Rage Against the Machine (album)

Rage Against the Machine
Studio album by Rage Against the Machine
Released	November 3, 1992
Recorded	April–May 1992
Studio	Sound City, Van Nuys, CA Scream Studios, Studio City, CA Industrial Recording, North Hollywood, CA
Genre	Rap metal, funk metal, alternative metal
Length	52:52
Label	Epic
Producer	Garth Richardson, Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine chronology
Rage Against the Machine (demo album) (1991) Rage Against the Machine (1992) Evil Empire (1996)
Singles from Rage Against the Machine
"Killing in the Name" Released: November 2, 1992 "Bullet in the Head" Released: December 29, 1992 "Bombtrack" Released: June 20, 1993 "Freedom" Released: August 23, 1994

Rage Against the Machine is the debut studio album by American rap metal band Rage Against the Machine.^[1] The album was released on November 3, 1992. It went to #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, and #45 on the Billboard 200 chart.

"Know Your Enemy" features Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan on "additional vocals", and also features Jane's Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins on trashcan percussion. Keenan has been known on occasion to appear onstage with the band to perform the song. The album cover features the self-immolation of Thích Quảng Đức that occurred on June 11, 1963.

Artwork and sleeve notes

The cover features a photo of the self-immolation of Thích Quảng Đức, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, in Saigon in 1963. The monk was protesting President Ngô Đình Diệm's administration for oppressing the Buddhist religion. The photograph drew international attention and persuaded U.S. President John F. Kennedy to withdraw support for Ngô Đình Diệm's government. It was taken by Associated Press correspondent Malcolm Browne; a similar photograph earned the award of World Press Photo of the Year in 1963.

The songs on Rage Against the Machine all feature political messages. Activists such as Provisional IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands and Black Panther Party founder Huey P. Newton are listed in the "Thanks For Inspiration" section. Also thanked were Ian and Alec MacKaye—de la Rocha was straight edge at the time, though he later took up smoking.^[2]

The lyrics for each song were printed in the album booklet with the exception of those for "Killing in the Name", which were omitted; the booklet reads "2. KILLING IN THE NAME", skips the lyrics and continues with the next song.

The statement "no samples, keyboards or synthesizers used in the making of this record" can be found at the end of the sleeve notes. Similar statements were made in the band's subsequent albums. The band also refer to themselves as "Guilty Parties" for each album.

Tour

The album was supported by the Rage Against the Machine Tour which commenced in early 1992 and concluded on December 31, 1993.^[3]

2009 Christmas number one campaign

After an online campaign to get Rage Against the Machine to Christmas Number One in the UK, the track "Killing in the Name" reached Number One on the singles chart during Christmas 2009. When invited to play it live on BBC Radio 5 Live, they agree on-air to omit the swearing that features at the end. But true to Rage Against the Machine style, de la Rocha does not disappoint fans and sings the original, "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!"

XX 20th Anniversary Edition

The band announced on October 9, 2012, via their Facebook page that they would be releasing a special 20th anniversary boxset to commemorate the group's debut album. The boxset contains never-before-released concert material, including the band's 2010 Finsbury Park show and footage from early in their career, as well as a digitally-remastered version of the album, b-sides and the original demo tape (on disc for the first time).^[4][5] The collection was released on November 27, 2012.^[5]

The release features 3 distinct versions:

• Deluxe Box Set featuring two CDs, two DVDs, one 12" 180gm vinyl LP, one 40 page booklet and two-sided poster
• Special Edition featuring two CDs and a bonus DVD featuring six tracks
• Single compact disc (with three bonus tracks)

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[6]
Alternative Press	[7]
BBC	very favourable[8]
Consequence of Sound	[9]
Kerrang!	[10]
Melody Maker	10/10[11]
Q	[12]
Robert Christgau	[13]
Rolling Stone	[14][15]
Rolling Stone (2012)	[14]
Sputnikmusic	5/5[16]

Allmusic reviewer Eduardo Rivadavia gave the album four and a half stars and stated "it was the first album to successfully merge the seemingly disparate sounds of rap and heavy metal", he also praised the album's "meaningful rhymes and emotionally charged conviction".^[6]

In 2001, Q magazine named Rage Against the Machine as one of the 50 Heaviest Albums Of All Time. The album is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. In 2012, the album was ranked number 365 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.^[17]

Acclaimed BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe named Rage Against the Machine as one of four 'Masterpieces'. This was his best album, on December 2, 2008.^[1]

In October 2011, Rage Against the Machine was ranked number five on Guitar World magazine's top ten list of guitar albums of 1992.^[18]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Rage Against the Machine (Tim Commerford, Zack de la Rocha, Tom Morello, Brad Wilk). 

