Reviews (page 9 of 15)
Heard this before. Became a fan.
An absolute certified banger from beginning to end. Kinda hard to listen to this that the things they were raging about are still happening and in some ways, are worse. So I guess this album will always be evergreen and relevant.
such a solid album... the bass goes insane and the hits are pretty mmmmmm amazing. fav: killing in the name of
Hard rockers, I wish people paid attention to what the lyrics were saying.
Killing in the name is harrowing but then the rest of the album just kinda sounds like a less impactful version
Listened: 24/02/2025 Album no: 25 % rating: 85% Fave Song: Wake Up. Yo this album is straight fire. The riffs are so fucking unreal. So PHAT. PHAT RIFFS. WAKE UP FROM THE MATRIX SOUNDTRACKKKKKKKK DAMNNNN I FORGOT ABOUT THIS TUNE. ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE! FUCKKK I ALWAYS FORGOT RAGE IS TOM MORELLO ON GUITAR. I ALWAYS THINK OF HIS SOLO STUFF. FUCKK YEAAAA HE SHREDS SO MUCHHH 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘 Alright this album goes so hard. Why have I never listened to it before? I’ve obviously heard the big Rage hits before, and I used to fuck with Morellos guitar playing back in the day when I was learning, so why did I never think to listen to this? Madness. Anyway, this goes so fuckin hard, and absolutely will not be my last listen. I love how it did a sick af job of taking a lot of what hip hop/rap was doing throughout the 80s with lyrical content, Melodies, and PHAT funky bass riffs and shook up the formula with some sick guitars and aggression. Loved it. What a stellar album.
Their magnum opus. Incredible debut.
brabo em
Amazing album by an amazing group, listen to this if you haven't. Favorite song: Really hard, but know your enemy
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.
Very no-skips
One of the best metal records of the 20th century. An essential, comprising 10 songs, all of which are cult classics. One of the rare debut albums which are perfect in every way. The anger in De Rocha's Voice, Wilk's simple, yet aggresive drumming, Cummerford's funky, yet precise basslines, and Morello's catchy riffs and unusual guitar solos, and these are only a part of what makes this album so great.
Perfect
Incredible
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 album packed with great rock songs. Sounds fresh and could do with them back for today's politics
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
I never enjoyed this type of music.
Five Stars!!!!
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.
Banger
O que dizer desse álbum histórico e da sua importância para a música? Engajamento e luta em forma de arte!!!
There was a week there back then when I thought RatM was the second coming, but I was having a bad week. They were a little too alpha for me. Fugazi for skaters who would go into finance.
I appreciate their anti-establishment positioning but I do not like the music of Rage Against the Machine. I just find it obnoxious and seek to turn it off whenever I hear it.
I shouldn't be surprised but I was surprised at just how repetitive the lyrics are, now that I've listened to an entire RATM album. I think it makes sense for the kind of music they're making though. I have thoughts about whether this approach still resonates in the current sociopolitical climate but just as music, it sounds great, but I'm not sure I'd want to put it on any ol' time to listen to it. It's very much music for a specific occasion and purpose, and that purpose is literally the band's name.
I get that people really love these guys, they've got a message, it's political, they're rock 'n' roll hall of famers etc. and maybe it's just I need to listen to this album a bunch more than I already did but... nope.
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.
I know these guys have progressive politics, but I didn't love it for 2 reasons: 1) the songs were a little too repetitive/anthemic. If I'd been 16 when this came out instead of entering grad school, maybe it would move me more. 2) I can't help but feel like these guys might be somewhat responsible for Nu Metal.
This is over 30 years old!? Still scarily prescient. Rage has always been their own thing. No one has done it better (other than maybe Chuck D...which probably explains the later mash-up reincarnation as Prophets of Rage). A masterpiece of focused anger.
uuuuuhhh
Ok
Extremely good and will probably never not be relevant ever.
Absolute classic from that era.
So fucking amazing jesus
los rage against the machine
GOD TEIRR FUCK THE GIVERMENT AND THE INSTATUTIONS
Just a really good album that rocks hard
All the bones are here but it is uneven (Settle for Nothing was really unpleasant.). Great when it is funkier. Killing in the Name whips.
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.
It’s a fun album that informed millions of teenage guitarists. Pentatonic rock.
4 stars
Bangers from front to back
Thoughts before listening: One of the most important bands and albums of my generation. They took the political focus and angry, preachy rap style of Public Enemy and presented it through the lens of a hardcore/metal rock n roll band. I love it. Review: Not much more to say here. Just an incredibly huge band for the 90s and early 00s, and one of the biggest influences on my own musical taste. I have owned all their albums, still rock them from time to time, and even got the chance to see them when I was 15 at lollapalooza 1996. That concert had a profound effect on me and really set off my love of live music and festivals. Plus their political stances still resonate to this day, despite what I am sure will be plenty of mocking in the reviews. This album is their debut, and it's just loaded with banger after banger. I could add the whole thing to my playlist. Easy 5-star for me.
Kless
So much rage, fits the title of album
Amazing album, lots of nostalgia - great presentation of soical feeling at the time. Great bass lines
(Actual rating:4.5) Great politically charged lyrics that still ring true today with catchy hooks and ear worm rhythm section
Hectic. Epic. Immortal immolation
Epic, energising, as relevant as ever. Feel like going and fighting fascists on the street after listening to this!
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.
No doubt this is a quality album full of great songs. I did enjoy it but not sure having it playing in the background whilst working is the best setting for a listen. Managed to save myself from hurling my monitor out the window and flinging the keyboard to the floor and stamping on it. Which is a shame as I suspect that’s what the band would want me to do. I’m just not ready to fuck up the system quite yet. So in that sense maybe the album failed on me.
Such anger, such energy! An album to play on tax filing deadline day and shout at your clients for being idiots “WAKE UP” Fairly sure that is the political message the artist is trying to portray 😆 Of course all the songs are the same and the irony of raging against the machine while being being a massive part of corporate rock are negative points, but who cares this album rocks!
