Reviews (page 8 of 14)
pretty fire and political
Rap Metal/Nu Metal is my least favorite genre other than doo wop. I hate it and I hate the bands that inflicted it on the world. But there are always exceptions! RATM is the only palatable rap metal and some of their best work is here on this record. Killing In The Name has both one of the all time great protest lines (some of those who work forces are the same who burn crosses) AND the motto of my generation (fuck you I won’t do what you tell me). And that last one makes me a bit sad because we were always raging against the machine but never doing anything about it. Just fu. Sigh. Anyway, I love this record while also recognizing that ZDR is a bit cartoonish at times and Morello’s beeps and bloops are sometimes irritating. But both really bring it most of the time here.
ROTM is the AC/DC of the 90s, in that they are a band with huge popularity but every song sounds the same. Except where one band sings about bazoongas, the other sings about racism. They do one song and they do it well. Luckily that song is awesome and it'll pump you up to make a difference before remembering you forgot to send your OoO - after which point all you'll want to do is have a wee sit down and doom scroll. Anyway, you all know the song.
Has held up really well and still hits hard. Very formative for me, musically
me gustaaa, ya tenia en mis likes killing in the name of, por ahora en mi primera vez escuchandolo está bueno killing in the name of, temazo, no me acordaba que era tan bueno 4/5 para escucharlo cuando quieres algo "mas fuerte" muy cargado con guitarra, no sé como explicarlo bien
nais
fugazi
Great, butUrban Dance Squad did it first
This rocks pretty hard. I love the energy and the short respites where it feels like everyone is just catching their breath before they start rocking even harder.
Heavy when it needs to be, quiet when it needs to be. Grooving all the way through, every song felt unique but they all belonged in the same album. No standouts but every song was great. It even had a few noise sections. Easy 4
This is simply one of the most badass albums ever. The sounds are just so fire - crushing riffs, aggressive guitar tones and vocal performances that just drip wuth anger and frustration. The songs have aged so beautifully, somehow a lot of them are even more impressive and relatable now. The highlights are the noisiest moments, but the slower ones also have a lot of merit to them. It's so punky in spirit, can't help but love it. Listening to this while walking in the streets made me wanna burn cars and destroy buildings.
Having only heard the higher profile singles from this album, I enjoyed getting to listen to every track all the way through. Certainly captures my mood given the way 2025 keeps 2025ing in newly creative and horrible ways.
Amo este disco! De lo mejor de los 90!
Golden!
Expected to dislike it, because I'm not a fan of funk or alternative, but some Tom's riffs are cool
More like a 3.5, they have a good sound here, but Evil Empire and Battle for Los Angeles are much more cohesive
Loved this album, makes me want to run through walls and join anarchist movements but in a groovy way.
i rated this and had my notes and everything and now its just gone but whatevs. anyway love love love this album, im in awe of the sheer power in their sound and im not even sure how they were able to produce such noises anyway. shout out
Let me set the scene on this one. Lazy Sunday morning, it’s snowing outside, Christmas tree is lit up, I’m wrapping Christmas presents, and what do I have on for music? Delightful Christmas carols? Nope, Rage Against the Machine and Zack de la Rocha (yes, I had to look that up) screaming fuck you, I won’t do what you told me and how he’s gonna put a bullet in ya head. Santa would be very displeased. Coal for Rage Against the Machine this year, which is probably what they were hoping for anyway. This is not my kind of music, especially when Zack starts screaming, but I actually did like more of it than I thought I would and I can understand why people love this album if it is their jam. It’s got great rhythms, driving guitar, and solid bass and drums. And you always have to love anti-establishment lyrics even if you’re just trying to enjoy the holiday season. If I was grading purely on my own enjoyment I would give it a 3. Giving it a 4 for recognition of the talent and impact of this album.
The music alone demands that you get up and move and I don’t necessarily mean in a good way. Any one of these songs could be an anarchists anthem and the vocals almost dare you to throw the first punch without even asking you to. The aggressive upbeat tempo of the album breathes life into each song and the lead singer’s ability to build to a crescendo on each track is powerful. Great album that had me ready to run through a wall by the end of it.
Well, I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I think the lead singer might be upset about something. What do you think Zack de la Rocha does to unwind? Yoga, gardening, sudoku? May I suggest that Rage Against the Machine and Florence and the Machine switch lead singers for an album - I would certainly buy that shit and I bet you would, too. This is a pretty f’ing solid debut effort but their downfall is that, by virtue of their incredibly unique sound, they have horribly pigeonholed themselves - you immediately know a Rage song because they are so iconic … and they never shake off that style so it all starts to sound like the same magic trick. It’s a great trick, but you’ve heard it so many times before that it wears thin before too long.
Rage Against The Machine, a monster band that gave us an amazing album. Zack's screaming delivery demands your attention. His message is personal and he will not be ignored. Guitar legend Tom Morello's iconic riffs, creative sounds, and ecletic solos absolutely shred. Brad's drumming paired with Timmy's bass groove so hard it actually reigns in all the chaos and has us bobbing our heads as we prepare to jump into the mosh pit. These songs have a powerful message, but the music shines most, as it must, for without great music the message is not heard. Not a bad track on the album, an absolute gem
7/10
One of the albums I had on repeat growing up. It was a perfect mix of rap, rock, rebellion, and just sounds that you couldn't help but want to hear over and over again. I still remember hearing Killing In the Name on the radio and trying to catch it every time I could until I got the CD. Its weird listening to it now. I do feel that sense of rebellion anymore, but I do understand more what they were raging against. Im sure I'll bust out my Rage mix CDs now to hear my little collection I made. Hit - Killing In The Name Miss (if I had to choose one) - Settle For Nothing Underrated - Know Your Enemy
Bombtrack // Killing In The Name // Settle For Nothing // Know Your Enemy // Township Rebellion //
4/5 if killing in the name of doesn't make u want to go and tell your boss to fuck off, i dont think we would get along with this album is so good
Remember when people campaigned to have "Killing in the Name" beat the X Factor winner for that years Christmas number one single and then it did? Good times.
Ever relevant. Stunning debut. Would be a 5 if it wasn't for Tom Morello's ugly solos
Great album. I noticed the settle for nothing song sounds a lot like Tools bottom, mostly the Henry Rollins spoken word poetry part. They sound very similar and thought it was one group mocking the other until later on the album when fools Maynard James Keenan sang vocals on a track.