Original track listing
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Bombtrack"	4:04
2.	"Killing in the Name"	5:14
3.	"Take the Power Back"	5:37
4.	"Settle for Nothing"	4:48
5.	"Bullet in the Head"	5:07
6.	"Know Your Enemy" (feat. Maynard James Keenan)	4:55
7.	"Wake Up"	6:04
8.	"Fistful of Steel"	5:31
9.	"Township Rebellion"	5:24
10.	"Freedom"	6:06
Total length:		52:52

XX CD 1 – Bonus tracks (b-sides)
No.	Title	Length
11.	"Bombtrack" (live, taken from Bombtrack single)	5:56
12.	"Bullet in the Head" (live, taken from Bullet in the Head single)	5:44
13.	"Take the Power Back" (live, taken from Freedom single)	6:09
Total length:		1:10:45

XX CD 2 – "The Original Demos"
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Bombtrack"	4:05
2.	"Take the Power Back"	5:40
3.	"Bullet in the Head"	5:09
4.	"Darkness of Greed"	3:40
5.	"Clear the Lane"	3:48
6.	"Township Rebellion"	4:19
7.	"Know Your Enemy"	4:19
8.	"Mindset's a Threat"	3:56
9.	"Killing in the Name"	6:28
10.	"Auto Logic"	4:07
11.	"The Narrows"	4:35
12.	"Freedom"	5:40
Total length:		55:51

XX DVD 1 – The Battle of Britain at Finsbury Park, London, England (June 6, 2010)
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Intro"	2:37
2.	"Testify"	4:35
3.	"Bombtrack"	4:24
4.	"People of the Sun"	2:36
5.	"Know Your Enemy"	5:17
6.	"Bulls on Parade"	4:51
7.	"Township Rebellion"	5:44
8.	"Bullet in the Head"	10:32
9.	"White Riot" (The Clash cover)	2:06
10.	"Guerrilla Radio"	3:45
11.	"Sleep Now in the Fire"	5:26
12.	"Freedom"	8:53
13.	"Killing in the Name"	6:32
14.	"End Credits"	2:52

XX DVD 1 – Music Videos
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Killing in the Name - 1992"	5:15
2.	"Bullet in the Head - 1993"	4:51
3.	"Bombtrack - 1993"	4:06
4.	"Freedom - 1993"	6:01
5.	"Bulls on Parade - 1996"	3:56
6.	"People of the Sun - 1996"	3:00
7.	"No Shelter - 1998"	4:15
8.	"Guerrilla Radio - 1999"	3:43
9.	"Sleep Now in the Fire - 2000" (First Official Commercial Release)	3:55
10.	"Testify - 2000" (First Official Commercial Release)	3:44
11.	"Renegades of Funk - 2000" (First Official Commercial Release)	3:54
12.	"How I Could Just Kill a Man - 2000" (Previously Unreleased)	4:24

XX DVD 1 – Live material from 1997 video compilation
No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Ghost of Tom Joad"	5:13
2.	"Vietnow" (Irvine Meadows, CA – 1997)	4:49
3.	"People of the Sun"	2:38
4.	"Bulls on Parade"	3:50
5.	"Bullet in the Head"	5:48
6.	"Zapata’s Blood" (Rock Am Ring Festival, Germany – 1996)	1:45
7.	"Know Your Enemy"	5:20
8.	"Bombtrack"	4:09
9.	"Tire Me" (Reading Festival – 1996)	2:55
10.	"Killing in the Name" (Pink Pop Festival – 1994)	6:21

XX DVD 2 – First public performance at California State University, Northridge (October 23, 1991)
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Killing in the Name"	2:20
2.	"Take the Power Back"	6:34
3.	"Autologic"	4:14
4.	"Bullet in the Head"	5:48
5.	"Hit the Deck"	4:27
6.	"Township Rebellion"	5:33
7.	"Darkness of Greed"	3:59
8.	"Clear the Lane"	4:19
9.	"Clampdown"	3:48
10.	"Know Your Enemy"	5:03
11.	"Freedom"	5:45

XX DVD 2
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Freedom" (Pink Pop – 1994)	6:40
2.	"Take the Power Back" (Vic Theatre – 1993)	6:05
3.	"Fistful of Steel" (JC Dobbs – 1993)	5:22
4.	"Bombtrack" (Soundstage performance – 1992)	3:58
5.	"Wake Up" (Halfway House – 1992)	5:35
6.	"Settle for Nothing" (Castaic – 1992)	4:35
7.	"Clear the Lane" (San Luis Obispo – 1992)	3:38
8.	"Untitled" (CWNN – 1992)	5:10
9.	"Darkness of Greed" (Zed's Records – 1992)	3:32
10.	"Wake Up" (Nomads – 1992)	6:18

Anger Is a Gift bonus disc – released with the 1995 Australian CD re-release

1. "Darkness" – 3:40
2. "Year of tha Boomerang" – 4:02
3. "Freedom" (Remix) – 6:14
4. "Take the Power Back" (Live) – 6:12

Bonus Maxi 12" from the "Limited Tour Edition" red vinyl 1993 European re-release included this second LP labeled sides C and D

1. C1 "Freedom" (Live) – 6:13
2. C2 "Bombtrack" (From Mark Goodier's "Evening Session") – 4:08
3. C3 "Bullet in the Head" (Remix) – 5:40
4. D1 "Darkness of Greed" – 3:40
5. D2 "Bullet in the Head" (Live) – 5:44
6. D3 "Bombtrack" (Live) – 5:33

All songs from both bonuses are the versions from previously released singles and promos, except C1 which is from a different performance. No information is given on the 12" about the date nor venue.

