Rage Against The Machine

Rage Against The Machine XX

Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/release/4093460-Rage-Against-The-Machine-Rage-Against-The-Machine-XX

Year Of Release: 1992

Review

This is the twentieth anniversary picture-disc pressing of Rage Against The Machine’s debut album. I remember when this album first came out, a friend gave me a tape with the uncensored version of Killing In The Name on it, sourced from a late-night Rage session. I remember being amazed by the (new to me) combination of rap and rock, along with what I understood to be super political lyrics. I had no idea about what most of the songs were really about, and it wasn’t until much later that I started to understand just what the band was talking about with its music.

This album remains a compelling listen, with De La Rocha’s powerful lyrical delivery combined with Morello’s amazing guitar work, ably supported by the pounding drums of Brad Wilk and some impressive bass work from Tim Commerford. I remember discussing this album at a party late in 1993. I was in disbelief that all the sounds on the album were made just with instruments, assuming that some kind of electronic music or at least record scratching was involved. I was young and extremely ignorant. Now I’m older and not quite as ignorant.

Standout tracks on this album for me were Killing In The Name, Bullet In The Head, and Wake Up. There are no skips on this album. If you can get your hands on it, the Australian CD single version of Killing In The Name also has the most excellent tracks Darkness Of Greed and Clear The Lane – worth checking out.

Rating: 9/10