Wow these guys really are raging against the machine. I’m not huge fan of this style of rock where it’s a bit more hip hop vocally. Everything sounded great but the vocal style didn’t hit. Obviously Killing in the Name is the huge song off this and it’s a great song. A really solid album even if the vocal stylings didn’t really hit for me.
Invented their own genre. brings the funk hard.
I hate how much more relevant this album is today than it was when I first heard it.
My sincerest hope is that I someday can live in a world where Rage Against the Machine is no longer timely and relevant.
Class album. Frustrating how relevant the themes remain decades on. Wake up is a stand out with the led zeppelin Kashmir-esque chords. Album gives me more than enough energy to run through a wall. Probably would cop a 4.5 if I could do halves, 6 albums in. I can’t give out a 5 yet… can I?
PEAK PEAK PEAK
Of the heavier albums I've gotten, this is definitely the most enjoyable. Good political message, voice, guitars. That, or the Paul Ryan review at the top gave me a huge chuckle.
HELL YEAHHHHH the greatest rebel f* you I won't do what ya tell me album ever - I have seen 1st hand how people react when the dj puts Killing in the Name on in many different countries (not exaggerating, lots of travel w buddhist community) it is INSAAAANE - it's global - the power in their sound and their sound period is just GRAHHHHH how can you not jump up and down pumping your fist in the air. AWESOME. giving a 4 so I can be correct when I give a 5
ACAB. Fuck ICE. Fuck the System. I've seen De la Rocha twice, first was RtJ final night of tour and El-Ps birthday and Zack came out for Close Your Eyes. it was absolutely epic. Second was Rage at MSG right before cancelling the tour. So awesome, and RTJ opened.
I feel obliged to give this 4.
Really cool and good! It's very apparent why they became so popular and influential, this is a lot of really solid stuff. The only reason for not being a 4 really is that I wouldn't listen to it much on its own, but it's damn close.
Powerful, powerful album. It's music to ram through a concrete wall to, and the chanting vocals succeed in articulating pressing issues that are still very relevant today. That's the key that makes bands like Rage and SOAD stand out for me -- 'anger is a gift', and they manage to meaningfully channel it towards subjects that deserve every bit of that energy. That's on top, of course, of the incredible instrumentation on all fronts (I'm particularly a sucker for the aggressive bass). High 4 for me, though it's very much a 5 in the right listening context (such as a concrete wall standing before me) Standouts: Killing In The Name • Know Your Enemy • Freedom
One of the greatest, angriest albums of all time. The guitar is immaculate also. RATM is such a cultural institution and Wake Up kills it at the end of The Matrix. It's only not a 5 because I almost never find myself listening to it on my own, but every time someone reminds me I enjoy it again and again.
Love RATM, but maybe not a whole album at a time. The music is utterly fantastic, and while I think singer Zack de la Rosa is great in smaller doses, a whole album of him tends to wear on me. Compositionally, this album is really impressive, with a lot of variety in their framework and I don't think there's a bad song in here.
Powerful!
Absolute classic filled with bangers, that's still as politically relevant today as it was when it released. Morello's inventive guitar is fantastic, Commorford's basslines perfect, Brad Wilk an incredibly underrated drummer, and on top of it Zack de la Rocha's punchy, immediate vocals bring the energy. Standouts for me are Bombtrack, Killing in the Name, Know Your Enemy, and Fistful of Steel.
I love the grooves on this album, and the lyrics are still relevant today. Tom Morello is a fantastic and innovative guitar player, but sometimes his weird noises tend to irritate me.
Fierce
to think when I was younger I would confuse rage against the machine and Florence and the machine
Funk and rock/metal is a combination I'll never get bored of. These basslines are fucking phenomenal, my favourite bits of this album. The angry, shout form of rapping that De La Rocha uses fit all this perfectly. Long-lasting stank face when listening to this. But the less energetic, "quieter" parts of the album I'm not a fan of. It's supposed to be hardcore, energetic, angry, so when you take away that edge it's just a bit meh. Doesn't really do this often though which is good. Bombtrack and Township Rebellion were my favourites
Really good, radical stuff, even if it can get a tad bit repetitive
In this crazy world, listening to this album tonight gave me a solid dose of hope that we can all finally rise up and... oh wait... this music is 33 years old. Rats.
Instructions were unclear; raged too hard against the wrong machine. Now I need a new toaster.
Counterpoint: unfortunately it isn't the beats and lyrics that they fear. This is Red Hot Chilli Peppers if they rocked and were filled with the impotent rage of youth at an unfair world. It's not their fault that every band who copied them sucked. And it really rocks. I remember listening to BBC Radio 5 at breakfast time in 2009 and they had invited RATM on to perform live because someone decided Killing In The Name should be number one as a protest against Simon Cowell 🤷♂️. I still remember Sheila Fogerty shouting "get rid of it" as at 9 in the morning, they not unexpectedly didn't do what they'd been told and sang the full lyrics. Almost spilt my tea.
richtig hässig - i like - muass sicher no kli in anderi alba dri losa
Surprisingly good!
Now this is political activism. Create heavily politicized anthems of rage to incite and inspire the left to take action against the injustice and hypocrisy of America. This rings true now more than ever and I’m grateful for Rage’s contribution to the issue.
Aggressively articulate, this stunning debut combines contemporary explosiveness to old fashioned soul. The riffs are simple, the grooves are huge and the lyrics are unambiguous - this album is a vital and uncompromising statement, only slightly let down by a few songs repeating themselves too much. Favourite tracks: Bombtrack, Bullet In The Head (one of my most played bass songs), Township Rebellion
Appropriate album for the political times. What a great listen. Couldn’t help but headbang to a few of these in my olden age.
Tom Morello sempre fa coses diferents i noves amb la guitarra,el disc esta ple de himnes de batalla,rabia i innovacio,te mes de 30 anys i sona fresc igual que el primer dia!!O millor!!Un clàssic!!Li dono un 8'5.
It goes hard as fuck, but it suffers from being an influence on a whole lot of terrible terrible bands that didn't have the redeeming political content.
Melodic anger
A pretty good album, I liked Bombtrack, Killing In The Name and Bullet In The Head the most
If you’re in the right mood for it (pissed off), nothing hits like a little Rage. Tom gets all the press, but this is a fantastic band. That bass tone! Together they sound like no one else on the planet, ‘cept Audioslave. Zack can make even simplistic verses sound prophetic. I think Battle of LA has more consistent quality, but this is a banger of a debut.
