs. That would be a completely perfect album. Lovers and fighters. That would be a great combo. You can’t get any more energetic and smashy than Killing in the Name Of. It’s funny that song represent so much but then they reneged on their own words but supporting the Covid bullshit. Whatever. If you’re feeling angry and want to beat people up. This is your soundtrack. Got it? Good. I’m moving on to some Emo I think. Choice cut: Killing in the Name Of

Fuckin' A, that's some good shit. Just as relevant as ever, too. If only conservative twats don't use it for their own shit.

The people calling out apparent hipocrisy with this album are not scoring the point they think they are. Purity testing on that side of the political spectrum has made it impossible to organize and these accusations of hipocrisy only make it worse. The truth is that not everyone in a movement is as radical and that is fine. And your success under capitalism does not undermine your valid criticisms of it. For indeed the system is so all-engrossing that not interacting with it is impossible save for living in some commune where your impact will also be next to zero. It's not like these people have turned out to be staunch republicans after all. Do not let people break your spirit by shaming or guilt-tripping you. Oh wait let me get off my soap box here and critique some music... This stuff rocks. Love it or hate it, not many people were using the digitech whammy (in fact that pedal is the solo to killing in the name of) or using the guitar's instrument jack as an instrument. De la Rocha literally screams his message until his voice breaks. There's angry passion here that makes the protest sound damn awesome. Remember folks: you don't need to be a wizard to cast fireball.

Amazing.

Not bad

Rap with heavy metal

i still somehow haven’t heard this album, or any rage against the machine album, in full. i think i’ll fuck with it, but i’m worried i may have missed the boat with them. it’s pretty late, finally getting into this. INSANE FUCKING BASS TONE. WOW. hooooly shit that’s a great fucking bass line on take the power back. this works in all the ways that linkin park doesn’t, for me. i say that mostly bc they’ve got a similar style. settle for nothing is incredibly depressing now in 2026. holy shit maynard. what the fuck is morello doing to this song 😭😭. he’s pretty good on this album. that solo was weird as fuck. i cannot believe that this all finger playing. also fuck your tim, pick playing sounds cool too 😭 as a whole, good message. a lot of these bars are pretty clunky though, all things considered.

kinda like them, but expected more i guess? Killing in the name and wake up are very fun

I haven’t listened to this in years and it’s freaking awesome today like it was then.

10/10. Fav Track - All of them The first full album on this list that I've already listened to. Don't need to tell you that RATM is top tier.

Completely unique sound. A protest album for the ages.

Groupe et album connu, qui fait partie de mes préférés. Ce premier album ne sera jamais égalé à mon avis. Tout y est : basse au top (son, groove), guitare très créative et originale, batterie qui assure, composition, intensité des morceaux ... Les albums suivants sont moins réussis. Il mérite donc la note maximale ! =>5/5

Public Enemy for angsty white teens

Wist wel dat dit een goed album was, maar heb er nog nooit volledig naar geluisterd. Ook eens goed naar de tekst geluisterd. Heel goede tekst

This was a staple in my rotation back in the 90s as I matured from Pearl Jam and Soundgarden more toward Alice In Chains and ultimately Tool. RATM, while interesting was sort of on the periphery - I simply wasn’t angry (or angry enough) to respond to the message beyond normal 20-something angst. Fast forward to mid 2024, the campaign, and eventual reality of second Trump term and suddenly this music and its message found new room in my heart. Throw in Kristi Noem and the ICE roundups spring of 2025 and by that time this album became a staple and this band was top of my Spotify Year in Review for 2025. This album and its themes sound fresher and more relevant today than ever before. Using you’re angry in your youth…in my case the anger has come with age. If I could award this a 6 I would. Tom Morello’s guitar work (which honestly was the main interest for me in the 90s) is wonderful; but ZdlR’s lyrics and passion are everything now. 5/5 all day long. Give me more.

Like one song but it reminds me of being a teenager. Bit too hard core

I'm sorry but Zack De La Rocha's scream rapping will always just be silly to me

5/10

F**k you I won't do what you tell me. Too many protest singers, Not enough protest songs.

This not my genre at all, but there are so many classic songs on here it has to score highly.

18 - Rage Against the Machine - Rating = 1 One of my three least favorite bands - I do not like this band.

I've heard of RATM a lot before, but never gave them a chance. This was a nice opportunity. The lyrics are incredible. Very politically charged. I love a few tunes also, but too much screaming for my liking. I guess I'm not that much of a heavy metal person.

7.7/10

I hate how relevant these songs still are, but I love how well these songs were recorded. This is probably the best example of its category, that being rap-oriented metal. I believe both rap and metal should say something socially meaningful; other genres can be more inward or romantic or general, but the historical context of rap and metal almost demand social observation and conscience in the lyrics. It's somewhat uniform from front to back so I thought about docking a point, but considering how long this record has remained vital, I have no doubt it will maintain its vitality for many more years to come, however sad the implication that makes.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

So powerful. Socially impactful. Rage are influencers for many great bands after them.