I think it’d be hard to find a better album for a 17yr old me, totally hit my teenage angst like the proverbial bullet to the head. As a now nearly 50yr old I still love it. Morello I think is the best riffmeister since Iommi (there I’ve said it), totally fresh and unique sound and funky has hell. And the vibe and lyrics are so awesomely aggressive, it can’t fail to make you sit up and listen (similar to what Public Enemy did, but that mash up comes later..). Just all really sad that things haven’t got better at all, what with Trump 2.0, probably worse. Think you might be needed again Zack….
Ох уж эти злые леваки, которые издавали свое злое музло на крупном лейбле (fuck the system) И дохуя на этом зарабатывали )) Короче осуждаю левацкую движуху. Но музло ахуенное
Amazing work
The only kinda good song is the mainstream one.
Banger! Start to finish a great album.
It’s just another bomb track 10/10
Bombalbum
4.5. Always a great listen.
Heavy metal, screechy, burn the whole world down - Guitar is strong albeit overpowering at times - Not my cup of tea
Excellent. Saving for the future. Adding to gym playlist.
One of the greatest rock album ever. "Killing in the name of" is just a theme song for one generations, epic song. The other song are also great, Bombtrack, Take the power back, Bullet in the head are the most memorable songs.
If you ain't angry, then you haven't been listening.
Good
Still a great album- I didn't live through the L.A. Riots but you can feel the.. rage I suppose...
I've never listened to any RATM that wasn't "Killing in the Name Of". This was an interesting listen, and very appropriate given the political climate we live in. Music wise, it isn't my cup of tea but I understand why it's on this list and agree that it should be here.
The band’s sounds is great and the playing is really tight. A lot of the songs kinda end up blending together though. Also, I just cannot take the band‘s attitude seriously at all. There is an overabundance of cynical, “anti-establishment“ bands and musicians. I can enjoy some of them, but this band’s attitude is a bit overwrought for me
Perfect album to release catharsis from this past week
Hardcore ska
I mean this is definitely a classic, and you can hear the influence on later 90s /00s rock. It's catchy, kind of groovy, but a bit too macho for my tastes I guess.
HELL YEAH. Makes me want to fight everybody but also love everybody. Insanely powerful, classic for a reason.
Yesterday I rated a very generic rock album 4/5 because it was such a refreshing surprise after many alt/post/psych/folk rock albums in a row. I would like to officially apologise for and rescind my high rating for such a generic album. RAtM has reminded me what my heart was truly yearning for all along: punchy, metal, fuck you rock anthems that make you want to smash your guitar against the wall and rage against the Man.
one of the defining albums, and bands, of my coming of age and youth. 5/5, 10/10, 100/100
Gateway musik smag. Det perfekte album uden fillers.
Nogen dage er det her verdens bedste debutalbum. Ja nogen dage er det faktisk verdens bedste album. Punktum. Det er de dage hvor man har brug for at blive mindet om at ens vrede er en gave og hele kroppen sitre og man har lyst til at skriger Fuck You I Won’t Do What You Tell Me!!! På de dage er der ikke noget så godt som militant revolutionær funk-metal. Tom Morellos magiske guitar, Zack de la Rochas indignerede lyrik og Brad Wilk og Tim Commerfords, på en gang funky og tunge rytmer, er ikke bare et perfekt afløb, det er også stor, stor kunst og en stadig relevant systemkritik.
Classic, perfectly timed on inauguration day.
If I could rate this more than 5 I would. This review is not without bias, as it truly is a revolutionary album in more ways than one. It’s an album I would consider as one of the most influential for me and one I would take to a deserted island if I could only take one. Zach may have lost his way a bit, but this album none the less drives its point forward with hooks, lyrics and pure rage. So few bands would dare to deliver an entire album based on social justice. Perfect album for the times now more than ever.
Very fitting for January 20th.
Me mola más el battle of los angeles pero no quita que sea discardo
I’m so glad this exists. If only it weren’t even more relevant today than when it was made.
Liked it more than I thought!!
This is pretty cool and all but I'm not as crazy about it as many people seem to be. It definitely sounds unique as far as early-90's alternative rock or metal goes, with as much rapping as actual singing. Pretty groovy, too. Key tracks: Bombtrack Killing in the Name
4.5/5 Passionate, catchy bangers. Love the politics and the music. Bombtrack 4.5/5 Killing In the Name 4.5/5 Take the Power Back 5/5 (FAV) Settle for Nothing 3.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Bullet In the Head 4.5/5 Know Your Enemy 5/5 Wake Up 4.5/5 Fistful of Steel 5/5 Township Rebellion 3.5/5 Freedom 4.5/5
Nice hearing Killing in the name of outside of guitar hero. Knew know your enemy before still good 👍
So fierce, so angsty, so good! Some truly great bass, the album’s values and messages still hold up to date really well.
My introductory album to RATM. My teacher taught me that rock is supposed to be about the rebellious spirit, a message. This is it.
Tedious, dull, repetitive, unimaginative, bereft of musical interest, unimpressive. Rage on its own is insufficient. 1/5.
They're a one-trick pony, but it's a good trick. Sounds like they mean it. Favorite song: township rebellion.
Just REALLY ANGRY variations on the Seinfeld theme tune.
Not a fan
Some absolute classics I used to listen to all the time. Also a few I used to skip - most of this is doing the same thing, with a varying success rate.
So I have been meaning to listen to Rage more as (sorry to be basic) but I do love Killing In The Name. Sadly, I wanted to like this album more than I did. It's good, don't get me wrong, but it didn't blow my socks off. Lyrically, I know they are a very political band and fuck the man and establishment which comes across in abundance and I can get behind to a certain extent but maybe I could be more behind it if it was told in a bit more clever way? Or maybe that's not the point to be honest... and just repeating phrases of anger is the point and I'm the problem... who knows. The guitar is great and if you like screaming the vocals definitely have something about them. Favourite songs for me (not counting Killing In The Name) Settle For Nothing and Township Rebellion but in all honesty, can I really tell one track from another... not really. And thats the problem with this album, its a lot of the same unfortunately. It's like when you see a trailer for a movie and think it looks amazing and then you watch it and realise the trailer had the best bits in it and the rest of the film is just meh. That's sadly how I feel about this album, Killing In The Name is the trailer that gets you excited but the album itself is nothing to write home about.