I’ve heard this álbum before but I came in expecting not to like it. Time hasn’t been kind to RATM or the nu metal they helped spawn, but the album still sounds good production wise and the content sadly hasn’t aged a day. There are still plenty of good reasons to start a heavy band and scream (or rap) your head off. Maybe ¨Killing in the Name¨ has been tainted by hearing it bellowed by drunken sweathogs a thousand times, but does that really take away from its power? Just because the mid and late 90s had guys with soul patches and dreads rapping over metal riffs doesn’t take away that RATM did it first and did it better. Forget the breakups and makeups, forget their last 25 years as a legacy band, forget the nu metal lameness: this album is amazing. Best songs: ¨Bombtrack,¨ ¨Killing in the Name¨
Fav : bullet in my head
Some angry, funky music...when it hits its belting.. the type of music you need sometimes. Great guitar lines and musicianship throughout. Gets a bit indulgent in places but I can live with it. Won't be an every day album but is something I will come back to.
IM NOT A BIG FAN OF THE GOVERNMENT wreeeoweoworwowwowoawoaaow
This rocks!
Great album! Classic
Couldn’t help but think ‘if you thought things were bad back in 1992, just you wait’. Anyway, it’s difficult to be objective with this one, as there’s an almost emotional attachment to some of the tracks here, and Tim Commerford was a massive formative influence on me as a fledgling bass player.
We get it Zach, you’re not happy. I had probably written Rage off a while ago as being a bit noisy and sanctimonious but listening with fresh ears was something worth doing. A tight band with the ability to draw out a good hook either musically or lyrically. Particularly like some of the weird sounds Morello gets from his guitar to accentuate the drums and bass rather than just drown them out.
A classic one. Its reputation certainly antecedes him, a master class on hard rock riffs, strange-sounding guitar solos, tight-as-a-machine drums, and a musicalization on Noah Chomsky's lectures. Great album, though not a perfect one for me on a subjective note.
Lotta people need to take this to heart
It’s music that I left in my teenage angst years but that whenever I happen upon I remember how much I loved it and realise how much I still do love it. Nostalgia in its best and purest form. Lots of riffs lots of FUN and tbf a lot of lyrics that stayed relevant. Best Song: Wake Up
Wahhahhhahhahh
Kunnon funkkihevii. Onhan tässä voimaa! 4/5
Onhan siinä vähän sellaista nuorten miesten kiihkoa, mutta hyvää sellaista! 4/5
Geiles Album, banger after banger
swinging, driving, and furious
Knallsterk, spesielt de tre første!
Nice
Angry but awesome
very interesting style, pretty unique
Fantastic rock album. I don't love the screaming instead of singing, but I liked everything else. Great to listen to when I'm having a frustrating day.
Rage Against The Machine is a debut that still hits like a hammer. From the opening of “Bombtrack,” the band set out their mission with explosive energy, blending metal riffs, funk grooves, and politically charged fury into something completely their own. “Killing in the Name” remains one of the most confrontational songs to ever break into the mainstream, its mix of repetition and raw anger still capable of shaking walls decades later. Tom Morello’s guitar work is full of inventive sounds that feel like turntables one moment and sirens the next, while Zack de la Rocha’s delivery is sharp and unrelenting. What makes the album so gripping is its consistency. Every track feels locked in, from the propulsive “Take the Power Back” to the simmering tension of “Know Your Enemy.” The rhythm section holds everything together with precision and swagger, giving the album both weight and movement. There’s no filler here, just a band absolutely clear on their sound and message from the start. Even after years of imitators, Rage Against The Machine still sounds fresh and dangerous. It’s a record that channels fury into something laser-focused, and while its politics are upfront and confrontational, the music itself is so tight and innovative that it demands attention regardless. Few debuts arrive this fully formed, and it remains a landmark in rock and rap crossover.
Absolute classic
This is an awesome album, maybe held back just a tad by some repetitive lyrics. But everything is full adrenaline and testosterone.
Gritty album that still resonates today over 30 years since its release.
Is good, I have no idea how the average is so high though
I liked the way they raged against the machine
Great all the way through
Imagine being surprised that RATM is political. The people who don't get it are probably the people that need to hear it the most. Anyway. Politically, RATM is right on. I'm glad this music exists, that it is unapologetic in its messaging, and that it is something young men will be drawn to. Now more than ever RATM's messaging is relevant and needed. All that said, this is not for me. I'm not the target audience. I don't really like Zack's vocals and it's a bit repetitive. I'm going with a 4 because it's important; docking a star because of the repetitive nature of it all.
An album I haven't listened to in 25 years! Still mostly good, tracks might be slightly too long. 3.5 rounded up Heard before? Yes - used to have Owned: No 14/1001, 14/56 (25%) Will I get? No
First time for a full listen of this record - wow. Stellar debut album. Particularly Morello’s playing is just top shelf.
Listened in the truck via YouTube music. It’s been a while since I’ve listened all the way through. There were several surprise tracks that stood out and also that the music was not nearly as “heavy” as I once thought it to be. The guitar work from Morello was much more nuanced than I’d remembered and the bass was funky if not verging on the Nu-metal sound.
Now we’re dundalkin
Pure class, I wanted to crash the car and shoot a fascist (RIP CK)
Fuck yes, so good, enormous amount of clinkers on this. Fills my body with the fury of a million suns.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this album. The gritty, heavy tones & lyrics work perfectly together, and I quite like this slower, funk influenced genre of metal.
Started to blend.
Brilliant album to listen to if you want to get really pumped up, lots of angry energy mixed with some catchy riffs
This is a good one.
great
Schon geil. Vor allem für den Rage
It’s all one song, but that song is really good.
Since always
Not exactly my thing, but lots of admiration for this politically fearless, smart, head-on album.
I’ve never been a fan of Rage Against the Machine, but I promised myself I’d give their self-titled debut a fair shot. To my surprise, I enjoyed this album far more than I expected. It’s not just mindless head-banging — it’s a sharp mix of genres with real purpose behind the noise. The record is full of raw power, anguish, and unfiltered anger, driven by anarchic lyrics that still feel relevant to America today, more than 30 years on. I have to admit, I probably liked this album more than I’d ever admit publicly. Consider my opening statement withdrawn. Favourite track: Killing in the Name is iconic for a reason, and Take the Power Back really hit me. I also loved the Zeppelin-esque guitar intro to Wake Up. Least favourite track: Honestly, I enjoyed every track. Album artwork: Simple, bold, and instantly recognisable.
de mi top ten de albums favoritos del mundo mundial
Only criticism is that the record was mixed/produced too “clean”… really needed to be recorded live to get the full force of sound.