I try to approach each album in a rather conservative manner. I often try to think critically about why an album shouldn't be rated 5 stars, as I'm worried that I am too liberal in my rankings. What happens, though, when an album presents as a five star record so clearly? This is perhaps the best album I've reviewed to this point. I can't recall many albums that so clearly convey the emotional input of the band that made the record. This album starts at 100 and never lets off the gas. I want to specifically highlight Tim Commerford's performance here. His bass tone is unreal and drives the music so damn well. This album just rules, man. Favorite track: Freedom

Isabelle’s gonna be psyched as fuck for this lmao. Anyway I’ve decided to make this a diary type thing as well as a review. So what did I do today? I had lunch at Potbelly, the second best restaurant I have easy access to. I had a pretty good day all things considered. The quality of this diary will one day increase once I know what to say. For now let's talk about this album I listened to today. All you really need to know is it's a 10. That's for sure. I don't know the best song, or anything like that, just that it's a 10/10. There isn't a single moment in this album that isn't a fiery scream of absolute devastated rage (ha) at everything awful in the world. Every song feels like a separate doctrine against every billionaire, landlord, and oppressor ever. If you haven't listened to it please do, it's one of the best albums I have ever heard. 10/10

I wish this felt less urgent still.

5/5

I really liked the message throughout this album and I love the guitar and lyrics specifically. I just think the album is kind of repetitive but that might just be the point.

Will not be a regular listen but nonetheless a great album for the right moment. 'Wake Up' stood out

I get it but not a fan

Fuck you I won't review what you tell me!

This was such a sickass album.

Hell yeah! Fuck capitalism!

Strong 2 stars. Had a couple of songs which I quite enjoyed but overall this wasn't really my style.

Absolute peak music experience Can't get better than this for this type of music Fy i wont do what u tell me !!!!

verry gut

Prescient. Some of these lyrics could be applied to the current situation. "Some of those that work forces / Are the same that burn crosses" - from Killing in the Name But the music is also fire. An awesome example of lyrical poetry and great beats.

"Killing in the Name of" is beloved for a reason - the way it builds slowly and then explodes? Fantastic song. The rest of these songs mostly all sound and feel like that, but that's ok with me. Album is recommended for those days when you've made the mistake of reading the news, or when those helicopters that are always circling over your city start to get on your fucking nerves. 5 stars

Not my tipe

Erst Faith No More und dann RATM haben für mich frischen Wind in die Rockmusik geblasen. Ganz starkes Debut.

Banger. It's aged pretty well. Still angry. Still bouncy. Tom Morello's guitar still running a madness. Still great.

The fact that we’re still using “Killing In The Name” as the soundtrack to protests today says a lot. It says a lot about the state of the world, and it says a lot of the long-lasting impact of Rage Against the Machine. The song never actually went away, but recently it resurfaced in an interesting way: blasting full volume at 1am during noise protests outside the hotels where ICE agents were trying to sleep. The song wasn't just picked because it was loud and aggressive. The message is (unfortunately) still so relevant. “Some of those who work forces are the same that burn crosses“. The song itself is incredible. Zack de la Rocha’s vocals are amazing. You can hear the absolutely genuine rage in his voice. Tom Morello’s guitar riffs work so well with the vocal performance to build a serious amount of energy. His use of the Whammy pedal is incredibly inventive, almost sounding like record scratching or sirens at times. The solo in “Killing In The Name” is so simple, but so damn effective. The breakdown of “Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me” is amazing. When everything builds back up to that seriously intense ending, it's just epic. Even the most mild-mannered person couldn’t resist jumping around the mosh pit to that moment. Every song on the album has that same energy and rawness. Different aspects of socio-political and economic injustices at the hands of those in power (be that government, media or even schools) are tackled unapologetically with the same intensity throughout the album. “Wake Up” is the other standout in a tracklist of standouts. The instrumental intro is phenomenal. The switch between heavy rock to percussive hip-hop and then back to heavy rock works so well. It's a dynamic that doesn't rely on loud-quiet-loud, so the energy levels never dip, but the genre switch at the chorus still kicks off. Then there's de la Rocha's incredible vocals towards the end of the song. Rage love to break a song apart and build it back up slowly to insane levels. The intensity goes through the roof when Zack starts screaming “WAKE UP!” over and over. Epic. Rage Against the Machine’s music is still so relevant in the shit storm of a world that we're living in. Recently, Tom Morello appeared as “an outside agitator” at the ICE protests. While it's depressing that their lyrics about oppressive forces of power are still just as relevant today as they were back in 1992, it's also optimistic that their message of protest and resilience still resonates. And so ICE agents are deprived sleep, as a crowd of people come together outside their hotel shouting "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me". 4.5 stars

RRRRRRRRREEEAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 5 stars

so many songs from this album are still in my regular rotation

If you'd asked me before, I would have said I know a few RATM tracks, but I was surprised to discover I'm not familiar with any of them! I guess I've just heard the name before, as I didn't realize they had a Bestie Boys vibe.

jsp c un peu trop en mode hard rockkkkkk ça se voit les mecs ils écoutent ça ils se sentent trop rebelle crazyyy

Every song was the same. Stand-outs - Killing In the Name - Know Your Enemy

Tom Morello: plays downtuned pentatonic riff Zach de la Roca: yells "politicians are lying" over and over That's it, that's the album. I'm sympathetic to their politics, but this album doesn't really give you much to think about. At least it's better than most of the music that it influenced.

All timer, track after track of amazing bangers. Recorded really well also.

While it's not my favorite RATM album, it was such an awesome debut. It's got such good grooves and the lyrics are so angry and delivered so well.

Not my cup of coffee

Was waiting for an album that's all me. Here it is. Hell of an album. Miss this band. 5/5

Very very good

Мой вкус. Но не все песни зашли.понравилась всего одна песня killing in the name. Остальные показались однотипные.

Fuuuuuck me, such a good album. All the rage, all of the gritty hell yea I need from an album like this. I can FEEEEL every song.

