Rage Against The Machine Norristown PA

Rage Against The Machine

Rage Against The Machine

Epic Records, 1992

REVIEW BY: Christopher Thelen

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 03/04/1998

Rage Against The Machine is a group that is supposed to disturb you. Their warcries against societal oppression and unrest have been well documented since their self-titled debut came out in 1992, and they have assumed the position of hard rock's revolutionaries.

I say that Rage Against The Machine should disturb you, but half the time you can't understand what the hell Zack De La Rocha is screaming about without the lyric sheet. Be this as it may, more often than not the music succeeds in hitting the target - if only there had been a little more variety in the performances.

Guitarist Tom Morello proves himself to be one of the more innovative masters of the six-string to hit the airwaves in a long time, wringing out sounds that should not be possible without a synthesizer or a rack of effects pedals. Bassist Timmy C. and drummer Brad Wilk provide a pounding backbeat that threaten to snap your head from your spine. Rising above the din are the screams of De La Rocha, who could be hard rock's answer to rappers like Ice Cube, only without the gratuitous violence and sex.

The single that started the ball rolling for Rage Against The Machine, "Killing In The Name," is easily the best track on the album. True story: the morning that I got married, I had crashed at "Duke" Williams' place after my bachelor party, and this was the first song I listened to when I regained consciousness. Turned out to be a rather nice way of ushering out my bachelor's days.