OK påminner mig om Red hot chilli pepper
Just a fantastic debut even if they did kind of join the machine they were raging against
Track 1: Bombtrack - references to political struggle of Peruvian revolutionaries against US backed government in music video. 'I warm my hands upon the flames of the flag'. Track2: Killing in the name - protests police brutality and systemic oppression. Written six months following the Rodney King beating in 1991 which resulted in LA riots. Lyrics reference the system being complicit in the upholding of white supremacy in the US ('some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses'). Track 3: Take the power back - serves as a message to reclaim power from the government and return it to the people. Power comes from self-education, not what is being taught in education system 'in the right light, study becomes insight, but the system that dissed us, teaches us to read and write'. Track 4: Settle for nothing - written in the point of view of a frustrated youth in poverty 'a jail cell is freedom from the pain in my home'. Track 5: Bullet in the head - refers to band's belief the government uses media to control the population, drawing comparisons between typical residences and Alcatraz. Lyrics draw comparisons that symbols in support of the US military to that of the nazis 'a yellow ribbon instead of a swastika'. comments that news cycles and images people are being shown are used as weapons to control peoples perceptions and maintain control of them. Track 6: Know your enemy - contains anti-war and anti-authoritarian lyrics, contrasting notions of the American dream against the reality. Uses literary references (A room with a view, which discusses repression of women in England). Speaks of police brutality. 'The finger to the land of the chains. What? The 'land of the free'? Whoever told you that is your enemy'. 'I've got no patience now, so sick of complacence'. Lyrics reference that the oppression of thought begins in the classroom, the government aims to indoctrinate people into the 'American dream' by educating them against their own will to believe differently. Track 7: Wake up - critique of racism within the US government, FBI memo is sampled in the song (J. Edgar Hoover suggests a need to suppress black national movement) and references Hoover in the lyrics. Closing lines reference Martin Luther King Jr. speech. Reference to 1966 and the founding of the Black Panthers. 'fist in the air in the land of hypocrisy'. Lyrics liken words being as powerful as fighting and liken to an Ali fight. Track 8: Fistful of steel - about how being silent and complicit is bad ('silence can be violent'), references to Orwell's animal farm, sheeps and conformity. Track 9: Township rebellion - speaks to global white supremacy, references apartheid in South Africa ('Townships' were the designated areas non-white people were forced to live in) and compares it to police brutality against minority populations in South Central. Track 10: Freedom - references native American activist Leonard Peltier who was condemned to two life sentences for the deaths of two FBI agents (questions have been raised since his trial about prosecution's misconduct and fabricated evidence and falsified testimonies). Lyrics reference the genocide of native American people and consequent tactics to assimilate native people into the culture of European settlers. Album was released same day as the 1992 presidential election. Favourite Track: Wake up, Know your enemy Album cover: 1963 photo of a monk burning himself to death protesting the persecution of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese government
One of a kind sound and lyrics. Always good for head bobbing. Niceness out of the way, it's a shame that Morello is a known communist and they, in fact, endorse to "do what they tell ya." The last bastion of anti-authority (main stream) has fallen (hard). 4.25*
Yep, that's how I feel all the time.
Definitely an album that is of its time. The style isn't really my thing but the playing and production are top notch. Great guitar/bass interplay and a locked in drum beat are hard to resist. The themes they're singing about are still way too relevant today. The level of cognitive dissonance of right wingers listening to this and interpreting it as a paean to corporate bootlicking is off the charts. This band had something righteous to say and those tools took that message 180° in the opposite direction.
Always a good listen. Pivotal and energetic to STAND UP as the little guy to speak truth to power!
Amazing album with good lyrics and heavy guitars 8/10
I enjoyed this. I liked it when i was young hanging out at the Y
Take the power back good good
The guy from Guitar Hero III has a band?
Love the album, some unforgettable tracks. Then there are tracks that kind of blend with others and can't keep them apart, but I'd still return and listen to the entire thing on repeat for the energy alone
A record I did not like when i was 15 and very like now.
Really good. Not on my high rotation but i enjoyed it. 4/5
KILLING IN THE NAME OF!!!!!!! Favourite Songs: Killing In the Name, Take the Power Back, Know Your Enemy, Wake Up. Least Favourite Songs: Fistful of Steel, Township Rebellion.
This album rocks. It's anger distilled into musical form. But over time the tracks start to blend together. So while it's still a great album, I can't elevate it to a favorite. 4/5
I liked it. It reminded me of some Brazilian rock bands from my adolescence, which were probably inspired by this band. 4
It’s not an 8AM album, or maybe it is, I don’t know. It’s great but I associate it with people I don’t associate with anymore and so it’s hard to be objective about it.
Absolute banger of an album. Hits hard and fast continuously. While I think that a handful of the songs (Fist of steel, Township rebellion, settle for nothing) are just ok when compared to the whole piece, the album as a whole keeps up its anger a power harder than I thought it could.
Awesome
A refreshing blast of energy and a good, tight sound.
antidisestablishmentarianism
Powerful and still relevant.
One of the best debut albums of all time. Often imitated, never duplicated. Truly a game changer that inspired so many (good and bad) bands
9/10
You can feel the angst from the moment you hit play. Every song feels like an indictment on injustice around the world. Tense from the word go.
A great time all around. Power walking into the office really hit with this as the soundtrack. A few songs weren’t as successful as others but overall really enjoyed it.
✊🏼
Besides the powerful inclination to punch a stranger, that went really well. (Was playing Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails and paused it halfway through to Rage. Straight back to Downward Spiral now and I am all kinds of fucked up.)
Some of these tracks are pretty awesome. I need to listen to the full album.
I love how this band lives up to its name so completely. Musically not five stars for me, but I admire their passion and their message.
Though I’m not the biggest fan of Zac and his lyrics I can’t deny this is a fantastic album. Musically brilliant and a very worthy entry to the 1001
Great rebellion soundtrack. Bass guitar forward
quite intense, nothing to listen to every day, but I get it.
Beasty Boys on metal steroids. Reminds me of Linkin Park. Interesting energy infused riffs and flow. At the end of the day, not completely my jam, but definitely up there.