100/10… one of my favorites bands of all time. Just the right amount of energy/funk/rock/hiphop/freedom. Also one of the most electric live bands out there. A true 5 gem.

I enjoyed this way more than I expected. It rocks! Again, I didn’t get many of the lyrics, but it sounds like they’d be right up my alley too. 8/10 Most Excellent

I liked almost every song. Overall I like the message of the album that is saying be rebellious and take back what you used to have. Actually I didn't get to listen last 3 song of the album, because I slept at 7 Few songs were not quite my style. So 4/5

I did not like this album at all really. It was hard for me to listen to because it just sounded awful. Maybe it is really good for others but not me.

Never been a big Rage fan. This album did nothing to change that. But ironic they were against the establishment until covid then all about it.

I’m not moved emotionally by this

I think imma give this a 5 because of the was the music is put together, not because the lyrics were as good as I thought they might be (also bc I just finished listening to Taylor Swift). They can freaking rock. But they do a great job of having moments of calm in the songs that help accentuate the intense parts which I think helps the album tremendously. The lyrics are super solid, love the passion. Kinda surprised this album has as high of a rating as it does on this site.

was only familiar with couple tracks. overall enjoyed the sound, but felt like the screaming & overkill with repeated refrains diminished album. and the irony of Rage pushing back against everything back in the day but now cashing in is not lost on me. 3.5 stars

Pasé muchos años odiando a esta gente hasta que ya de mayor los entendí y les vi el punto. Habré escuchado el disco entero alguna vez, pero no lo recuerdo. Las estructuras son muy repetitivas, pero me han resultado más agradables ahora que hace años y también valoro mucho su postura política.

Good

Goddamn these vatos were poets fr. White boys return to your ROOTS!!!!!!

A solid early punk rock album with a great message. I enjoyed it overall and would listen to it again! Found myself jamming to it and think it definitely stands the test of time!

My high school band played both Bombtrack (poorly once then never again) and Killing in the Name Of (smashingly and repeatedly), and yet those are the only songs that are all that familiar from this album, and maybe the only ones you need. I do love me some Tom Morello, he played with Springsteen last night and laid down one of the deadliest guitar solos I've ever seen live on Ghost of Tom Joad.

Easiest 5 on the list so far for me. An absolute killer, classic, all-timer of a record. Great hooks, superb playing from the whole band, superb lyrics, incredible energy in every track. I get that it wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, but I think anyone who loves rock music and doesn't love this wants their head examined.

- very VERY fiery - heavy guitar, grunge fuzz tone - catchy riffs (bombtrack) - bass is literally amazing - political af - kind of jazzy solos when they feel like it?? - hard to listen to ngl - reminds me of nine inch nails

RATM is another band that I had known about for years, and was even familiar with a lot of their singles. I admit that as a teenager I was just delighted by the rap-rock song where the guy repeatedly says Fuck You, but becoming older and more politically aware, I see why they wrote the music they did. I think this album gets a little long in the tooth with how much the tracks sound like each other, but the passion of the message is there the whole time.

я не знала, что они реп эгейнт зе машин; слушать это очень сложно, горло разрывает (такие бисти бойз но очень злые)

Good album

Jag har lyssnat på låtar från det här albumet tidigare men aldrig hela albumet. Nu när jag lyssnat på hela, tycker jag att många av låtarna liknar varandra men det stör mig inte. Musiken påminner mig om Beastie Boys och många av deras låtar låter också väldigt lika varandra, så det kanske är därför jag inte stör mig på det. Rage Against The Machine har politiska budskap i sin musik, men jag tycker det inte är så extremt uppenbart som i vissa andra låtar. Musiken har också ett bra sound. Favoritlåtar: Killing In the Name, Know Your Enemy, Take the Power Back. Minst favorit: Township Rebellion

Really a fantastic album. As a 90s rock kid, this album perfectly encapsulates (for me) the air of distrust and angst that had been simmering in parts of society that had before gone unspoken. This album gave words to that anger and distrust. They certainly were not the first - gangster rap had expressed similar tones nearly a decade prior - but this album gave those words to a new group of people. The music on this album is a perfect blend of vocals and band. Zach and Tom play off each other incredibly well - a hard blasting, fearless voice coupled with expertly crafted and equally fearless guitar riffs. It makes my angry 90s kid heart glad to hear it again.

They picked a good band title. A couple decent songs some interesting drum n guitar work. Lead singer has some potential to be a real rock singer.

Thank god this morons raged and changed the world huh? Idiots. Every 20 something since 1970 thinks they can change the world by screaming at it. You wanna change the world learn to speak, calmly and intelligently. No one listens when you scream. Trash as expected.

Dude. Such a good album. Amazing lyrics. Obviously very timely to what’s going on in the USA right now. Instrumentation is incredible. The bass grooves are tight, the solos fucking rip, and the drums just keep the head bobbing. No notes.

heck yeah

Great melodies and nice rebellious vibe, however a bit repetitive.

I don't really have an opinion on this album it is not bad but I don't think it is best album

Chunky and heavy, but hard to take them seriously when Morello sells $2000 guitars made with underpaid labor and Zach sits on his 30 million like a dragon. "I'm Tom Morello and this is my masterclass."

I never really listened to Rage Against the Machine because I never felt that music could really be the catalyst that changes the world. The music and lyrics are good. I appreciate them. I went to school at a service academy and they were popular there. It seems like the wrong place for them to be popular. But it makes sense when people don’t listen to the lyrics and want just a little bit of rebellion while they are following orders or being part of said machine. Can’t blame good music.

