Rage Against The Machine's (RATM) debut burst onto the scene in 1992, a time when grunge was in full swing.
Guitarist Tom Morello was a big hip hop fan, while not denying his classic rock roots. This combined some really funky sounds (eg DJ Scratching on his strings) with great classic heavy riffing. His unique use of a Digitech Whammy pedal added to the band's sound.
Lead vocalist Zack De La Rocha didn't have any melodies in his vocals, instead he rapped, using dynamics and anger to fuel his unique sound. Bassist Timmy C and drummer Brad Wilk were a great, tight rhythm section and Timmy's basslines were often very funky and included slapping.
The band's debut album was a total masterpiece, with not one bad song, just totally awesome. There is also a tag line in the booklet: NO SAMPLERS, COMPUTERS OR KEYBOARDS WERE USED IN THE MAKING OF THIS RECORDING. Insane.
Bombtrack- A typical RATM song, a nice quiet little riff at the start, which is awesome. The drums come in with the slapped bass and Zack's typical "uhh!" sound. Really great riffing in the verse which follows Zack's vocals. The chorus is cool too, with one really catchy line "Burn, burn, yes you're gonna burn". 4.5/5
Killing In The Name- The band's breakthrough single, this is the definitive RATM song. The riff is great, along with Zack's rapping. There is some non typical percussion in this song as well. The guitar solo is one of Tom Morello's finest moments, with a Whammy pedal, he makes it sound like a dentist drill. An intersting fact about this song, I found it ironic anyway...At the end of the song, Zack starts yelling "F*ck you, I won't do what you tell me". The band had to remove this line for the radio edit, because their record label told them to. :) 5/5
Take The Power- Starts out with some bass riffing from Timmy C and some typical political lyrics. The song then goes into some nice heavy riffing from Tom Morello. Zack then starts his usual politcal rants before it goes into a shred solo from Tom Morello. Pretty nice track 4/5
Settle For Nothing- This song sounds different to the last 3 tracks. Starts with some light drums and guitar feedback. This track is a lot more angry in feel to the last few. The riffs are good and the dynamics really add to the song. 5/5
Bullet In The Head- This is a really cool one, some strange guitar noises from Tom Morello, they make a sort of grinding noise. There is also a sound that is simliar to a keyboard, but then you realise it's the bass. Nice riffing towards the end too. 4/5
Know Your Enemy- Crazy guitar to start with and a realy flashy bass line. Then the typical RATM riffing comes in later, and it sounds great. Similar to the first 3 tracks. There is also supposedly some additional vocals from Maynard James Keenan (of Tool and A Perfect Circle fame) although I can't really hear them. 5/5
Wake Up- The opening riff was ripped straight out of Kashmir by Led Zeppelin, but you can still hear Tom Morello's style coming through. Then the main riff comes in, which is very sweet. The wah effects in the verses are so funky and then the guitar solo is awesome, I'm guessing Tom is using a pitchshifter as well as his Whammy pedal. This song was used for the main theme on the film "The Matrix". 5/5
Fistful Of Steel- Really good song, with a massively driving bass line. The guitar is nice and heavy and has a raw sound to it. Zack's rapping is just as good in this song as any other and there's some cool high stuff from the guitars. Some of that AWESOME DJ scratching I mentioned earlier is in this track. Very, very nice. 5/5
Township Rebellion- This is another typical RATM song, some really cool tempo changes though. Other than that, it's just the usual Zack raving, Tom doing heavy riffs, Timmy C with cool basslines and Brad doing some straight beats. Zack goes crazy as usual in it. Some cool wah stuff towards the end too. 4/5
Freedom- Slow tempo, and just like the previous track, it's another typical RATM song. It's got all the characteristics, and in my opinion, a fairly weak album closer. Nothing much more to say about this one. 4/5
This album is awesome, and gets a 5/5, which I am fairly hesatant about giving, but I think it's deserving enough. If we were using a 10 scale, it would recive a 9.
Final Rating: 5/5
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Yeah, this is a classic album. 5/5.
Has this not been reviewed yet? 
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It's not on the list.