If you've heard Rage Against The Machine, well... You've heard 'em. To their credit, RATM is explosive as a unit. Zach De La Rocha's dedication to the lyricism is apparent in his intense vocal delivery. Tom Morell, Tim Commorford, Brad Wilk hold things down between heavy riffing and grooves for De La Rocha to scream or rap over. This is easily Rage's most raw album, and you have to appreciate how rough around the edges they are. Although the need for rap/rock isn't as dire now as is may have been in the 90's, RATM built on the blueprint laid by Public Enemy to make arguably one of the more successful attempts at rap-rock. There's a cool Maynard James Keenan feature I had forgotten about!
There is always a place to rage against the machine in my heart
Perhaps a little too stale, but the messages make up for it. It's scary how timeless they are... Pure explosive rage is an appropriate reaction, truly.
Favorites: Killing In the Name, Bullet In the Head, Know Your Enemy, Wake Up, Fisftul of Steel
I love this record, but it is too irregular in energy. Too quickly they shift from raging metal to funky bass, too often.
Hasn’t really been my jam before. But for some reason it hits differently after November 5, 2024 can’t imagine why….
This is a very good album, albeit not one that I go back to a lot. I'm not the biggest Rage guy, despite Newman's assertions I should join their commune. Despite all this, this album rocks and is worthy of four stars. Whereas other conformists would want me to give this five stars... 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 Top Tracks: "Killing In the Name," "Wake Up," "Bullet In the Head"
Prime listening hours for that good shit. Rage rules, and the early stuff has an edge that cooks so hard some 30 years later. ZDLR might be one of the best screamer-singers there is. Even the politics still matters in the year of our lord 2025. Fascist Pig Cops do burn crosses! Etc. god, this fucking rocks so hard. Even just on vibes, it sounds incredible. Even if you just wanna be like, okay, ZDLR, we get it with the politics, it's still amazing music.
Incredible bass and instrumentals. Lyrics very topical for nowadays. Goes incredibly hard. Favourite Song: Take The Power Back Honourable Mention: Bomb Track PS: The name of the band and the album cover goes so hard.
There anger and sound is intoxicating. I’d fight the system to this.
🔥🔥🔥🔥
4 The moment where the Day-Glo color sheen of the Eighties becomes stark Nineties grainy black and white. Boiled down to its simplest attack, Rage is not blunt but wields their rage like a sword - ready to slice you open and then explain why you should have seen it coming.
Just really liked it. Great lyrics, unique sound, really just felt like I let Rage down listening to this at my desk in a corporate office job.
When I was a kid, Evil Empire was my first Rage album and I loved it. I think because of that, I never spent a lot of time with the S/T album. The singles, of course, but not the rest. Really enjoyed it. Probably 2nd best for me after Evil Empire. 4.33/5
As someone who had only in recent memory listened to Killing In the Name, this is, infact, definitely an albumful of Rage Against The Machine music. If you're familiar with one of the songs and you like it then the rest of the album isn't going to throw you for a loop. That being said they're pretty sick and it's a good album to the end, they keep enough interest for the near-hour that the album lasts Unfortunately, due to the nature of this timeline, there is no specific day where rolling this album is particularly apt, it's more just whenever you get this, "yeah that checks out"
"Hey Tom, that guitar riff is awesome, can you play a solo as good on this track?" "No"
To co-opt a phrase that was used to sell dish detergent and blenders during the COVID-19 pandemic, we need this type of statement “now, more than ever.” At least I think. All the guys who listened to this album in high school are now terminally online transphobes with hypocritical browser histories, so I don’t know. I remember enjoying this as an angsty teen, and as a weird terminally online bleeding heart lefty, I wonder if the angry poems about the injustices levied upon the working class will resonate even harder today. To battle! Bombtrack - Pure funk metal. I mean this is such a familiar song, and whilst I don’t really care about any of the “this song is better than other songs” shit, but I love a good shot at landlords and every suit wearing sycophant draining the planet of life. Solid start. Killing in the Name - I probably talk too much about autocorrect and what it attempts to do during these meandering tirades, but this time it believed I just forgot to finish that common phrase “Killing in the Name of Jesus.” Do people say that? I know all religions are barbaric control devices responsible for more death over the eons than anything else ever, but still. Anyway. This song has again, been ruined by adult teenagers who are just grumpy about having to have showers, but this song has so much energy. Pure vitriol. Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses. Take the Power Back - More drive, more hatred. “Jump the fuck up” riffs done tastefully almost a decade before they’d encourage broken gypsum boards across the nation. Settle for Nothing - The lyrical repetition doesn’t work as well for me here, but this song almost has a Dystopia vibe. The band, not the concept. Add some broken glass and some increased hopelessness to the lyrics, you’re pretty damn close. Bullet in the Head - Probably the funkiest one going. Another comment on the news here and the propaganda machine in the US. The bass really leads this track. God that tone is incredible. Know Your Enemy - I remember this one being one of my favourites when I was 13 or so. The metal riff off the start is fantastic and the song moves with a swaggering aggression I still really enjoy. Undeniable. The shouted, repeated outro is still bone-chilling. Wake Up - Wake up, sheeple. I don’t love the funk sweeps (?). How do I say that? The funk guitar can be a little grating. Lyrics are strong here. Possibly the strongest lyrics but also perhaps the weakest song. Fistful of Steel - That guitar whine reminds me of some WWF theme song from later. More violent riffing, and a brief foray into Tom Morello guitar hero stuff. That main riff is just too good. Township Rebellion - More funk proto nu-metal. Solid riffing. You know what to expect at this point of the album. Freedom - The vocal breaks at the end of this are perfect. When you can hear a vocalist going beyond performance, it’s a special moment. One of my favourite spots on the entire record. These days, every moron with an internet connection (me) has some extreme political take. Half the discourse is about not thinking poor people should have water or houses or food; and the other half is about murdering the CEOs whose greed is ripping the planet in half. However, in 1992? I feel like this wasn’t trendy. This wasn’t a commonplace thing to hear, especially on the radio. America trained its citizens to be petrified and angry at any socialist thought, so to release this coherent and miserable blast aimed at the base of that military-industrial fire this early? It’s a true departure from the mainstream that somehow wove its way into it. Obviously, Rage Against the Machine didn’t invent the ideas held within their self-titled album, but to get these thoughts into the consciousness of your garden variety teenager in the early 90’s was a massive accomplishment. To do it with such an uncompromising vitriol? That is a triumph. A little bit of sameness keeps this from perfection, but this group cashes every cheque that their name writes and donates it to the various guerrilla forces forming outside of Fortune 500 company HQs. See? Sometimes I write serious things. Better save it. Uhhh Excuse me Mr. monk, you’re blocking traffic. There’s this sale at Lee Valley and if I don’t have my miniature trainyard done by Christmas, I can kiss my “Prince of Rails” blue ribbon certification goodbye. Oh great, now he’s self-immolating in protest. I better call Jim over at Lee Valley. I might be here awhile. 4 HIGHLIGHTS: Bombtrack, Killing in the Name Of, Know Your Enemy, Fistful of Steel
used to listen to this album in one earbud underneath my turtle beach headset while I played call of duty, and I would only pause it if I was last alive in search and destroy or something intense like that. It was fun to relisten as a way less angry and older person, especially while on a walk in beautiful weather 😍😩 who else is up raging against they machine
There were no pictures of the band on the band. They were a mystery. They played hard. It was very influential for a teen in the 90’s. Every single one of us has sung along to, “Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me” Too bad most of us didn’t take that to heart.
