Product Description

This long-awaited sophomore release from Rage Against The Machine does not disappoint. Its grinding, ferocious guitar twists Public Enemy-like riffs in and out of the rhythm section's metallic pummeling. But as usual, while Tom Morello's guitar sets the pace, Zach De La Rocha's lyrical attack steals the show.
It is, after all, the EVIL EMPIRE they're raging against. De La Rocha goes for the jugular with barbed lyircs, claiming in "Bulls On Parade" that "this microphone explodes, shattering the molds" in a world where "people ain'tseen a brown-skinned man since their grandparents bought one". The group's rap-like rhythmic savvy and hard-rock edge bring them to a new plane. In "Snake Charmer", De La Rocha speaks of "greed" with a delirious excitement. Evidently, RageAgainst The Machine will continue to rebel against the EVILEMPIRE.

Track Listing

1. People Of The Sun
2. Bulls On Parade
3. Vietnow
4. Revolver
5. Snake Charmer
6. Tire Me
7. Rollin' Down Rodeo
8. Wind Below
9. Without A Face
10. Roll Right
11. Year Of Tha Boomerang

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4999 in Music
• Released on: 2000-08-21
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics

Amazon.co.uk Review
As the vitriol spewed from Evil Empire, Rage Against the Machine's long-awaited follow up to their 1993 debut owes much to Chuck D.'s polemic fury and rapid-fire urgency--though as always the band rages without hip-hop machinery in favour of the heavy-duty power tools of rock. But no matter if Rage against the Machine amounts to revolutionary rap, protest metal, or a combination of the two, the band's command of sonic rage makes Evil Empire a powerful assault in any musical language.

But wait, there's more to the name. Raging against the machine, like yelling at the TV, is woefully misdirected. Lyricist Zack de la Rocha is clearly someone with strong political views--particularly when it comes to the plight of fellow Mexicans on both sides of the border. He vents his indignation sharply at times ("Vietnow", "Without a Face"), rather clumsily and artlessly most others. Music this angry should be aimed at something more specific than an entire race or nation or government, or else it risks sounding like the empty rants of confused post-pubescent rebellion. If only Rage against the Machine's raw musical muscles were grinding over a focused message, lord knows how potent they could be. --Roni Sarig

Customer Reviews

More relevant that they ever were...
Rage have had a lot of influence (musically) on my life. I was introduced to them via MTV of all places where I witnessed People of the Sun maybe 10 years ago. What a song! It was like nothing I'd heard before, or since for that matter. It smashed, devoured and danced over the graves of everything I'd heard previously. So much energy, intensity and anger, so much groove. I was undoubtedly and unquestionably hooked and Rage became my favourite band up until I discovered Kyuss a few years later when the features of my musical landscape shifted once again.

There was something untimely special about Rage & their intense political leanings; even if you didn't exactly agree with De La Rocha's extreme left wing, anti capitalist political views he damn well made you aware of them. But with tracks like People of the Sun, Bulls On Parade, Vietnow, & Down Rodeo, who cares what they're about; they're some of the best tunes ever written and I will say that with a hand on my heart.

The musicianship, often overshadowed by Zack's rants, is outstanding; possibly the most flawless and tightest band I've ever heard. Such is their insensity, these guys don't even need to speak and they whip up a crowd as if it were effortless. Brad Wilk and Tim Commerford were, and still are, a stomping rhythm section and Tom Morello can coax some ungodly sounds out of his guitar. Unfortunately their talents have been wasted over the past few years in Audioslave.

Evil Empire, to me, feels like the forgotten middle album, overshadowed by the mighty self titled. Also, whilst not being their best album, the self titled takes that prize, it is my favourite. It's a lot darker, it's more diverse and my favourite two Rage tracks are on here in the form of People of the Sun and Bulls On Parade.

As they virtually invented `rap-metal' as it's now known, (now a near blasphemous phrase), there isn't as much on here as you'd think. There's more subtlety & more experimentation; Snakecharmer, Revolver, and Tire Me, don't actually have any rapping on them. Also, because Rage were a heavy band De La Rocha is largely considered a rock vocalist but his talents as a rapper are among the best. Stringing the lyrics together as he does with a political message and often storytelling is a difficult skill rather than "gangsta shopping list" style dross. Listen to 'Maria' from Battle of L.A. as proof - some of the best lyrics I've ever heard.

Evil Empire is still one of my favourite albums I have to say. Even though I sorely overlook them in my frequent ventures to my CD collection, Rage will still be in my favourite bands list 5, 10, years from now. Everything by Rage is essential. Nothing like them will happen ever again.

Flippin' excellent
I can't believe it's taken me 12 years before writing this review. What I am glad of though is that I didn't write this within a year of buying "Evil Empire"; when this came out in 1996, I - like many - was expecting a bombastic array of accessible riffage, heavy ranting and slick production similar to RATM's debut. What we got however was a grimy, dark and sinister effort that better showed off RATM's hiphop and punk influences. This was a shock. And it probably explains why it took me a while to get into. Now however, I listen to this album with a huge amount of satisfaction. Everything about it is great: Zack de la Rocha's voice is so aggressive, so vitriolic and just so downright convincing; the guitars and bass (oh, the BASS!) tap very different frequencies so each is heard equally, even though they often play the same thing; and the drums - although not jaw dropping - support everything perfectly. The only thing missing was Tom Morello's speedy guitar shenanigans - but even these aren't missed terribly because the music doesn't cry out for them in the way their first album did. Listening to this album on headphones while walking down the street is like a shot of heroine - it makes you feel 10 foot tall and that bullets will bounce off you. I don't know what else to say - words literally fail me at the sheer greatness of this album. Together with Mr Bungle's "California" and Soundgarden's "Superunknown", I have my desert island discs (and probably the best slab of 1990's rock). An essential purchase for rock connoisseurs everywhere.

one of my top 5 albums ever!!!
i really cant believe anybody could give this album a negative review, by that i mean anything 3 stars and below. every song on this album is amazing, and much more replay value than their self titled album. you hear the older songs too often, and although they are classics, i personally wouldnt ever listen to them on cd again as i hear them too often in rock clubs.

there are obvious crown pleasers on here, such as bulls on parade and people of the sun, but other tracks such as tire me and wind below are just amazing.

i bought this on the day of release about 12 years ago, and though i would write a review today as i have just listened to it and realised how good it is again!

make no mistake, all their albums are great, but dont miss out on this even though it doesnt feature their obvious classics!