I mean it's a classic isn't it? What an album. The guitar playing is so unique, and iconic. His vocals are really pointed and angry. It's a perfect match. There's a few tracks on here that I'm not really into that much, but the best ones are SO good as to massively elevate the whole. There's tons of great riffs and grooves across the album. Really deep and driving guitars. And there's some absolute monster tunes on here. That trio of Bullet in the Head, Know Your Enemy and Wake Up - my god!
Still hits hard af now as when I was a teenager. RATM forever!
The lyrics on here are constantly occupying the space between genuinely righteous/radical and completely corny. Thankfully the music absolutely rips
It's alright. The music itself is great. Not a fan of the screaming, though I get that it's essential especially considering the subject matter of this album (and every other RATM album tbh).
Decent. Wouldn’t seek it out I don’t think
Man, I forgot how much I like Rage. Work music for sure, afternoon work. "If ignorance is bliss, wipe the smile from my face"
Not exactly good work music but still amazing.
I was in high school when this came out and it was a really big deal, super popular. It's an amazing album that I have heard many times and I always get pumped up listening to it. Hearing it back when I was young kind of gave me some hope for the future, sort of like regular people could make a difference. Very creative guitar work and excellent lyrics what's not to like?
not my type of genre, too much for me honestly would give me a headache if i was listening on the bus or anywhere
Definitely still relevant!
Bragging rights: I saw them in 1996 in Fitchburg MA in a 4000 person venue. Jesus Lizard was the opener!
The rap rock band. Political rock for those that are bent that far left, of which I am not, but still features serious grooves of a Black Sabbath magnitude mixed in equal parts with thrash punk. Enjoyable, even if by the time you reach the back half of the record, the songs begin to run together into a shade of rap rock beige. Quite bit of conspiracy theory idiocy. Has the classic bangers "Killing in the Name", "Freedom" , and Neo's own "Wake Up".
clean sound. not my genre nowadays but great teenage memories
8/10 Favorite Tracks: Bombtrack, Know Your Enemy, Wake Up Least Favorite Tracks: Bullet In Your Head
Ironically, I was just looking at listening to more RATM last week. Great album. I realize that I’m the machine, yet still I rage.
Loved.
Great album to workout to
Plenty of rage, and I get the naysayers, a bit like Ice-T's albums in the early 90s, this is channeling stuff for the burbs. But it's pretty listenable, and if the singer's rap-scream-singing patter is perhaps the worst thing about this, it is as nothing compared to the horrors Linkin park and Limp Bizkit would visit on us a few years later.
Great album, heard it many times before
Ne
We need more bands like this today. Just a channeling of the populous' frustrations with the way the world is run channeled into kick ass music. Some of my favorite mantras from this project: "Shackle their minds when they're bent on the cross When ignorance reigns, life is lost" "Some of those that work forces Are the same that burn crosses" "FUCK YOU I WON'T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME" "Freedom! Yeah! Freedom? Yeah right!"
This was great, brilliant players. What a way to start the day
I know RATM has been a popular meme for being called woke, but to be fair middle school me didn't understand a lot of the content of the lyrics at the time either. I still knew they had a message and agenda and that is great. What is not great is that we're 30 years down the road and some of these issues are stills around if not worse, and that is just depressing. I also don't remember listening to the full album often, just some of the highlights like "Killing in the name" "Know your enemy" and "Freedom". All the tracks in a row are tough to get through. I agree with a lot of the points, but I like most people feel bad about the situation and not being able to see a way to make the changes. It's exhausting. Still great jams for those main tracks, so I'll give them that. Just wasn't as excited as the end of the album as I was to start it. Favorite track "Know your enemy" 3/5
Already listened to this album before. I consider it a perfect album. The guitar work is awesome. I wish we saw more Hard-rock and Rap fusion in the modern day!
Classic. Man I haven’t listened to this since I was a teenager. Def helped form my musical taste.
Absolute blast of an album. Full on rage!! Reminded me of the last scene in the matrix with Neo rocking the shades with “wake up” running in the background. Classic! Favorite track: Killing in the name of other picks: wake up, know your enemy, bombtrack
Not really heard a lot of RATM before. Now I want a black greatcoat and a pair of sunglasses, and a protest to attend.
This was one of the first albums I remember buying for myself - hearing them in Tony Hawk's games and Guitar Hero was enough to make me think "yeah, I'll give them a go" - and in doing so, turned this painfully white nerd into... Still a painfully white nerd, but with better music taste. Tom Morello remains one of the most inventive guitarists I've ever heard, the lyrics still ing true today in a world that hasn't exactly improved, and the basslines remain so funky that I thank them for being the ones that convinced me to pick up a bass many years ago. Yeah, this was always going to be an easy five stars from me.
I'd heard this one before but a refresh was definitely needed. Awesome bass work throughout the record and a fine piece of political lyricism. For sure one of the better rock products to come out of the 90s.
Genre and era defining. Great musicianship and relevant content. A record to the point.
Un des plus grands albums de l'histoire.
Delay, Deny, Defend.
Pretty okay album, but very much one-note and repetitive. Instruments and vocals are pretty good.
This is one of the worst things to come out of the 90s. Every song on this is terrible and they all sound the same. Soundtrack to sloppy looking middle aged men mowing their lawn every Saturday. RATM is Limp Bizkit with a Che Guevara flag hanging in the dorm room. All you Rage fans got swindled, hard.
Absolute classic album. Sadly over 25 years later it’s political message is still relevant
When I saw this come up I knew I was giving it 5 stars. I remember this album coming out, I remember seeing the Rage live as a teenager, I remember cruising down down the country roads of England rocking out to it.
Angry with a cause.
RATM is not a band that I thought I would love- growing up their heavy rock style was more aligned with my twin brothers taste. But in college, this album was on regular rotation. The political messaging is on point and I love how they blend genres, but stay true to their hardcore rock.
3/5
One of the best albums. ever.
libtard
Still relevant after 30+ years.
I bought this when it came out on the strength of Killing In The Name Of, but didn’t really gel with it. Now, thirty-some years later I’m a much more cynical and disillusioned person, and this really hits hard. It’s pretty heavily front-end loaded, but it is still solid and enjoyable throughout.
