Track Listing

1. Bombtrack
2. Killing In The Name
3. Take The Power Back
4. Settle For Nothing
5. Bullet In The Head
6. Know Your Enemy
7. Wake Up
8. Fistful Of Steel
9. Township Rebellion
10. Freedom

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #89 in Music
• Released on: 2002-05-20
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics

Amazon.co.uk Review
Not since the days of the Clash and the MC5 has rock seen such political force as in the uncompromising debut from this American quartet. Expanding the hip-hop/metal style of bands such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage tap the spirits of vintage Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, coupled with hardcore punk intensity and Public Enemy-style grooves. "Bombtrack" opens the album with a shot of adrenaline and singer Zack de la Rocha's infuriated chorus of "Burn, burn, yes, you're gonna burn!" The intensity doesn't let up an inch on the militant "Killing In The Name" (with the inspiring chant, "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!"), the ultrafunky "Bullet In The Head," and the engrossing "Fistful Of Steel". Tom Morello combines time-honoured metal-guitar riffs with sounds that suggest a hip-hop scratcher over a rhythm section that simply takes no prisoners. Intelligent and aggressive, this is unimpeachably one of the best hard-rock records ever made. --James Rotondi

CD Description
This self titled debut album cemented Rage Against The Machine's place as the leaders of the early nineties rap/rock crossover sound. The album combines the sounds of hardcore, hip hop, and metal and is topped with Zack de la Rocha's fiercely political lyrics. Also included are the singles 'KillingIn The Name', 'Bombtrack', and 'Bullet In The Head'.

Customer Reviews

Rage.....makes amazing music
Rage Against the Machine...the name of the band says everything about their style. Pounding beats, amazing riffs, and completely rage filled lyrics and singing-these are some of the things that make Rage Against the Machine so compelling. There is NO filler in this album, it just pounds and rages through the entire length. Anarchy is a constant feature in Rage Against the Machine's songs, especially in this album. Songs like 'Killing in the name of' and 'know your enemy' show exactly how this works. For example, 'F*** you i wont do what you tell me' in 'Killing in the name of' pretty much underlines the entire band's purpose; stirring up controversy while keeping musical elements in their songs. The bands name says a lot about their style - the name is a term for rebelling against the authority, and their music surely proves that the name is rightfully used. Zach De la Rocha's singing/rapping goes very well with the band's heavy baselines and beats. Though this CD is around 15 years old, it still seems as fresh as ever. I think it is a great pity that the band broke up, and even though the remaining members (everyone minus Zach De la Rocha) of Rage against the Machine went on to form Audioslave, Audioslave much less controversial, and (in my opinion) their lyrics and baselines a lot less powerful.

Rage against the Machine
An astounding piece of music. Revolutionary, both in its musical style and in its political intentions, and a symbolic album of the 90's.

The self titled debut album consists of ten classic songs, created by the band's instruments alone. There is no tampering or refining of the sound, and this has two consequences: Firstly the album is very raw sounding, and this encapsulates the uncompromising aggression of Rage against the Machine. Secondly, it allows each instrument to be clearly distinguishable on the record. Morello's riffs and solos on this album are among the finest ever written, and are perfectly complimented by Commerford's rolling, funky bass lines and Wilk's solid drumming.

Most distinguishable of all though, is the ferocity and vigour with which Zach de la Rocha raps the, now infamous lines "you got a Bullet in ya head", "Now you do what they told ya", "We gotta take the power back". His lyrics, fused with the rock so powerfully, carry with them an unrelenting political agenda. Messages of U.S. political injustice delivered in such an obvious and unashamed way, the likes of which has never been heard before on a record as popular as this.

Without a doubt the best and boldest record of 1992. Each track is an instant classic: Catchy, anthemic, lyrically and musically awe inspiring. The record that, in a nutshell, popularized and refined the mixing of hip-hop and rap with rock music. A record made by hugely talented and daring artists, and of such epic influence as to be noticeable everywhere in nu metal and many other related genres today. Be sure to buy two copies of this CD because your first copy will get worn out.

Breathtaking
I was at first sceptical about listnening to this record as on many occasions i have noticed long haired malajusted fools prancing around the streets in RATM teeshirts. I thought is for for me? Once listening to this album my mainly resticted music tastes were blown wide apart. This is a debut album of such unmatchmatchable raw power and energy that if it could be tapped it would power a small country. Brad Wilk and Tim Bob make up the most formidable drum/bass combination since Bonham and Jones of Led Zeppelin. Zack De La Rocha splurts out his socialist/anarchist lyrics with true contempt that i almost want to believe him. If you're not interested in what he has to say then no matter. It is however Tom Morello who is the bands true innotive force doing things with a guitar i could not dream of. The bone crunchinig chorus of killing in the name of is all the evidence you need. He at times makes his guitar sound more like D.J turnables scratching his way through solos instead of trying to do cheesy immitations of Hendrix and Clapton. The Led Zeppelin of the 90's? Maybe, the best rock/metal band ever? Possibly. All i know is that this ablum never tires or fails to supprise me no matter how many times i've heard it. Buy it, play it and most importantly turn it up.