Great album
All ratings/reviews are really just a 'point in time' opinion. This album is a 5 on artistic merit and innovation alone, but as of today, I'm going with a 4 (really, 4.5). Whether that is from over-listening or just all of the nu-metal that came from the popularity of this, it just doesn't seem quite as revolutionary as it was. But it does want me to get my 311 CDs back out, haha! RATM still rocks hard, and 4.5 is still classic status. Tomorrow, it might be a 5.
Pretty solid album. The screams remind me of the tie fighter sound in star wars. I didn't realize how much I had heard this album when I was younger.
While I enjoyed this, it has very angsty lyrics and singing which I think high school me would have appreciated this more than adult me. I especially enjoyed the instrumental and the rhythmic rapping. Found myself tapping my foot or bobbing my head along quite often. Note quite a 5 for me, but close.
Great album!
Great album, so much…rage
Excellent Album
so true
BEST SONGS: - Take the Power Back - Fistful of Steel
classic
This Rocked.
It’s still pretty great at pumping you up
1. shite politics. but anyway, fuck MAGA. but anyway, shite politics. 2. good song. 4/5
It’s been awhile. Still fun.
Perfect for the times!
Enjoyably political. A little repetitive, but headbangy. Me likey
Ah I know this one very well indeed! This takes me back to my college days mostly.
Rage Against The Machine was System Of A Down before System Of A Down; '90s metal wrapped under a left-wing blanked. It's unironically hilarious that here in the United States Of America, Former Speaker Of The House Paul Ryan is a fan of the band. Favorite Track: "Killing In The Name"
Atrociously good funk rap, rock and roll. Legitimately one of the best albums ever. It’s so angry, so funky, so riffy, so heavy! An absolute delight.
Listen, the anger is justified (and it is, often, in the lyrics) But it is a whole fuckload of anger, no way to be healthy in that space Woke, Furious Chili Peppers, some grooves here Very cathartic, especially in 2025, felt like being at a protest A statement of an album that maybe could’ve been an EP? A few singles? and said just as much
Rage Against the Machine...a polarizing group for sure. I've come to appreciate them a bit more as I've gotten older. Sure, their blend of metal/funk/rock makes for an interesting listen. Growing up and actually comprehending what these guys were preaching, why they're raging against "the machine", the anger is not unfounded. Honestly, the guitar playing by Tom Morello is the main character here. Zack de la Rocha vocalizes his anger well, but Rage wouldn't be Rage without the melodic and amplified riffing from Morello's guitar. Very few can do what he does quite honestly. The bass and drums from Commerford and Wilk, respectively, complement the rest quite nicely too. Anyway, this is a banger of a debut album.
When I think of this album, I think of a sonic Molotov cocktail of punkSO passionate and defiant. It's a battle cry for social justice and a testament to the power of unapologetic resistance. Love it, but then again: not my PERSONAL musical favorite. Would give it 4.5 stars if I could
Ett av dom mest ikoniska metalbanden, deras sound är toppen!
Fetare än din mamma
8/10 not really my genre, but it’s well made and I agree with the politics so there’s that
I did enjoy raging against the machine
Very good
nice album, with some banger songs
Buenos recuerdos. Fue mi día a dia
Great beats, memorable lines, important lyrics - all around this album hits the mark. The biggest detractor is how repetitive some of the moments are. Repetition can be great to hammer in a point, but too much and it just dilutes the impact. 4.3/5 -> 4/5
Awesome debut album. I was a big RATM fan as a kid learning guitar. Morello's guitar style is super unique but accessible.
cool
3,9/5
I'm surprised at how much I'm actually enjoying this one. I would typically not think of this as my sort of music at all.
Very good! Bombtrack is a bomb!
I understand the appeal but I am not their target audience
i like it!!! first song reminds me of sabotage by beastie boys which is one of my favourite songs so thats sick! obviously killing in the name is a classic and have loved that one for a hot min. one issue with this album is that it was one of my ex's favourites so that does slightly ruin it just because transporting me to dark times. shame though because this is a very good album, slightly same-y though. favourite was probs wake up though!
Rage Against The Machine's first album delivers a potent political message, intricately woven with a fusion of pulsating funky bass, exceptional guitar riffs, and heavy metal influences. While I occasionally feel the album as somewhat repetitive, particularly in its rhythms and certain lyrics, this simplicity echoes the straightforward messaging often found in protests or marches, which perhaps explains the rationale behind this stylistic choice. Since the album's release, I have had two significant insights. Firstly, I have developed a profound appreciation for Tom Morello's innovative guitar techniques, which have continued to venture further into uncharted territories over the years. Secondly, it is unfortunate that many frat bros who partied to this album, particularly like those from my university days, failed to grasp the underlying message, as they are now major contributors to the world's problems rather than solutions. This album is undeniably impactful. Yet is disheartening to recognize that its message remains pertinent and necessary today, likely echoing the sentiments of those who were raised on the protest music of the 1960s.
all the songs sounded the same but hell yeah
Anger is an energy, etc.
buenisimo
Worthy addition to the list. Great if you're in a combative type of mood. Gets a little repetitive after a whole album though
Got to admit, I entered this full of bias, but by the end of the first track I was engaged. A number of tracks too heavy for me, yet overall, and in the context of its era this is a fine album.
I felt like raging against the machine today whilst I was wait in line to vote for a prime minister, of which I think all the candidates are flogs and a waste of space
Never heard Rage Against the Machine before and its really good. Heavy and hard rock. They got good vocals and music as well. Intense at times but I really like it. Sometimes these albums can get repetitive and sound the same.