I thought I would really despise this and while it wasn’t my favorite, I didn’t hate it as much as I thought I would! 2.5 rounded down to 2
Reminds me of Beastie Boys but I like this a bit better. Not my cup of tea, but I can imagine as a live act they’d be decent and popular.
Got this in high school. You cannot imagine how hard “killing in the name” hit in high school. Yes, I still love this.
the instrumentals are very good but i don't think i'm a fan of the vocal delivery. if i heard these just as instrumental tracks i think id enjoy them more.
already been in my rotation recently but a delight to hear again. extremely hard to articulate things ab except that perhaps no political music act has ever quite managed this kind of populist chemistry...pure anthemic power while still being detailed and un-reductive, wholly catchy and accessible while still being on some level tonally appropriate for the atrocities being discussed, for the nerds as much as it is for the jocks. might be something in a description by my friend zoey saying "every ratm song is like a hard ass riff a 12 year old can play and also a solo that takes an engineering degree". excellent music to blast before heading in for an extremely long shift , byeeee
This is an easy 5. It's never out of my regular rotation for long because it holds up so well. In many ways, I wish it didn't.
While the message is still very prescient to this day, I feel like its impact is shown to be less as time goes on. Contorted and ignored, somehow misinterpreted. The band off to the side not interested in continuing the message just coming out every now and then to make money playing the same old songs again. And songs played so much in so many places they just don’t hit the same. It’s a great album overall though honestly.
3.5-4?
Rage ON BEHALF of the Machine. These guys are as revolutionary and angry as those sad keyboard warrior activists. Fakes.
Awe man legendary album! Hands down a solid 5 stars.
the guitar with this album is crazy good
Expected this one to be more hardcore than it wound up being. All of the songs blend together and lack the kick that I was expecting them to have. There's no irony lost on me that the anti-establishment, countercultural band would end up being both part of the establishment and part of the culture
Lol why are you looking at reviews? They should allow 6 stars.
This band- this album- will forever be fire. 🔥
No one does angry hard rock better than Rage.
Und immer wieder ein Push nach vorne. Großartig!
Paul Ryan. You're sadly amusing. It's Ok to like what you like, but just so you're aware, Zack de la Rocha stands diametrically opposed to everything you believe in and work toward. While we're at it, you know nothing of Ayn Rand either.
Rage Against the Machine is exactly what it says on the tin — unbridled rage, usually (and often rightfully) directed at authority. Rock music has always been about “sticking it to the man,” as Jack Black famously said in School of Rock, and this album is a shining example of this concept gone right. RATM’s self-titled album is a nonstop tirade against “compromise, conformity, assimilation, submission, ignorance, hypocrisy, brutality, [and] the elite,” which lead vocalist Zach de la Rocha derides as “the American dream” in “Know Your Enemy.” Musically, this album fits well with other funk-influenced 90s alternative artists like Red Hot Chili Peppers, obviously minus the irreverent silliness of RHCP. Tom Morello’s guitar finesse is on display throughout this album, and I only truly began to recognize how brilliant and experimental his playing is while listening to this album. He utilizes a handful of interesting effects, including heavy distortion throughout, but my favorite solo on the album, the one on “Settle For Nothing,” features a relatively clean tone and a simple, singable legato melody, contrasting with the choppy, aggressive sound of the rest of the song. I don’t know that I enjoyed RATM’s music as much as, say, RHCP’s music, but I did enjoy listening through this album and hearing their message. I think music for me is a kind of escapism, which is why I’m not super into political/protest music., even if I’m on the same side of the artist. I don’t want to be reminded of how much the world sucks; I just wanna vibe and listen to cool stuff. RATM is NOT vibey music, but it does what it was created to do, which is fire people up to inspire change. And if that is their mission, I’d say they’re pretty successful.
I liked a portion of it. It's really not my style.
So, this is a first. My usual method of listening to albums doesn't work on this one. I usually just paste album and artist into YouTube, and if it's got a title track, add "album" to the end. In private browsing, of course, because I don't want The Algorithm flooding my feed with music that I don't actually like (that's for defunct comedy channels and pop education that more makes you feel like learning than actually learning, thank you very much), but it's age restricted. I'm guessing, because it's every song, that the cover art is a problem. Which I get on YouTube's part, because it is a photograph of a person dying, but it means I need to find another source, and, at this point in my life, it's gonna take a lot more than this for me to make a Spotify account, and I'm not logging in, because I'm pretty sure I'm not going to like this very much. Okay, after listening to it, I don't like the sound of people screaming. It's okay occasionally, but I can't stand it. It's musically interesting, lyrically bold, and I don't care because I hate the way the guy chooses to sing. I can't get past it. I know, it's a personal failure, but I would not listen to this album for fun.
El guitarrista es realmente increíble, pero después no es la gran cosa. Muy ruidoso y monótono.
I don't understand the band's appeal.
Genuinely some of the best riffs ever recorded I think. Was listening to this while skating a couple years ago and embodied my destined self. So unbelievably awesome.
Cool and badass and it sounds pretty good too
admittedly the only RATM album ive heard .. I do think ultimately the music is really exciting and entertaining and it is nice to see a band who I share politics with be successful... me and Tom are actually in the same union :) and its nice that he has sorta kept the socialist folk singer thing alive with his The Nightwatchman project... anyways the band really does kick a lot of ass and I gotta listen to the rest of their stuff ... and audioslave apparently
Listening to this the week of the 2025 Inauguration really hit at the right time. Love the comparison of De La Rocha to Chuck D and the praise for his lyricism and leadership, but they left out Tom Morello! So political, so focused, so revolutionary... this album blew open a different arena of music, and nobody that did rap rock after did it as well. Wild how something so raucous is just honesty and talent.
Love the guitar work and the singing/rapping is great too. The overall vibe is great, and exactly what I like.
This shit blew my fucking mind when it came out. It still hits so hard. Perfect album.
Instant classic. Could not go harder
Deliciously coherent, edgy and driven album. If I’m in the mood for it, nothing better than rage, drums, guitars.
Probably my longest standing favorite album. Dad got this for me on my 14th(?) birthday and it's been among my favorites ever since. Although in recent years I've been listening to Battle of Las Angeles more - I'm not sure if I got a little burned out on this album from over listening, or if Battle of LA feels slightly less performative. Anyway, 5/5 of course.
