Rage Against the Machine - Evil Empire

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 favor 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 postpubescent 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

Amazon.com

Brilliant!

This is a great album. There is an unbelievable energy captured on this record. Maybe for the fact that it was mostly recorded live, in the studio. It took me a few listens before I truly recognized the quality of this album. But I keep listening to it for over 10 years now, and it's still very powerful. October 16, 2008

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 as close to what it must be like on heroin - 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. August 8, 2008

Grammy winner!!

it took me a little while to get into this album, but when I did I enjoy it, It is just really good, the sound, the feel, it is a great second album for Rage!! totally should buy it, it is so good I have no words to describe, Has to be heard to be believed!! August 5, 2008

An album that continues to influence. 1990s: Rage Against the Machine. 2010: Kongcrete

RATM, as heard on this album, are no doubt legends in this genre and have influenced bands that have followed. Are there any other bands like RATM? I know of no other band except NYC-based Kongcrete whom I discovered when I saw their awesome video for their Joker theme song for The Dark Knight movie. The music video and music rock! Their other songs on myspace.com/kongcrete, Amazon, and iTunes are like Rage, Korn, Linkin Park, and Publc Enemy on steroids. And they seem to be inspired by horror and action movies. Anybody know more about this band? They have a poll on myspace, and I voted for Punisher as the next movie they need to write a song for. July 16, 2008

Rage's weakest, IMO.

Don't hurt me now.

Not quite a sophomore slump; I give it 3.5 stars. Doesn't have the aggressive freshness of the debut nor does it rock as hard as the third one. This falls somewhere in between (literally). Rage's MOR record.

Recommended, but get the other two first. June 3, 2008

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