Digging: Kayo Dot - Blue Lambency Downward
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Originally Posted by br3ad_man
[IMG]Know Your Enemy- Crazy guitar to start with and a realy flashy bass line. Then the typical RATM riffing comes in later, and it sounds great. Similar to the first 3 tracks. There is also supposedly some additional vocals from Maynard James Keenan (of Tool and A Perfect Circle fame) although I can't really hear them. 5/5
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Maynrd's vocals= "I've got no patience now, so sick of complacence now. I've got no patience now, so sick of complacence now. sick of sick of sick of sick of you. Time has come to pay!"
it's in the part where the music changes a lot from loud to like duh duh duh...duh duh duh...duh duh duh...etc etc etc...if you know wjat parts I'm talking about
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by br3ad_man
Freedom- Slow tempo, and just like the previous track, it's another typical RATM song. It's got all the characteristics, and in my opinion, a fairly weak album closer. Nothing much more to say about this one. 4/5
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Strange that, Freedom's my favourite track on the album.
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Freedom was also a very popular single, wasn't it? That's what a source told me when I did a report on Commerford for band.
Anyways, this is a great album. I don't have it (yet) but I've heard almost everything on it and I love it. 5/5
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I like this album, but I'm more of an Evil Empire and Battle of Los Angeles Rage guy. The self titled album was the first Rage album I bought when I was 12 (now 20) and at the time it was the greatest thing I had ever heard. I rate this a 3.9/5. It's funny though, the former Rage members really don't like this album much at at all.
| | | Album Rating: 5
Really good review, and an awesome album..I'd give it about a 4.7 or 4.8, if I liked using decimals.
I would have given Freedom a higher rating too, just because its such a great live track.
| | | Album Rating: 5
Quote:
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Originally Posted by br3ad_man
Freedom- Slow tempo, and just like the previous track, it's another typical RATM song. It's got all the characteristics, and in my opinion, a fairly weak album closer. Nothing much more to say about this one. 4/5
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The song as a whole feels kind of weak as an ender, but the final bloodcurdling screams of "Freedom yeah right" make the perfect ending lines. It's worth putting a weaker track on the album just for that ending.
Nothing much to say that hasn't been said already, except that I've never particularly cared for Bombtrack. I don't really know why; I just don't.
5/5
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I hate to think where/what i'd be without this album. 5/5
p.s. i dunno what alternate universe where "freedom" is considered the weakest (or even "one of the weaker") song on the album.
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Originally Posted by epifreak2002
Nothing much to say that hasn't been said already, except that I've never particularly cared for Bombtrack. I don't really know why; I just don't.
5/5
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That's kinda the way I felt about Freedom....I agree though, the ending screams are very RATM, and they really do it.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
I love this album 4.5/5
| | | Album Rating: 5
5/5 Easily absolute classic.
I don't think Tim slap's In bombtrack. In the recording he used a Fender Precision Bass thats why the Bass sounds so Hardcore Punky.
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Excellent album. Not as good as Battle of LA in my opinon but da'mn good.
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Very good album, they're best Cd. I also thought Freedom should of been a 5/5. It starts out kinda slow.. but makes up for that, i think it's one of they're best songs.
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I LOVE the cover art.
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Originally Posted by Britrock
Strange that, Freedom's my favourite track on the album.
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My fav too.The albums over after he's done screaming.I think it was a good album closer.
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An awesome album, i dont think there are any weak tracks on it.
The only rating it can get has to be 5/5.
A classic and revolutionary album.
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This the definitive RATM album. My faves are "Freedom", "Bullet In The Head", and "Killing In The Name Of", mostly for the climax (which isn't on the radio) with that jangly guitar riff and De La Rocha belting out, "Mother****er!" One of the few times cursing makes a moment in a song better. I suppose I like "Bullet In The Head" cause of the cool bass, though. This is definitely my favorite album by them. 5/5.
Digging: Shape of Despair
| | | Album Rating: 5
^I really like the story of the DJ here in Britain who accidentally played the uncensored version on the Sunday countdown, which meant that 3 million people or whatever heard "Motherfucker!" from their radio at 3 in the afternoon.
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Awesome.
I have the RATM DVD, and that part is one of the highlights, with Morello goin' all silly with the guitar.
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