Topper! As if i was listening to Rise against :p
Jeugdig enthousiasme kan alles
Elke keer dat ik het probeer vind ik het gewoon niks, ik weet niet waarom
I can only take political music in small doses. Rage Against The Machine is great but a whole album of them at once is a bit much.
Great pump up album… Base is A Game!
As a teenager, there may have been times I was this angry. It's not speaking to me today.
entendo a pegada do álbum, acho interessante os aspectos políticos, mas rap rock é uma merda
eu sempre achei essa banda limpa demais. tipo, tem gritaria, tem umas guitarrada alta e tal, sinto que a produção TENTA ser suja, mas é muito limpinha, organizadinha. nunca achei que combinasse, fica faltando sujeira. no mais, é divertidinho. dito isso, eu gosto de algumas ideias da banda. acho importante, blablabla. mas aqui vai minha crítica à fanbase. tem 3 tipos de pessoas que gostam de ratm: - pessoas que botam fé na visão política da banda; - galera burra que acredita que não se deve misturar política com música; - adolescente revoltado. 0 noção do que eles tão falando, mas doido pra quebrar tudo (um clássico noventista). em resumo, é uma fanbase variada que só tem um tipo de fã decente, o resto é mei burro/bobo. a década de 90 trouxe varias banda nessa pegada de nu metal/rap rock e geral se vendeu rapidinho, é justo ter essas fanbase nada a ver. eles até tentaro não se vender e pá, mas tendo a visibilidade que eles tiveram por assinar com grandes empresas, é o que acabaria acontecendo (mesmo forçadamente). sinto que eles ganhariam mais (tanto em público quanto musicalmente) se ficassem independentes. ao mesmo tempo sei que é importante a visibilidade que eles tinham pra disseminar umas ideias deles. confuso, mas de quê adianta se só 1/3 do seu público vai botar fé no que cê fala? sei lá. até o momento é um 3 mesmo e é isso aí. nunca mais vou escutar voluntariamente, rap rock não é minha pira, mas respeito a banda, apesar de tudo.
Rå, politisk ilska från fantastiska öppningslåten 'Bombtrack' ända in i mål. Oftast väldigt on the nose, men ibland mer subtilt (iaf ljudbildsmässigt), som i 'Settle for Nothing', som är mer tyst frustrerad tills den exploderar i refrängerna. Stilen är också så originell. Hör man de la Rochas arga rap tillsammans med Morellos wah-wah-iga dataspelsgitarr förstår man på millisekunden vad det är man lyssnar på. Älskar hela 'Wake Up', och speciellt introt (som är väldigt inspirerat av 'Kashmir' av Zeppelin), som får mig att känna att ett krig är på väg. 'Fistful of Steel' också fantastisk. Gitarren går verkligen igenom HELA registret. Ett härligt bevis på att det bara är vänstern som klarar av att göra kvalitativ protestmusik. Är i slutändan inte 100% min genre, men råheten, ilskan, passionen, och ställningstagandena gör albumet drabbande. Vill ut och ställa mig på barrikaderna. "Silence, something about silence makes me sick / Cause silence can be violent sorta like a slit wrist". Bästa låt: Går inte att bortse från Killing In the Name.
The most powerful, thougtht-provoking album for the era in which it was released
"Rage Against the Machine is like the ring in Lord of the Rings. It drives men mad. It drives journalists mad. It drives record-industry people mad. They want the thing, and they’re driven mad.” Tom Morello via Rolling Stone Magazine (2023) Highlights: Killing In The Name, Bullet In Your Head. In a nutshell: furious minds We need more left leaning anarchists like RATM in the world. Play Know Your Enemy to the spawn in your life. Teach them media bias, to question everything and call out bullshit when they see it. Once that's done, stand back and hope they will grow up to think for themselves. Korn, Pantera and Slipknot are known pioneers of nu metal, but it could be argued that Rage Against The Machine unintentionally contributed to what would eventually be the nu metal sound. Overall: 7/10
Still holds up.
An all timer for me. I can’t explain it. I hate rap rock, but I love RATM and this album in particular. There is both a simplicity and a complexity in this music. And frankly it helped me become a young radical. Two thumbs up.
Gran disco
Wow. This was great. The bass, drums, guitar, lyrics. What an amazing album
Not my kind of music
This an intense package full of really good music and terrible politics.
I only knew singles by this band. As I grew up and got older, I understood Rage Against the Machine much better. It is still shocking that this band became such a success with their overtly political lyrics being screamed at you over outrageous and often experimental instrumentation. But the band is so tight, and some of the songs are unbelievably fun to shout along with. Listening to this album for the first time today, it finally clicked in my brain that they are funk metal. This album doesn't have all of my favorite Rage songs (notably Sleep Now in the Fire and Guerrilla Radio were later) but it's hard to believe that they came out with Killing in the Name right out the gate. They sound so fresh and new but also like they've been playing together forever. It's no surprise that the three instrumentalists found further success after Rage with Audioslave. They have incredible chemistry. By the end of its 52 minute run time, I'm definitely tired of being screamed at, but overall, this is a solid album, and thirty years later it still stands out as unique. 3.5 stars
Classic top 1 o 2 dei ratm
This album hits like a ton of bricks. The raw anger, the heavy instrumentation, and the charged lyics, absolutely classic.
I don't always agree with RAM's politics, but the songs do make me think, and I respect that. I also respect the vocals, instrument performances, and songwriting; top notch. Some of the most memorable guitar riffs!
3/12/24 This is my favourite album, so it was a no brainer rating this. Still listened to it though.
Its crazy how this album even fit to these times... But that's also with every album that critics politic racism and communist environments. But that beside its still a great album that I love to take in the gym with me!
What a throwback! I loved this album in high school. Still love it now! Great start!
