Rage Against the Machine – Rage Against the Machine

Rage Against The Machine

When i heard these guys back then, there was a sudden awakening within me about politics, horrifying truths, inhumanity etc….Their music really spoke to me. For me lyrics come second and instrumentation comes first but with RATM ..it was pure poetry with raw energy and blaring truth in your face.

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.

Integral to their identity as a band, Rage Against the Machine voice revolutionary viewpoints highly critical of the domestic and foreign policies of current and previous US governments. Throughout its existence, RATM and its individual members participated in political protests and other activism to advocate these beliefs. The band primarily saw its music as a vehicle for social activism.

“I’m interested in spreading those ideas through art, because music has the power to cross borders, to break military sieges and to establish real dialogue.” – Zack De La Rocha

Definitely must have!!!