Number 31 - Rage Against the Machine by Rage Against the Machine

 Number 31: Rage Against the Machine by Rage Against the Machine

The modern political manifesto

Release: November 3rd, 1992
Genre: Rap Metal
Favorite Tracks: Take The Power Back, Know Your Enemy, Freedom

 

Where I heard it: 

Back in 2010, my music taste exclusively gravitated towards the genre of classic rock, largely thanks to my acquisition of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. This mostly entailed legendary rock acts of the 70's and 80's like AC/DC, Guns 'n' Roses, and Metallica, but there were plenty of exceptions that managed to break through. While it might not be too far out of the league of rock and roll, Rage Against the Machine were one of the first bands that I obsessed over which snapped the monotony of guitar music for old people. I was first introduced to stapes of the band like Killing In The Name and Bulls On Parade that brought palpable energy and anger, even if I didn't necessarily understand the political undertones that encompass the majority of their catalog. As a budding teenager, I resonated with the rebellious nature that drenched iconic tunes like Calm Like A Bomb and Renegades of Funk, literally buying in to the message of Rage Against The Machine with merchandise that included shirts, a wallet, and a tote bag that my father bought me during a visit see him in California. As my political stance began to grow increasingly liberal throughout high school, I began to fully digest the meaning behind songs like Take The Power Back and Wake Up, using them to help expose the injustices of the world to my classmates who in my mind were none the wiser. As it turns out, there are plenty of others that heard Rage Against the Machine loud and clear, and no piece of work in their discography shouts that message louder than their landmark debut album.

I give a shout out to the living dead
Who stood and watched as the feds cold centralized
So serene on the screen, he was mesmerized
Cellular phones soundin' a death tone
Corporations cold turn you to stone before you realize
They load the clip in omnicolour
Said they pack the nine, they fire it at primetime
The sleeping gas, every home was like Alcatraz
And motherfuckers lost their minds
Just victims of the in-house drive-by
They say, "jump", you say, "how high?"
~ Bullet In The Head

What to expect:

Distinguished by its emphasis on frontman Zack de la Rocha's furious vocal delivery, there were very few acts like Rage Against The Machine before the release of their eponymous album in the early 90's. In an era defined by the downtrodden grumblings of the grunge movement, Rage stood out for their unique genre variance that blended together metal, funk, and rap. This feat alone is enough to put the group on the map, but they were discontent with remaining an interesting sideshow at best. As their name implies, Rage Against The Machine puts the failures and atrocities of the American government on full blast, taking strong anti-war stances in tracks like Bullet In The Head and Know Your Enemy and uncovering the longstanding historical oppression of minorities with Take The Power Back and Freedom. Their deep contempt is made bluntly obvious through Rage's violent approach to their songwriting, exemplified through Zack's vicious vocals and the band's hard-hitting unisons, highlighted by the numerous pedal effects of lead guitarist Tom Morello. Beginning with the prolific rapper, Zack de la Rocha is the heart and soul of Rage Against the Machine's appetite for destruction. The electricity in his lyrics motivates the fury-driven engine that powers the group, whether he's spitting hard facts like in Fistful of Steel or screaming his lungs out in Wake Up. The intensity of Zack's bars are heightened with every syllable uttered when integrated with the accompanying heavy metal riffs that draw partial inspiration from disco rhythms. In moments of respite for Zack, we are treated to groovy breakdowns and technical solos from Morello that bloop and bleep with extreme distortion, matching the unique texture of Zack's vocal inflections. While both integral components of Rage Against the Machine rely on their aggressive edge, neither part ends up clashing with the other, instead working in tandem to create one of the most blood boiling productions the music industry has ever seen.

He may be a brave contender for this position
But should he abandon his supposed obedience
To the White liberal doctrine of non-violence
And embrace Black Nationalism
Through counter-intelligence, it should be possible
To pinpoint potential troublemakers and neutralize them
How long? Not long
'Cause what you reap is what you sow
~ Wake Up

 

Why it's my favorite:

Even if you isolated the hip-hop influence of Zack from the grittiness of Rage Against the Machine's instruments, both mediums have enough individual talent to be successful in their own right. This point is further proven by the amount of groups formed during Rage's hiatus after their album Renegades in the new millennium. Zack has since been featured on a few tracks from the similarly politically conscious rap duo Run the Jewels, as well as teaming up with drummer John Theodore of the Mars Volta to form One Day As A Lion. Meanwhile, Tom Morello and crew have collaborated with notable vocalists such as Chris Cornell for Audioslave and more recently MCs Chuck D and B Real for Prophets of Rage. As iconic as some of these groups grew to be, it's tough to compare these bands to the genius concept Rage Against the Machine adopted so long ago. The synergy within Rage opens the door to some of the most creatively inspired music I've ever heard. The messages they convey reach beyond the limitations of written music, and serve as a call to action to their audience. Hell, the name of the band shows pretty clear intentions of what this group set out to accomplish. While political protest songs were nothing new by the 90's, I struggle to conjure any bands that revolved their entire existence around fighting oppression, besides maybe Public Enemy in the 80's. Rage Against the Machine is willing to put their money where their mouths are, contributing to numerous foundations that benefit the growth of urban populations as well as Native Americans. It's refreshing to see a band that doesn't bend their morals to recording companies in order to gain traction and popularity. Rage Against the Machine's limited recording run may have left fans wanting more, but the mark they left on society may never dwindle in the wake of their tour reunion announcement in 2020. There's been many obstacles in front of them to heed that progress, but Rage have never been ones to back down in the face of opposition. Those guys know, given the state of the world we live in, the people need a bastion of hope to carry them forward. Soon enough, I hope to witness it in action myself.