Heavy, but ok
HARD GAAN
Not sure I’ve listened to this since I was about 16, and I forgot how insane this whole album is. I think Bombtrack was the first Rage song I heard and it blew my mind as a young’un. Still punches hard now. Wake Up was always my favourite off this and it probably still is now, although most have aged well. Cant believe Bullet In The Head isnt a massive hit for them (compared to the streams it has). I often get that little bass riff at the start in my head. Was always obsessed with that lyric ‘yellow ribbon instead of a swastika’. Class stuff
Absolute classic, there's noone else like RATM really. Went through a proper phase with them when I was around 15, the correct time really, but I still listen to them a fair bit now. This album is probably their best, always find it mad that this was released before Evil Empire which sounds much more like a debut. Like RATM in general, Tom Morello starts with classic rock essentially and makes it sound like nothing else. Zak has to be the best 'rock' rapper and together it's mint.
Know Your Enemy and Wake Up are good - he has a distinctive voice, the band have a distinctive and recognisable sound - and yet, the album is never boring. Lots of changes in direction within songs, plenty of time for the instruments to breathe. It is a very, very good album. Aggressive, but directed at legitimate targets, and avoids a lot of the angsty rock nonsense. Nice job lads.
Man, what an album. Haven't listened to this since I was a teenager probably. Don't think it quite had the impact it did when I was a teenager, but it is still so good. My first exposure to them would've been guerilla radio on Tony hawks I kinda think it's a shame that killing in the name got played to death however long ago it was, kinda soured a great song for me a bit Still think Zach de la Rocha is cool as fuck. So many great tracks, but my favourites are Bombtrack, Know your enemy, and Settle for nothing. Know your enemy is the best of those. Although I could name most of them tbf. Simplest of 5s
Angry incoherent music
Yes yes - this band and this album is loved and lambasted - but to me it is one of those cultural artefacts that made me, me. My sister had this record on cassette - at 11 Zack sounded too shouty to me so I dismissed them at first. Somehow - I don’t know when - one attempt at listening to it got me hooked. Tom morello’s guitar and Tim’s bass sounded like one instrument to my ears and their riffs compelled me to want to learn guitar - and this band was considered good musicians for the time enough for me to be accepted with other musicians. I probably can pinpoint this record as having helped me connect with the person who sold me my first guitar - the friend who introduced me to join a band, and to the friends I played on stage with first. So there is that - but this record is something else. Zack’s lyrics - and the band’s activism did affect my moral compass - yes it’s cliche but to a 12 year old - authority wasn’t necessarily having your best interests to put it mildly - and besides the loud ‘fuck you’s’ in this band - there is enough subtlety in the words and so jammed packed with references to give you tools to understand a whole lot more about the world. Naturally this band introduced me to activist friends in my formative years and led me to connect to some of my closest friends - and led me to read so much about so many things that I can’t imagine who I’d be if this album didn’t exist. In a world were fascism is on the rise and compassionate socialism is seen as extreme - this band is a shining light that is fading over the decades - the idea that antifascism, anti racism and feminism is bad - and ‘woke’ is almost considered a taboo word across the political spectrum - the band that called you to wake up needs more allies and I have to say - the way this band taught me about the world - political music is a highly needed and sorely missed factor of our social discourse. Yes and every song on this album rocks - all the riffs, all the bass lines all the beats - but Zack is the one who gives life to this band.
Generally I like this style of music, but I don't like their views, and the singing made me cringe a little bit.
One of my personal favorites. 4.7 stars
🔥🧘♂️🔥
Fuck you I won’t do what you tell me!
Loud and angry. I was a big fan of this album in my 20s. Now in my 50s, the lyrics strike me as somewhat juvenile. The tunes still rock.
This entire album is so good. I'm on track 6 and have liked every single song so far. The bass on this album is amazing. Easily a 5
Fantastisch, wat een woede. Politiek, zonder te preken.
Listened to this at work as well, so I didn’t get to record the standouts for this one. Good album. Exciting, lively, and angry. Good time.
Favorite Track: Wake Up
This bangs. I am so hyped on this one. It's not my usual stuff, but I do enjoy pulling it out every so often. My "don't tell me what to do" sentiment is higher after listening.
Absolutely slaps. It woke me up to a world outside ninja turtles and thundercats. Though, now I have to be in the right mood to listen to it. I get too worked up.
Its kinda like limp bizkit but more poltical
If you like “Killing in the Name” then you’re in luck! This album has that song and nine other slight variations of the same song. Luckily I do like that song so this was enjoyable. Always relevant but also pretty repetitive. But yeah there wasn’t much variation from one track to the next.
Bombtrack Killing in the Name Bullet in the Head
An all-time album of angst, anger, and rebellion. Excellent songs that are engaging and driving, but also diverse enough to not get stale. And I have to mention one of the best lines in any song ever - "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me." Top tracks: Bombtrack, Killing In The Name, Know Your Enemy, Township Rebellion
Screaming rebellious, anti-establishment rhetoric while your message is obscured by the noise doesn't make you revolutionaries. But using the capitalist framework you ostensibly oppose by selling merchandise, albums, and concert tickets through labels and massive corporations does make you a hypocrite. And your followers, too, if they want to believe that it's about message and not music. Maybe, instead, just be recognized as great performers who made banging metal rock.
the lack of substance sadly drowns out some really tasteful guitar and bass playing
Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine, 100100. (Official Rating: 10/10) Posted on, “Album of the Year," "Rate Your Music" and “ MJ’s Album Reviews.” Official Ranking of the Year: Genre: Funk Metal, Nu Metal. Artist: Rage Against ,Date: 11/21/24 “The gritty, funky and groove shows RATM best collective work, but its lyrics propel listeners to go against society. Making us deeply aware of the importance of our country and voices.”
WAAAKEE UUUUP
Nobody writes riffs like Tom Morello.
Such an easy 4 star. A banger from start to finish! Maynard on Know Your Enemy and great memories of the concert in 2022. Not much else to say other than an evergreen banger of a rock album.
Just an amazing debut. Timeless, epic songs with huge riffs, great vocal delivery, and impeccable production and mixing.
# 366 : They've done a pretty decent job, good album, it’s enjoyable and fun overall. Very repetitive, very riffy and very angry. A great first album. Weird but catchy and lively songs. Not too heavy but a bit too shouty. Killing In The Name Of was the best track on here.