Still relevant.

Kinda bad honestly. The album is very repetitive and the guitar production is tiny. It was like listening to one long song.

Rage Against the Machine, 1992. Despite acknowledging its importance, I can’t get past the fact that it’s trying to shove a revolution down my throat. It leaves me thinking: “If this is what the revolution looks like, I don't think I want any part of it.” I was already familiar with Morello’s style (pushing those humbuckers to 110%) but the biggest surprise was Tim Commerford… I’m properly impressed by his groove. Still, for an album that fuses so many genres, why does the end result feel so one-dimensional? Highlights: “Township Rebellion”- Fabulous bassline. “Freedom”- Best track in the album, finally some texture and space exploration.

Old fav

Rap-rock can be a tough hang but the way Rage did it by bringing in Public Enemy-style production and lyrics and mixing in some heavy funk makes this collection worthy of appearing on the 1001 Albums list.

What can I say about this band. My first reaction is that I mostly just associate them with moshpit dickheads, which isn't fair. And this hardcore funk-metal-rap sound is just kind of douchey. But you know...these guys are intense...they are doing their thing at 1000%, they have strong opinions about the state of things and they don't back down and I respect all of that. And it's catchy. It definitely gets my attention. There's no way I would have ever been into them back in the day, but I can listen to it now.

I was at the peak of my punk snobbery when RATM blew up, and I found them cheesy back in those days. I appreciate them more decades later. If I found their sloganeering kinda obvious back then, I respect that it blew and opened minds at the time. And their fusion of metal, funk, and hip-hop was waaaaaay better than the bro-y nü metal dreck that would follow years later. Musically this is repetitious and doesn't do a ton for me—"Killing in the Name" is solid, as is "Wake Up"—but there's no denying Tom Morello is a great guitarist, Zack de la Rocha is a fierce presence, and all the RATM components work well together.

There are those bands that are synonymous with fighting the power: Public Enemy; CCR; and of course, Rage Against the Machine. This album introduced us to the power of a new generation of advocates. With Zach de la Rocha’s rap-spoken word vocals, Tim Commerford’s funky and rich bass, and Tom Morello’s revolutionary guitar work, and of course Brad Wilk’s steady drumming that made it possible for the others to explode, RATM hit on issues and styles that no-one else would nor could touch. There are so many good tracks: Know Your Enemy; Bullet in the Head (a personal favorite); Killing in the Name of; Bomtrack; Wake Up. I think my new favorite is the deep cut Take the Power Back. This album is kind of a “best of…” in itself. This album is probably more relevant now than it was in the 1990s. The place I have always struggled with is unlike Public Enemy, CCR or Dylan who each explored life and emotion, RATM is a constant of revolution. If I want to burn an effigy of the president on the White House lawn, they are THE soundtrack. If I want to have diner with the family, go on a date (unless it’s Jan.6th), or exhale at the end of a day, I need something else…though Freedom still works in the first ten minutes after work.

Random thoughts: * Anger is a gift. * This album is a masterpiece that I argue as our political climate keeps getting more rotten becomes even more necessary every year. * While RATM had some other albums and some banger songs, this is a complete album that destroyed upon arrival. * Freedom was the "hit" song but I think it was the only song relatively clean enough to be played on radio and MTV. * Of course "Killing in the Name" is everyone's favorite. I remember playing this for my son when he was 12. Maybe a bit too young but he's a rock drummer. :) * My personal favorite is "Know Your Enemy". The perfect mesh of rock, rap, and anger. And the raw voice of Zack de la Rocha urgently repeating "all of which are American dreams". * I haven't mentioned Tom Morello's scratching inspired guitar work. And I know I'm sleeping on the bass and drums, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk respectively. * Fuck you!!! I won't do what you tell me!

С первых секунд Bombtrack группа задаёт темп — упругий бас Тима Коммерфорда, сухие, механистичные барабаны Брэда Уилка и гитара Тома Морелло, которая звучит как индустриальный станок, искрящийся от перегрузки. Killing in the Name стал главным хитом — гимном ярости против институционального насилия, с финальным повтором, который до сих пор разрывает стадионы. В Bullet in the Head и Wake Up коллектив разворачивает полноценную лекцию по медиа-манипуляции и классовой борьбе, но без морализаторства — только фактура и напор. Продакшн Брендана О’Брайена минималистичен и сух: никаких лишних слоёв, всё построено на ритме и атаке. Морелло превращает гитару в синтезатор шума — скретчи, фидбэк, переключение звукоснимателей как перкуссия. Зак де ла Роча читает не как рэпер, а как агитатор на баррикаде. Этот альбом — точка отсчёта для рэп-метала и альтернативного метала 90-х. Без него не было бы ни волны ню-метала, ни саундтрека к эпохе разочарования в системе. Это музыка протеста, зафиксированная в идеально выверенном груве.

Rage against the Machine was the band everyone else told me way amazing. I once played in a band where I was told to write songs in that style. Without listening to/learning no more than the one song everyone knew (which appears on this album!), my songs were a disaster and the band stunk. Anyway, I knew enough of the songs already. It's not a bad album, and it certainly had attitude. I'm not sure if it's a sin to call them numetal. I will say I wasn't overtly impressed with Tom Morello's work. People talked about him like a god when I was growing up. He did redeem himself further down the tracklist. 4 stars.