Personnel

Rage Against the Machine

• Tim Commerford (credited as "Timmy C.") – bass guitar, backing vocals, production, art direction
• Tom Morello – guitar, production, art direction
• Zack de la Rocha – vocals, production, art direction
• Brad Wilk – drums, percussion, production, art direction

Additional musicians

• Maynard James Keenan – additional vocals on "Know Your Enemy"
• Stephen Perkins – additional percussion on "Know Your Enemy"

Technical personnel

• Craig Doubet – assistant engineer
• Stan Katayama – engineer
• Nicky Lindeman – art direction
• Bob Ludwig – mastering
• Garth Richardson – production, engineering
• Jeff Sheehan – assistant engineer
• Steve Sisco – mixing assistant
• Andy Wallace – mixing

Charts

Year	Chart	Peak position
1993	Australian Albums (ARIA)[19]	12
2012	Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[20]	81
1995	Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[21]	37
1993	Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[22]	5
2001	French Albums (SNEP)[23]	129
1993[24]	German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[25]	22
1993	New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[26]	9
1993	Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[27]	22
1993	Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[28]	16
1993[29]	UK Albums (OCC)[30]	17
2013[31]	US Billboard 200[32]	45

References

1. The RMF Loves Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine (1992) Real Music Forum
2. Kane, Rich (November 1999), Anger is a Gift. Retrieved February 27, 2007.
3. Rage Against the Machine Tour - eNotes.com
4. "Rage Against The Machine". Facebook. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
5. "Rage Against The Machine XX 20th Anniversary | Rage Against The Machine Official Site". Ratm.com. 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
6. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Rage Against the Machine > Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-04-12.
7. "Rage Against the Machine (Epic) KKKKK - [The album] spectacularly fused disparate genres...", Kerrang!, November 18, 1992, p. 53
8. Jones, Chris. "Musically adventurous, funky to a tee and mad as hell". BBC. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
9. Bray, Ryan. "Album Review: Rage Against The Machine – XX 20th Anniversary Deluxe Box Set". Retrieved 2012-11-28.
10. "10 Essential Political Revolution Albums - ...A debut that channels the aggression of the streets into a guitar-driven polemic. The targets are typical...but [their] integration of hip hop and heavy metal isn't.", Alternative Press, November 2000, p. 144
11. "10 out of 10 - ...white hot metal and molten funk with industrial sonic disruptions...formidable..", Melody Maker, January 1, 1994, p. 77
12. "50 Heaviest Albums of All Time", Q Magazine, July 2001, p. 91
13. "CG: rage against the machine". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2010-11-15.
14. "Essential Recordings of the 90's", Rolling Stone, May 13, 1999, p. 52
15. "Rage Against the Machine : Bio, Pictures, Videos". Rolling Stone. January 1, 1992. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
16. Hartwig, Andrew. "Rage Against the Machine: Rage Against the Machine". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2005-01-14.
17. "500 greatest albums of all time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2012-04-20.
18. Grassi, Tony. "Photo Gallery: The Top 10 Guitar Albums of 1992". GuitarWorld.com. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
19. "Australiancharts.com – Rage Against the Machine – Rage Against the Machine". Hung Medien.
20. "Ultratop.be – Rage Against the Machine – Rage Against the Machine" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
21. "Ultratop.be – Rage Against the Machine – Rage Against the Machine" (in French). Hung Medien.
22. "Dutchcharts.nl – Rage Against the Machine – Rage Against the Machine" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
23. "Lescharts.com – Rage Against the Machine – Rage Against the Machine". Hung Medien.
24. "Offizielle Deutsche Charts – Top 100 Album-Charts". www.offiziellecharts.de (in German). GfK Entertainment.
25. "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH.
26. "Charts.org.nz – Rage Against the Machine – Rage Against the Machine". Hung Medien.
27. "Swedishcharts.com – Rage Against the Machine – Rage Against the Machine". Hung Medien.
28. "Swisscharts.com – Rage Against the Machine – Rage Against the Machine". Hung Medien.
29. "Official Albums Chart Top 75". www.officialcharts.com. The Official UK Charts Company.
30. "Rage Against the Machine | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart
31. "Chart Search". www.billboard.com. Billboard.
32. "Rage Against the Machine – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Rage Against the Machine.