Enjoyed this, bit samey but solid set of tracks. Average score on here is 4 so I’m going to have to be a conformer unfortunately 4/5
Love this album, bombtrack straight into KITNO riff is such a great transition. Interesting to have this post Metallica, enjoyed this much more
This album rules and Tom Morello is a wizard that does perverse things on guitar. Personally, I like Evil Empire and The Battle Of Los Angeles a little more but they are all five star albums and this is the one band that can be considered rap rock and not suck. Yes, the final lyrics of Killing In The Name have been memed to death but it still rocks.
Thanks to this list for making me have to listen to this album again. Made me all pissed off about shit. I have no ability to change, and raised my fucking blood pressure beyond belief once again. I'm too old to start a revolution at this point of my life, as I was, at the time that this album came out, but at least it still feels good to get my heart pumping once again, just to know I'm alive.
The toughest thing was finding a time when 50+ year old me could find space to listen to this nasty bit of aggro brilliance at a sitting. I'd forgotten that it came out just as I was graduating. Remember going out to Arizona and seeing some kids wearing the t-shirts but I really didn't suss it then. This was pretty popular stuff in the 90's. If there's anything going on right now with this level of rebel energy, I don't know where it is.
Strage for a mainstream album to be so revolutionary with a real call to protest, even violently. Tom Morello goat as well as the voice, so iconic After some song it begun to be repetitive 7/10
Never heard the full album before, but have heard some of the songs. I've never been a fan of the band. Morello's guitar work is good, but I'm not a fan of the vocal style. And in general I feel like they're overrated. I also think it's a bs move putting a famous Pulitzer Prize-winning photo of the self-immolation of a true political martyr.
Some good points but lots of the same over and over.
"Ignorance has taken over. Yo, we gotta take the power back." Heavy guitar, heavy drums, funky bass, defiant lyrics. A little too strident for my taste, but the message is on point.
Never heard the entire album before. It's good!
Hit and miss.
The best. Just the best. Every song just slays and never gets old. If it gets me moving, it’s good. Listen again: Absolutely Purchase for my collection: Yes-on my wish list! Favourite Song: Killing In The Name
Right between the eyes.
As debut albums go, this is right up there. Each track is like a two-footed tackle... to the back of the head. Bombtrack and Killing in the Name have to be one of the best pairs of opening tracks to any album, punching you in the chest at every turn. Put it on and rock out like a mother.
The music is good, but the vocals arent the best and the lyrics are rather repetititve.
Powerful! Interesting music and banger.
Angry and revolutionary, both lyrically and musically. Basically a hip hop rhythm section, creative guitar playing with a heavy focus on rhythm, and vocals that fill the listener with anxious energy. Had my 8 year old ass running around elementary school "Land of the free? whoever told you that is your enemy"
I find myself getting angry about different things these days but this is still relevant.
gøy
This is a no-brainer 5 star album for me. It was released my Freshman year of high school and it still feels relevant today. And yes I get the “protest songs in a major label” album critique, but this debut is such a pure statement of who this band is Morello’s guitars are great, the production on the drums and base brings them to the front, Andre La Rocha‘s rap-rock vocals are very passionate. That this presaged some of the later 90s rap rock is irrelevant. This is a classic! And look at the date I submitted this. You better believe rage against the machine is still relevant.
3.5, really angry
fuck yeah. The pure aggression of this record is unmatched.
Yeah hard to argue with, pretty damn good album
Defininitely has the vibe but kinda funny how it doesn't sound that "heavy" today. Really weird noodley solos that remind me of being in middle school and "knowing jazz"
This record was huge in college for me. Talented dude just hate the politics. I don’t love politics mixed with my music I’m trying enjoy. I can look past it though as audio only. Once I watch a performance I’m turned off. That all said this record is awesome - different from anything else out at the time. For that it’s close to five stars. Actually I can look past the lyrics it is 5 stars.
Love the guitar work, but I didn't find the scratchy vocals as appealing.
Was dreading listening to it before I turned it on, but actually they’re quite good. Music is very good, I’m a fan, highest score so far for me 4/5
At some points throughout the album it felt like I'd just kicked Agent Smith's head in. At other points I felt like I'd been left at home again with another frozen TV dinner, with only the teleshopping channel and my prozac to keep me company.. because Dads always home late and Moms at the bingo hall seemingly 24 hours a day. Luckily Dad always leaves his rifle in an unlocked cabinet, so when I finally snap I can head down to the nearest campus and let off some steam. 2 stars because some of the guitar playing was great.. and the TV dinner was chicken parmesan, which actually isn't THAT bad.
Y u so mad? I can smell the B.O and roll ups at their gigs through the speakers. That being said, I’d be interested to understand the landscape of the world when they made this and what they’re so mad at. I listened to the first half in the gym, and the second half in the bath. So I enjoyed the first half more, perhaps because I didn’t have to think about it. Taking nothing away from the bands ability to make good rock sounds, just not for me. Not in the bath anyway.
I hate Tom Morello's dentist drill guitar solos. I had to take 3 Ibuprofen after this album. I have similar feelings about the slap bass. Unless it's Soul or Funk, leave slap bass alone, especially you Rap Metal. I think Rage fans romanticise this album being powerful. Musically it's just hectic, and lyrically it's not as clever as people go on about. I can see why Killing In The Name was popular, at least it's anthemic. Bullet In The Head was probably my favourite, started with a good hook, interesting sections, and then that solo! Just a smorgasbord of abnormal stool samples. By Wake Up, I couldn't believe there was still so much album left. I'll give Rage their flowers in the form of a 2, and that's just for actually following through with their activism, something that is often lamented by those with no real intention to fight for anything. If they pop up again in this list, my rating won't be so kind. Doubt they will though, seen as they really didn't do much else, and this is considered their best effort.
Very appropriate post 2024 election album.
Nice
This album is such a banger. Garth Richardson’s production is both minimalist and slick and Andy Wallace’s mix is punchy and huge. The sound is mostly just the band with minimal overdubs and the band is incredibly tight. Tom Morello’s guitar work is otherworldly and one of a kind. This was maybe the first album that successfully blended rock and rap into an entirely new thing and it still sounds fresh and relevant after more than 30 years.
It's simply a great Metal/funk/rap album. I honestly listened to this yesterday and thought, how could anyone not like it? Yes it's loud and in your face but it's funky as hell. Credit gets handed out to Zack and Tom all the time and rightly some but this albums is truly held together by Tim and Brad that rhythm section is absolutely tight as!