This album is like being on a cruise ship that is heading for an iceberg. You are trying to warn the captain but he assures you everything is fine. As you get closer to the iceberg, the deckhands tell the passengers that the captain needs their help to right the ship and avoid the iceberg. But you are like fuck you man, you're meant to be looking after this and you've fucked it all up. The deckhands lay claim to the lifeboats, telling you that the captain and crew take priority. This is the catalyst to anarchy, and you just start throwing deckhands overboard. Fuck them, the sharks can have them. That captain better not show his face or he's getting torn asunder.

The only way to improve this album would be to have Evil Empire as the 2nd disk. Classic.

This album was insane. Obviously killing in the name makes you want to storm the capital. But bombtrack the opener definitely sets the tone for a ride of rebellion against this corrupt system. The lyrics are a1

not my genre..?

from what i already knew (take the power back) i was expecting that kind of feel more, so maybe that's throwing the rating a little, but it wasn't super good

Not my favorite of theirs. Still strong. Too many songs feel a little experimental / incomplete.

the machine raged a bit

Band I used be in with friends ended up sharing the same bill with them a couple of times in early 90's. When this album came out with the videos on MTV, we kinda made fun of them at the time. My attitude has changed a bit some 35 years later. Good to put on when angry. Plus good they made a career out of it and Morello's still going after this time while I'm selling insurance.

listened to again how did i give this 3.5 before??

Ótimo. Pesado o tempo todo e, ainda, equilibrado.

not for me I don't like the singer very much and I prefer songs with more variation in the beat I think? just not for me but its a good album im sure

Political angry beastie boys. I ain't a part of your system, happy birthday to the ground! Slavery for wages is real tho

That bass gives me headache. Seriously, that’s..that’s just too much, exaggeration, in-your-faceness and whatnot. I respect the attitude though.

hell yeah, brother 🤙 great noise and energy. Killing In The Name stood out.

Reddit’s favorite album

One of the greatest albums ever made! Truly one of a kind, and nothing like it has been made since. Its literally the perfect fuck the government album.

Awesome Album!

Could be a hit released today

I’m mad at my husband right now, this is the energy I need.

The album is quite interesting, in my opinion, it mixes a couple of genres. It would be quite interesting to see if rap had a different atmosphere.

Killing in the name tem o comecinho muito parecido com esporrei na manivela dos raimundos, to chapando? nss, mas essa é boa dms slk. escutando take the power back - isso é numetal? - bom to com preguiça de ver a tradução terminei, gostei bastante n teve uma musica q nao gostei

Rage Against the Machine is chaotic, messy, and full of anger...in the best possible way. The mix of rap vocals and scratch-like guitar work gives the album a sharp, aggressive identity. The riffs feel heavy and rhythmic at the same time. “Settle for Nothing” stands out for its despair-filled atmosphere. It sounds almost “ugly,” but intentionally so, raw and uncomfortable in a powerful way. Many of the songs are long, yet they never feel dragged out. The constant shifts in rhythm and intensity keep things unpredictable. There’s real craft behind the chaos. Even without being politically involved, the lyrics still hit hard. The message carries weight and conviction. This wasn’t just an album, it felt like an experience from start to finish. Especially that ending.

theyre spitting

3.5

No fueron los primeros en sacar un disco a guitarrazo limpio pero lo que sí hicieron es diseñar un producto en apariencia poco sofisticado pero sí bien pulido. Están muy orgullosos de la “pureza” de no haber usado ni teclados, ni sintetizadores, ni samples en este y sucesivos discos. Precisamente eso es lo que define su estilo, con elementos del funk, rap, y heavy metal y unas letras políticamente comprometidas. Te pueden gustar más o menos, pero no cabe duda de que bandas de este tipo son más que necesarias.

It just becomes too much noise after a while. Don't need that much rage in my life.

Stoking the flames of rebellion and injustice still 34+ years later. A pivotal album addressing the hypocrisy of modern society and government, it's upsetting that the themes of the album are still so relevant 3 decades later

I get why this an important album to listen to. It speaks a lot to politics, but also to everyone's ability to stand up for what's right.

Bueno este es un 3.59/5 empezó muy bien ,tiene un gran mensaje y los instrumentos suenan asombroso. Pero a medida que el álbum transcurre los ritmos al menos melódicos de la voz del vocalista recaen un poco en lo mismo. Mi canción favorita sin duda es Bombtrack.

From the starting song, to Killing in the Name of to the rest of the album: the rage is set, heavy unique riffs and also a unique tone that inspired a generation to question authorities - as relevant today as it ever was! Now you do what they told you!

Absolute classic. Still relevant today.

kyllä tässä levyssä se viha ja uhma huokuu ja tullut kuunneltua satoja kertoja läpi. Ei kuitenkaan vitoseen yllä

Tää on ihan hilpee levy, välillä vahingossa soi nykyäänkin autossa

Jopas sentään, kaks vitosen levyä peräkkäin, kyllä nyt maittaa. Tää oli ysärillä kovaa kamaa, ja on edelleen. Ei yhtään huonoa biisiä levyllä. Vielä kun tietäis mitä konetta kohtaan on kova viha, pakko olla kyllä printteri.

Listan tekijät sanoo että kuuntele ja sää sanot että kuinka paljon.