Bangers straight through. Cohesive but each song is packed with interesting riffs to keep it entertaining. Didn’t realize they made all their music with the same consistent quality as their hits. Definitely a certain vibe that I don’t get to that frequently which is the main reason I’m only giving it 4.
Very good album but for me I have to be in high energy mood for it. Definitely sounds as advertised. ⚡️✊🏽💪
3.5
3.5
8.4/10 ★★★★
I can’t decide if rage against the machine is a vibe that I’m just not totally clicked with or too cringe for me to live through so I will be positive.
Great debut album.
The original! Lots of raging against the machine.
Too political for my liking
One of those awesome custom cars, every detail idiosyncratic, lights in surprising places, fetish lug nuts, stainless steel 'mufflers' that actually increase volume, BUT ALSO they don't know when to stop applying the wordy lefty bumper stickers.
I can't say I fell in love with the album, but I liked it. I always appreciate albums with personality, and this one had a LOT of angst. This is one of those albums that feels like if you rate it poorly, you're trying really hard to make a statement. Which is a good sign that this album is decent and at the very least culturally significant.
some of the songs go on too long in a meandering sort of way, losing energy by the end. only thing keeping it from a 5
the sound is just great, the lows on the album don't bring it down very much at all.
Makes me wanna #FreeLuigi a CEO and play some Devil May Cry
Much better than Coldplay.
8/10 Great guitar. Very angry
One of the first albums I bought when I really started getting into music at 13. Wake Up was my favourite then. This is really good, probably the peak of the genre.
Love. Just 🔥
Sounds like it was well produced. Clear instrument distinction. There is indeed a lot of rage.
Awesome. The kinda rap rock that makes you miss the days of rap rock.
great album, a little repetitive at times but great
Great album, doesn’t get more protesty than this, and it’s cool to see that rage hasn’t really ever gone against their social justice ethos. The music is great too, the singers voice is perfect for his message and Tom morello’s guitar riffs make it sonically appealing as well. 4.3/5. Fav song: Killing in the Name
Incredibly invigorating and so full of energy. Morello’s inventive guitar playing makes the album.
I forgot how much this album is also a really solid FUNK album in addition to all the other things it has going for it.
Anti war anti corporate politics appropriated by the band's teenage audience as adolescent rebellion. Fuck you (mom) I won't do what you tell me! But if rock-n-roll isn't for pubescent catharsis what is it for? When that was my demographic this was the gnarliest, hardest, dirtiest, fastest thing imaginable (ie in the radio) and I was first scared of it the loved it. In retrospect it's much cleaner (the guitar is distorted but very tightly), the riffs are slower and have more of a groove, and the extreme vocals are a much more focused rap-scream delivery than I remembered. Far from wild and flailing it's precisely controlled fury and it fucking rips hard. A comp with the best tracks off this and evil empire and 2 from their 3rd album would be the best hour of 90s metal hands down, but they all have some filler.
4.5
Enjoyed it
Another entry on the "this is an unreal debut album" list. The energy of Rage would be enough to get it on the list but the fact that they're actually good makes it a great listen. I remember buying this CD and ended up looking up the image from the album cover. Tom Morello is a sick guitarist. There's some creative use of funk. I could imagine being at a show of their would have had unreal energy.
Amazing musicianship. Conscious lyrics and interesting compositions. A well rounded album. Production value if higher would be interesting, but it's a debut album. A new standout track for me was know your enemy.
great instruments, great fast paced would like a little more variation
Sommige nummers zijn net teveel rap, maar overall wel goed
Listening to this on my drive into the office for our team's onsite made me feel like I was in the opening scene of Office Space. I can't help but think RATM would be super disappointed if they knew this album was the soundtrack to my morning commute to my corporate job. That said, I am PUMPED UP. This isn't really a nostalgia album or band for me. I grew liking Rage and having a ton of respect for Tom Morello, but was never super into them as a band, beyond knowing the hits. Favorites here were Killing in the Name and Take the Power Back. Some really cool and unexpected guitar solos across the whole thing. Only complaint is that the rap/rock thing feels like it runs its course after 30 minutes, but that's just a matter of taste.
And that machine? Tariffs
Woke nonsense, but actually they are right about most of the things. Even though I'm not a commie or an anarkist, it's true that the US has done a lot of really bad stuff in the past. But like also, the US government IMO is too stupid to do stuff like control the populace using the media, and all the other weird conspiracy shit.
Znam!!
dope
önceden dinlemiştim
Angry and excellent
I love it when funk gets angry
Would love to see what this was like in concert in the front row. Spit hurtling towards you, elbow shoves and the smell of sweat... lovely. Great album.
This is so timeless - loved it. Made me feel stuff.
One hell of an album, pure raw energy. This one is on the favorites list for quite some time, so I listen to it occasionally. The album just works, everything is working towards a common goal of expressing ones anger and rebellion towards authority. It's hard to pick something that stands out, everything is great. The guitar work of Tom Morello is phenomenal, the riffs are heavy, interesting and diverse. The rhythm section does a great job, there are nice drum fills and hi hat work. The bass is also great, with nice solo riffs here and there. The vocals and the lyrics are a single unit, they fit in perfectly. The themes can pretty much be summed up as "fuck the system". The album is loud and fast most of the time, but isn't afraid to get slow and quiet when needed, with powerful lyrics taking the front seat. The band has two more solid albums, but this one stands out as the special one, one of the best from it's era for sure.
Soooo pissed! I listened and thought this was a very good album for the late 90s. I double checked the release date...1992! This is doubly good given the year it was released. Wow
Serious rock
Detta komme vidare til oslo
The zenith for angry 15 year olds.
Time travel is possible it seems. This album transported me back to the mid-90s in a scary way. Working on code while headbanging is not something I expected to do this fine Friday afternoon. This album more than most reminds me of listening to music with headphones on. This is not social music for me. This was a guilty thrill like reading under bedcovers with a torch after lights out, or sneaking into the old man's closet to page through old porno mags from the 70s and 80s. Fun to visit but I wouldn't want to live there. I'd forgotten about the Maynard cameo and all the LedZep rips.
One of my favorite workout albums.