While I like the message of the album, I've never been able to warm to the music itself. The instrumentals are easier on the ear than the vocals: I've never liked that vocal style. 2 starts cos I don't like the vocals.
This album is like a kick in the face, but in a good way. It has an incredible energy and bravura to it and not a single bad song on it.
Hell of a pick for this on Election Day 2024. This album was released on Election Day 1992. Just neat.
Le rock agressif a rarement été aussi funky. Implacablement contagieux, convaincu et irrésistible
30 years later still sounds fresh and unfortunately some of the themes covered are still relevant today. That said a great album. Love it.
I really liked the politically charged lyrics and overall sensibility, but I wasn't completely in love with this album. It was angry in a way that I found cringey. The songwriting didn't feel great to me. That being said, the guitar work sounded very fresh. There are some sensibilities that felt lifted from avant-garde music, and the guitarist switches between ferocious and tender in a way that I thought was cool.
If a single RATM song pops up on a playlist, I enjoy it. Give me an entire albums worth and it just becomes monotonous.
A classic. Still holds up.
no no no i couldn't get past the first song wish i could give this zero stars
its a no from me - too angsty
Hard to be in the mood for this at the moment but still quality and a perfect example of what it is.
Essential 90's rock/punk.
some slappers but a bit samey
meh
ANGER - THE ALBUM I hadn't listened this album in years. Killing In The Name Of was one of the songs I listened to most when I was a teenager. Time when I woke up in the morning, drank my coffee and went to fight the system (skip class)
I didn't really like it... I don't like rap, I don't like metal... I don't like rap metal.. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
A tremendous start to any album - 3 unbelievable tracks - unfortunately only a couple more lived up to this - what a great album though
Fuck you I won't do what you tell me (I won't rate it with less than 5 stars)
I was about twelve or thirteen. I went down to the local half pipe to inline skate (as kids did in the late nineties). This other local kid were laying down sick lines while blasting rage against the machine on a boombox. I was awestruck, amazed, flabbergasted - I had never heard anything like it. I immediately knew I had found my new favourite band. This album shaped me like no other. I still return to it now and then for Zach De La Rochas youthful anger, Tom Morellos blasting and inventive guitar and the funky rhythm section. A shining beacon in a genre often dismissed. Ten out of ten absolute bangers. Not a weak track. What a debut.
Fuck you I won't do what you tell me! 🤘🏻 I first heard of Rage Against The Machine in 2009 - I saw a campaign on facebook to get Killing In The Name to #1 in the charts, and to block X Factor from getting the Christmas #1. Being the angsty teen that I was, I of course joined in and downloaded the song I'd never listened to any of their other songs, and I really enjoyed this album! I wish back then I'd have also downloaded the rest of this album because I've been missing out! A very high 4 ⭐️
This is an awesome album. It's the perfect storm of anger, rap and rock! It's a landmark album. Tom Morello is a fucking legend. It can't be on too high a rotation for me, as it just makes me feel angry! solid 4 stars
This is an incredible album! I bought this when I was about 14, there's nothing quite like listening to RATM when you're an angsty teen! I remember singing 'F*CK YOU, I WON'T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME' with gusto (but actually quietly, because I couldn't let my parents hear - my Mum to this day has never heard me swear) A 5 star album that I will love and listen to until the day I die. The heavy bass lines always hit in such a good way, and the way de la Rocha speaks/raps/yells feels like it compliments the music/themes in a way singing never would. The use of the Malcolm Browne's photograph of Thích Quảng Đức on the cover is both powerful and disturbing! Also love the appearance by Maynard James Keenan on Know you Enemy. Fave Track: Freedom 'Anger is a gift'
Brilliant.
Real music keeping it real. Heavy and often profound lyrical content. Sometimes heavy metal and sometimes funk mixed with elements of rap and global awareness. Music humans will be talking about for years to come.
Nix für mich
Never really warmed to these guys. Wake Up is great though 2.5 rounded up
Mi álbum de punk favorito 10/10
Rap-rock done right, with a heavy leftist message. Aggressive, heavy, and groovy. Memorable bass playing that stands out but isn’t flashy, with Morello’s signature oddly effected guitar squealing and scratching on top along with plenty of heavy riffs. De La Rocha’s vocals are delivered with intensity and deep anger at injustice and really elevates the music. Vocals/lyrics aren’t the first thing I pick up in music, but he absolutely commands your attention. It kicks ass, it’s fun, it grooves, it sends a message - and it does it all at a high level.
Racket rap rubbish
"Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me" So no review, today, 1001 Albums app. You're a machine, too, after all. Number of albums left to review: 32 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 419 (including this one, of course -- the intensity of the music and the incendiary lyrics makes this record a classic today, just like the three other studio albums by this pivotal nineties band) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 243 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 310
Cañero cañero
I like some nu-metal songs, but something in RATM is out of my taste, maybe it's the way the vocalist is rapping. Maybe it's gonna be loved by me if I'd listen to this more.
An unbelievably beast record. Maybe a bit one note but I fucking adore that note.
Finally, a voice more annoying than Bob Dylan 🤩🤩 Settle for Nothing gave me hope for the album but after two more songs I couldn’t take it anymore and had to pull the plug. Never returning to this headache
Basically the same song over and over
Master piece, absolute groove start to finish. Love.
Listened to before. Highlights:
An iconic album.
you should not be using this vocal style to deliver political manifestos you should be using it to say shit like “i’m in a lava lamp” and making references to the flintstones. cool bass lines but just impossible to take seriously. in the eternal words of laura shrago, “i liked it until the guy started singing.”
I honestly didn't hate that. But I also didn't like it. I thought some of the music was catchy and kind of groovy even (Take the Power Back) but unfortunately the lyric delivery is a bit too silly sounding for me to take it seriously. It's like the silliness of beastie boys’ delivery but with the self seriousness of metal. I understand metal as a vehicle for political music because they want the energy and abrasiveness of the music to match their rage (ha ha...) expressed in the lyrics. Personally that isn't a necessity for me to connect with political music but I get the instinct. Unfortunately I think their style of singing/rapping feels too goofy and only works in a context where they aren't taking themselves so seriously which is not what's happening here.
Just not my thing