No on helvetin kovaa ajoa! Mulla oli kakarana Evil Empire ihan CD-formaatissa, ja sitä tuli kuunneltua paljonkin. Tähän tutustuin vasta Spotifyn myötä, mutta sanoisin että tämä on kyllä reilusti parempi kokonaisuus kun Evil Empire. Ehkä semmoinen pieni itseään toistava ote pudottaa viiden tähden korista pois, mutta hyvin lähellä sitä ollaan kyllä nyt. Tom Morello on yksi kaikkien aikojen suosikkimuusikkojani, jota on tullut kuunneltua niin RATMin, Audioslaven ja Nightwatchmanin inkarnaatioissa.

Ratm is an excellent album you don't stop a single second!

Ya lo recontra conozco, pedazo de discazo sin contar fistful of steel

How clever i was

A very timely listen for today’s climate. Musically this album is a powerful house of hard driving sounds. Dynamic, unpredictable. Lyrically, ahead of its time, and sadly probably more relevant today. Politically/Socially: see above. But vocally, this is where my rating falls. Hearing one offs like Killing In The Name Of, as well as others over the years…allowed for more intake and understanding of what the message was. But listening from top to bottom, I found myself being more annoyed at the monotone scream style delivery itself, rather than hearing the intended messages within. It ends up having a homogenizing effect on all the songs. My raging fist is still raised, just not as high. 3.5/5.

FUCK THE MAN

Man this is great. Rage seems singular for me. I know there are similar bands and many tried to replicate, but they just stand out. And I did not give tom his due. The riffs on this are most magical. 4.5 but this hit for the moment so rounding up. FUCK YOU I WONT DO WHAT YOU TELL ME!!!

Perpetually relevant. Righteously angry. Shit will make you want to run through a wall to fight the man. Know your enemy. WAKE UP! FREEEEEDOOOOM!!! 4.25/5

classic album but it didn't get me as much as it should, i dont dislike it, it's just not my type of music

Banger album through and through. Not a single miss. And full of lyrical genius. 5/5

Rage Against The Machine.

Huge

Instrumentally very strong. I love Tom Morello’s guitar work. Drums were great. Base on track 3 was exceptional. I find I’m in a stage of my life where lyrically this album doesn’t resonate at all anymore although I certainly see the appeal to its target demographic.

After a dour run of albums last week, to quote the kids - "we're so back". No notes needed. One of those albums where you just hit play, raise your fist in defiance and start bopping your head.

Raging in all of the right ways! ★★★★

Fuck yeah. No one else sounds like this and it's a great balance of riffage, message, experimentation and power.

Such angry young men... But god damn do they know how to make a great track

Den här eller Panteras Cowboys from hell är bästa hårdrock/metallskivan från 90-talet enligt mig.

I’m a Millenial, I am genetically wired to enjoy this album, I literally have no choice. I’m not made of stone! You can really close your eyes and let the Woodstock 99 vibes soak in, it's good ol' grunge, they had something to say!! You know!! It was the go-go 90s and they were feeling things strongly, hell, we were all chanting. And it felt good! It still feels good. I'll say it, it's a real shame that they ended up being a little bit wet on the political front these days seeing as that was their literal whole thing. Low key, what is the point of Rage Against the Machine if they're not political, then it's just sounds and words, meaningless chanting for no reason. Hey ho, such is 2026. Seeing as we're talking about album covers, not sure about this one!

It's mad how fresh this felt as a teenager even though it was a good 15 years old, and how much I loved the message. Fuck you, private school, I won't do what you tell me! Fuck you semi-detached house in the home counties!! Yeahhh!!! Listening today it feels a bit like a relic - like, you're raging against the machine but politically this is like, as friendly as the machine's gonna be for a while, sorry guys. It's the 90s, might as well enjoy it, it's only gonna get way way worse!! The music seems pretty straightforward in its composition and energy, surprisingly dated really. But then there's this earnestness and power to it that I still think is really appealing today.

Who knew? Okay, a few million people, but not me, so embarrassing to have missed out on Rage Against the Machine. Or on the Edgar Winter Band's Frankenstein homage on Know Your Enemy, or finding the source waters of The Matrix end credits. Glad all this ignorance is over, joining the revolution.

Easy 5/5. This is a fucking great album. I've been a fan of it since high school. I love the intensity and powerful messages behind these songs. They are also musically fantastic. There are some really funky guitar riffs and the drums are absolutely laying it down, which sets up the passionate vocals very well. There are so many bangers on this album.. maybe all bangers? And the themes of the album are just as relevant as ever. The album cover is super impactful too. It's a very famous picture of a Vietnamese Buddhist monk performing self-immolation to protest the persecution of Buddhists by the Southern Vietnamese government in power at the time.

I used to own this album on CD and would play it frequently. I’m still a pretty large fan of RATM but I don’t listen to their music as much anymore. So it was fun playing this in car with Callie on the way to daycare and see her rocking out in the backseat to bombtrack. Seeing RATM live is on my bucket list and I was convinced it would never happen. Then in the magical year of 2020 they announced a tour with Run the Jewels and I was stoked. I bought two tickets not knowing who was joining me yet. So did my friends who wanted to see RATM haha. So as we’re waiting for the tour to start we were trying to find other people to join our spare seats. Then this like global pandemic thing happened. RATM postponed their tour for a whole year and we thought they were crazy. This will be over in a couple weeks…. So June of 2021 it is. Then you know how that story played out. The tour gets postponed again. They finally kick off the tour in 2022 again. My hopes and dreams were about to come true. Then Zack de La Rocha had a severe Achilles tendon tear during a show. He played a few shows seated until a doctor told him he required surgery and a lengthy recovery. So RATM canceled the remainder of the tour and refunded everyone’s tickets. I’m still patiently waiting to hear when/if they will tour again. Also if you don’t already know Tom Morello misses the smaller days of RATM where they would talk to fans in the parking lot about politics. He has a Harvard education and many bigots get mad when they realize the music is very political.

