Born to Rage Against Them
Rage Against the Machine. Epic Records (1992).
By Nick M. W.
The incredible force and raw power of ‘Rage Against the Machine’ redefined political activism and rock ‘n roll.
Rage Against the Machine lit a fuse with their self-titled debut, and on the album’s opener, “Bombtrack”, guitarist Tom Morello and bassist Tim Commerford sound like they are the lit fuse, burning down to the TNT. Just before the track explodes, Brad Wilk’s drums sizzle, and then “BOOM”!
We should’ve known from the cover that this album was going to be fire.
“Bombtrack”, follows a pattern of musical composition that RATM fans would become familiar with as they blitzed through the 90s. The chorus and the solo slam with every power cord and every promise that you will “Burn, burn, yes, you’re gonna burn.”
The rest of the album follows suit. RATM doesn’t throw a lot of changeups. They keep their foot on the gas and hurl 100mph fastballs at you. “Settle For Nothing” gives you the quietest moments of the album. The band is subdued as they play through the verses, like a boiler building pressure until they set it off with the chorus.
That is Rage on every album—that’s who they were throughout their short yet impactful career—but on Rage Against The Machine, you got smacked for the very first time. They were masters at going from 0 to 100 and back down to 0 and then back to 100 again, track after track, on every album, and live. It’s how a 52-year-old Zach De La Rocha blew out his Achilles. That’s the only response to a RATM song. Their shit gets you off your feet. Blowing your Achilles feels appropriate if you’re not blowing up the system.
Rage Against the Machine is relentless in this pursuit. It’s 30-years-old, I’ve been listening to it for the last 25 years, and I’m absolutely positive this is what rebellion sounds like. Many would consider this debut to be the band’s gold standard—you could argue that they never quite match the same raw energy on future efforts, or that their message feels less potent after years of barking up the same tree—but I wouldn’t buy what you’re selling.
This is an iconic 90s record, and it’s one of the greatest metal albums of all-time.
Favorite Tracks
“Know Your Enemy”
Rage Against The Machine explodes from the first track, spins into “Killing In The Name”, and then plods a bit before getting an adrenaline shot from “Know Your Enemy”.
Tom Morello’s opening cords remind me of the sound a helicopter’s blades make as they chop through the air, like that scene in Apocalypse Now when those Huey’s are flying towards the beach.
That’s a unique sound for a guitarist who came up with a bevy of unique sounds, and it helps this track standout among the raucous crowd.
The rhythm section joins in and provides a funky groove, having the listener think the track is going one way, but this is RATM. Within a minute of setting the mood, they drop the hammer and kick down the doors.
Morello shreds; his solo is wicked. Wilk thumps as a bonus. ZDLR growls, and when the song drifts into the breakdown, we get a guest appearance from TOOL’s Maynard James Keenan and Stephen Perkins from Jane’s Addiction (not featured in the live version below).
“Freedom”
This was the first single off the album, and it was a fiery arrow of rebellion straight through my heart. I had never heard so much fury and, uh, rage in a voice before I heard ZDLR scream “freedom” like William Wallace became the Hulk. Then, I listened to RATM’s other songs and realized that’s how he brought it every time.
Still, though, it sounds like he’s hitting another level on this track.
Tim Commerford’s bass draws out the riot that brings this track to its destructive end.
“Wake Up”
Talk about a 1-2 punch of fucking awesomeness. You blast through “Know Your Enemy”, and you get rewarded with “Wake Up”. It’s easy to see how someone can light a car on fire while listening to this track.
If ZDLR hit another level of fury and rage on “Freedom”, then his scathing pleas to “wake up” on this track have him out of his own body.
This might be RATM’s magnum opus. Rock Kumite: “Bulls On Parade” vs. “Wake Up”.
Happy 30th anniversary to an absolute beast of an album!