Like if the Chilis actually had something to say… actually enjoyed this quite a bit, maybe it just hit me on the right day
as someone who plays bass, i've been obsessed with the opening basslines on bombtrack and take the power back since like grade nine, and as someone who's been varying degrees of leftist my whole life, i'd been obsessed with this album since like grade seven. all around has aged better than i expected, and i find it impressive how effectively they balanced their intellectual and political ethos-crammed lyrics with really cool instrumentals and production; kind of the thinking man's beastie boys. all around though, the tracklist feels like it's retreading the same formula a lot of the time - but these are punctuated by these really cool, almost slint-esque experimental moments. my fav tracks would be settle for nothing, wake up, bombtrack and killing in the name of! probably about a 7-8/10 for me.
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
This is a fantastic album. An essential tool in the box for political advocates, the band synthesizes the frustration, anger, and critiques of punk, metal, & some strains of rap. Speaking of rap, the flow is unique — a staccato that is timed with the rhythm so the words actually hit you. The rhythms are propulsive and swaggering. While it’s political, this music puts you in your body. There are flaws. A few of the rhymes are lyrically strained. And this is not music I can listen to for too long, like I could have 30 years ago. But, it’s still essential and relevant — and it rocks!
Unique sound and stirring lyrics. The bass lines were my favorite
Man, this a really freaking good protest album. There aren't really any low points through the album. There are a few odd instruments being used, or instruments used in odd ways that doesn't really work well. But there's really one moment where it's particularly noticeable. It's an album with an incredibly high floor. Some of the time changes are also really freaking cool. All of this while being a "fuck you" protest album. Hell yeah, brother Favorite Song(s): Killing in the Name, Take the Power Back, Wake Up
This is fire, iconic metal, politically fueled, the vocals are really good and super clear which is sometimes a problem I have with with metal, one song had a slap bass which went unreasonably hard on metal, a 33 year old album that still stands really well musically and politically, definitely gonna add it to my list.
Everyone should love a bit of RATM. It may not be your musical style, but the content is fucking incredible and the message gets across undeniably.
God damn i expected this to be a decent album. But no this was extraordinary. To describe this album with two words: Tom Morelo. This man does everything in this album and gives some of the most consistent and amazing guitar performances I have ever heard on an album. About a 9/10.
This is an excellent album, although I must be getting old, if I’m admitting that I got tired of the yelling. Overall to me this is a pretty groundbreaking album that was socially conscious and introduced rap/rock/metal (at least to the mainstream public). Lyrically it’s great, although it is sad that the themes are still relevant nearly 25 years later. what a time to be alive.
Not my usual choice of genre but you can't deny the quality.
This is never going to be my favorite genre (is this Nu Metal? Do people still use that, or was that a fly-by-night NME name?), but this is as good as it's going to get. I appreciate that this isn't anger for the sake of anger like some other albums on the list, they're angry about very real and legitimate things. Definitely pumped me up on the way into work and warranted another listen on the way home, but the songs do get slightly formulaic by the end of the album.
Bald.
Very good. I listen to it when I exercise!
Really solid album with a ton of energy and a lot of great tracks. A very worthy listen.
ss
Unpopular opinion : RATM is one hit song wonder with Killing in the name of.
One of the best listens so far!
Solid album. Coupla good bangers in here, and the vibes are immaculate through the whole album
3.5
Oh, so heavy. Not fun. Serious and pointed. I saw these play once. Powerful and serious. Today's politics have not moved one iota from the points they have made then. It's a great bit of work. I don't like listening, but they have their place ... 4 stars, easy.
What a great way to start a week. Woke up feeling tired and drained, now I'm feeling like joining a protest and setting something on fire. What a fantastic album. People are always talking about how great Tom is, and don't get me wrong he's amazing. I'm not even sure how you make a guitar sound like he does, but he can definitely makes his sing. People seem to sleep on the bass though. It's funky, it's heavy, and the drums fit perfectly. You know it's a great album when the album ends and you listen to other songs by the band.
This album rocks, kicks, slaps, and raps. I can totally understand if someone has never heard of RATM, they probably wouldn't like them. They're aggressive, the rap flow is strange, the lyrics are very politically driven. But that's what I love about it. And, it's a fantastic album to workout to. The rhythm section is what carries the band, with Tom counting as part of that because he's incredible and his guitar definitely makes you groove and fits so well into the bass and drums. When bombtrack plays, and if you're not banging your head when the band comes in, I'm convinced you're not a fan of music. And what bass player hasn't listened to Take the Power Back and not immediately fall in love? This band rules, this album rules. It's not perfect, but I love it.
This is a strong debut record and a true introduction of what was to come for Rage, but there are also a lot of tracks that kind of get lost in the mix and don’t measure up to the material that came later. They definitely hit you with a punch right out of the gate with Bombtrack and Killing in the Name, but it sort of levels out a bit after that. Still you hear what makes each of them such talented individuals. This is truly a 3.5 star album in my eyes but I suppose I’ll round up
Klassiker
Heard this before. Became a fan.
Hard rockers, I wish people paid attention to what the lyrics were saying.
brabo em
Another I knew well. Love the heavy Tom Morello guitar and the venom spitting the lyrics a real call to arms. F you I won't do what you tell me.
A classic album I have heard many times with some really good and hard hitting songs. Loved it just as much today as 20 years ago.
8/10
Great hard hitting funk rock hooks and powerful lyrics. The album would have been better if they dropped a song to make the runtime shorter and written a 3 minute song also. Not every rage has to be 5 minutes long.
First half is banger after banger... second half is a little weaker
incredible record. so effective and so powerful. "Wake Up" what a track (it was on the Matrix soundtrack)
Damn, i forgot how hard these songs were. It was this or Wu-Tang Forever before every football game. Some of DeLa Rocha's lyrics do not hold up- not the politics, but just the phrasing. Still, we could use his anger today.
I'm glad I first heard this when I was young enough to be influenced by it, because boy oh boy was RAtM right about... everything.
So fucking amazing jesus
los rage against the machine
Classic. The Rage template never changed--Zack + Morello an incredible combo, backed with a fierce rhythm section. "Killing in the Name" is the biggest hit, but Bombtrack, Fistful of Steel and Freedom are all excellent. Their best album imo.
4 stars
Hectic. Epic. Immortal immolation
This shouldn't have been an album I enjoyed. I have disliked this sort of music as long as I can remember. But something about this particular work clicked for me. The contrast of (at times) beautiful instrumentation and the roughness of the, we could say, loud singing, is actually very cool. Maybe I was in a more angry mood than i thought i was in today, but this was quite the listen. Fuck the world, inter alia.
Banger! Start to finish a great album.