R.A.T.M Falls into a category of music I like to call rich chocolate. Its sooooo good for a few bites, but after a whole bar, you kind of get a bit overwhelmed. That being said, this album SLAPS with a capital S L A P S. So much angst, power, and raw emotion. Really makes you want to just go out there and toss a molitov cocktail into an Amazon warehouse (Fuck you Bezos). The lyrics are provoking, rhythmic and stylish. The guitar and drums has this momentum that carries you from front to back. Its just all so good. Just in small bite sized listens (once or twice through is plentiful) 9/10

Politically relevant and raw with great riffs. I'm biased, but 5/5.

I used to think my problem with metal was the vocals, but this is the album that made me realize that it just wasn't for me. Maybe one day/5

Great US rock/punk album

Instrumentals zijn prettiger dan ik me had voorgesteld. De gitaar is best wel funky. De manier van zingen en de inhoud past vast in de tijdsgeest maar doet me niet veel. In wake up vond ik het wel grappig. Favoriete nummer: Wake Up Minst favoriete nummer: Settle for Nothing Rating: 7/10

I don't care about RATM and I think this album is very dated, but I respect what they represented coming up in the early 90s. Innovative blend of 70s riff rock (Led Zep, Deep Purple and Hendrix come to mind) with angry political rap. Angry and poignant. It deserves to be on this list because of what brought about back them. People on the comments insist on evaluating only based on their personal taste. Broaden your vocabulary and musical analysis, wasters. You need to be able to evaluate something outside of your personal taste. Rant over. RATM style.

This is a must listen if you’re listening to 1000 albums. But on the overall it was ok, it’s crazy how ahead they were sonically but also I find it interesting that this was the style that would be in fashion for the mainstream of the 2000’s (stripped of revolutionary potential ofc) necessary early 90s listening fs fs. Personally not my cup of tea tho, but killing in the name of will never not be hype

That Fuck the Power metal that sings in my soul.

A bit loud but good

They seem a little angry! I want to give them a hug.

They raged against the machine until middle-age at which point they (profitably) became part of it Having said that, their sound came out of nowhere in the 90's and was nothing like anything else around at the time. This music was "a stretch" for me when released and definitely something I had to acclimatise to 1 song at a time rather than attack (or be attacked by) the whole album.

Legendary. Still hits hard and depressingly still relevant commentary.

Fuck ICE

Uma associação de som pesado/ barulhento com vocais de Hip Hop tem pouca chance de me agradar. A faixa mais bacana é a que começa como um cover de Led Zeppelin: "Wake Up".

This one is easy 😅

Fuck you I won't do what they told me

Heb ik altijd al leuk gevonden

I knew Killing in the Name. Many of the songs sound the same. It wasn’t terrible, but I didn’t like it.

good definitly polliyical

Dynamite! Watching some of the pre-album live material and listening to the demo included in the 20th anniversary package, I'm struck by what a keen sense they had out of the gate of who they were and the cliches they wanted to avoid, which ended up making this album the timeless classic that it is and the band so peerless in their lane.

блин оч люблю етот альбик со мной сквозь года

Classic. Incredible album. So relevant in today's wild times.

Love the album, but already knew it very well. Was hoping for something that was new to me

Five stars for the music, five stars for what it stands for.

When Rage Against the Machine dropped their debut in ’92, it sounded like a Molotov cocktail lobbed into a grunge-dominated landscape—years before nu-metal would dilute the rap-rock formula with frat-boy bluster and tuneless angst. This record has the blueprint but none of the embarrassing aftertaste: just militant grooves, razor-wire riffs, and Zack de la Rocha’s focused fury. “Bombtrack” explodes out of the gate on a sinuous bassline before Tom Morello starts bending his guitar into alien transmissions; “Killing in the Name” is the era’s ultimate slow-burn rebellion anthem, all coiled tension and cathartic release; and “Fistful of Steel” dips into a dense, Bomb Squad-esque clang that fuses metal heft with hip-hop atmosphere. Some riffs ride the groove a little too long, but the sheer conviction and innovation still hit hard—three decades later, it feels less like a relic and more like a warning shot.

Interesante la letra, me resulta muy ruidoso para mí gusto

A bit of a classic,

AMAZING ALBUMMMMM, i have it on cd, great album to be listening to right now in the wake of protest music

Enjoyed this. Angsty!

Love this album, morellos guitar is very distinct

Fuck me you caught me at the right time

The drive and outrage of these songs gives them a real power even as they start to blend together for me. They also make me reflect on how uncomfortable I am with anger still. It's music I don't want to write off for that reason, but also not stuff I want to immerse in much.

This has all the guttural, cathartic viscerality that you go to Rage Against the Machine for, but it's also pretty shaggy. That this is my least favorite of their three albums is not really a knock; I just prefer that tigthened songwriting of the next two efforts. There's a reason punk songs are typically short. Most songs exceed five minutes, and the formula of Zach De La Rocha raging over a Tom Morello riff can't sustain the momentum for that long. The best tracks justify the length with memorable codas or tempo shifts ("Wake Up", "Freedom", "Killing in the Name"). The rest coast to the extended length on guitar solos or an extra dollop or two of the same riff. The idea that a RATM song could be boring is a real failure of imagination on the part of the producer. Subsequent albums feature a barrage of 2-3-minute songs, with a couple longer ones peppered in for flavor and a change of pace (and almost all of them justify their length). Still, when the guitar, drums, and bass explode 30 seconds into "Bombtrack" and Zach lets out his first grunt, I can feel it in my whole body, and their lyrics have never felt more poignant. This isn't the most sophisticated music; it's The Stooges with something to say, or Black Sabbath meets Public Enemy by way of Pixies. But Tom Morello's ability to write a riff is s-tier, and they perfected a formula that feels essential to modern living.

This is the sort of angry music I can get behind.

you american mfs need to rage against the machine harder tbh. mad relevant rn

Great Songs: Bombtrack, Killing In the Name, Bullet In the Head, Know Your Enemy, Wake Up, Fistful of Steel, Township Rebellion, Freedom Good Songs: Take the Power Back, Settle for Nothing Mid Songs: Bad Songs:

RATM goes so fuckin' hard. Killin' in the Name is one of the greatest songs of the decade, it does carry the album a bit. But I enjoy the album all the way, it makes me feel anti-establishment despite my undeniable role as a cog in the machine.

Doesn’t do much for me.

Amazing

bit noisy

It's been a while, forgot how good this one is. Lyrics still seem relevant today

Good

bombtrack--driving beat. the name suits them. in the name of--wow. incredible. acab. take the power back--loving the bass settle for nothing--d.a.m.n. musically interesting and balanced. each song provides variety & contrast. a range of vocal and instrumental techniques. hard hitting lyrics on social issues. this is gonna score high. bullet in the head--imperialism ok not noting every song, but refer to notes for settle for nothing for overall impression. 4/5. miles better than slayer reign in blood. oh hmm i gave that album a 2/5, but this is more than 2 stars better than that. consider either promoting this to 5/5 or demoting slayer to 1/5.

One of my favorites of all time, I learned guitar by listening to this record. Great record to test some new headphones!

Solid angry album. Lyrics still on point 30 years later.

The text book definition of Revolutionary (anti establishment) rock n roll music.

Find me a more distinct guitar sound or an album more relevant in 2026.

Not as bad as expe, it was actually pretty good. Some genuinely good songs but it does get a bit samey at points.

Really spectacular, one of a kind record. Sad to know that’s it’s still deeply relevant today, but empowering that it’s around at all. Very much enjoyed this one. -Ruby Ditto. This was a very important album for me growing up and continues to be. It was the catalyst for me beginning to think critically regarding the powers that be and radically about change. Musically, the band takes no prisoners. Tom Morello produced sounds from his guitar that are just mind boggling. Lyrically, there are so many quotables on this record. Zack de la Rocha had a way of crafting his lyrics so creatively, steering clear of the trite themes so often characterizing protest music of the contemporary era.

I like more of the beats than the actual singing. Township Rebellion guitar solo so good. I feel like this style of music is just not my vibe. 6/10

Solid guitar, easy to headbang to, really got my heartbeat going. This didn't resonate deeply with me, nor was I blown away, but I had a decent time.

Earth shattering for it's time, both instrumentally and lyrically. Messages so jarring to radio listeners that Zack de la Rocha could get away with having a subpar voice with zero vocal effects whatsoever. So hard to judge this one because it's a statement as much as it is an album. I'm thankful for these guys being a bastion for change in the world of music. I occasionally get tired of how masculine this whole sound is, but can get past that knowing that fighting for justice is aggressive in nature. "Wake Up" clears every other song on here, including "Killing In The Name". Light 4/5

If the bottled rage on this album was directed toward things I cared about, I would probably think this album was too much. However, "the machine" is a thing I can get behind hating, and sometimes ruminating in your hatred toward a thing can actually be a bit therapeutic. Its fun to imagine the impact this would have had when it came out in 1992. At face value it almost feels like it's going for shock value but I actually think it is entirely calculated and true in its intent to make this a statement on politics and society. I don't doubt this turned on a whole generation of young people to question the world in new ways. Musically, I appreciate the unique guitar sounds and different breakdowns this album uses. I think the angry rap singing style is really effective but by the end of the album I do get a bit tired of it. Definitely agree that this deserves a place in the conversation around important albums of the modern era!

I haven’t listened to Rage Against the Machine in decades, but as soon as I saw this album generated, I immediately had Killing in the Name stuck in my head. I don’t think there’s ever been a better time for a new Rage Against the Machine album. We need more of this angry, revolutionary energy today.

I dislike the whole rap metal/rock genre, but ratm is pretty tolerable. 6/10 Favourite track: Bullet In Your Head

Just not for me, certainly not meant to be a bad music rating

i am not a big fan of hard rock

Loved it, exactly my taste

Only ever heard Killing in the Name before this, the funk, rap, and metal blend was an extremely pleasant surprise. The lyrics go without saying. Favourite track: Take the Power Back

8/10

Reddit’s favorite album

Not good

Muuuuu solidas 4 estrellas. Me llevo a mi adolescencia.

Freaking lovely

I’m not someone to criticize music for being explicit. In fact, I am a huge fan of rap and hip hop, and artists like Eminem and Kendrick Lamar regularly dominate my “Top Artist” lists on Spotify. However, the swearing in this album was just so… lame. In fact, a lot of the lyrics just didn’t sound at all tough. That said, I really like the drums and guitar, with some pretty cool riffs and solos. I just wish that the singing and lyrics were better, and this could’ve been a 4 or a 5.