Evil Empire [PA]

Performer: Rage Against the Machine
Engineer: Dave Rat; Paul Kosky; Nick DiDia; Caram Costanzo
Producer: Rage Against The Machine; Brendan O'Brien
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Rage Against The Machine: Zack De La Rocha (vocals); Tom Morello (guitar); Tim Bob (bass); Brad Wilk (drums). Recorded at Cole Rehearsal Studios, Hollywood, California. "Tire Me" won a 1997 Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance. "Bulls On Parade" was nominated for a 1997 Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance. "People Of The Sun" was nominated for a 1998 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance. Lyricist: Zack de la Rocha. Personnel: Zack de la Rocha (vocals); Tom Morello (guitar); Tim Commerford (bass guitar); Brad Wilk (drums). Audio Mixer: Andy Wallace. Recording information: Cole Rehearsal Studios, Hollywood, CA; Kiss Music Recording Studios, Melbourne, Australia. Photographers: Lisa Johnson ; Lisa Johnson. This long-awaited sophomore release from Rage Against The Machine does not disappoint. Its grinding, ferocious guitar twists Public Enemy-like riffs in and out of the rhythm section's metallic pummeling. But as usual, while Tom Morello's guitar sets the pace, Zach De La Rocha's lyrical attack steals the show. It is, after all, the EVIL EMPIRE they're raging against. De La Rocha goes for the jugular with barbed lyircs, claiming in "Bulls On Parade" that "this microphone explodes, shattering the molds" in a world where "people ain't seen a brown-skinned man since their grandparents bought one." The group's rap-like rhythmic savvy and hard-rock edge bring them to a new plane. In "Snake Charmer," De La Rocha speaks of "greed" with a delirious excitement. Evidently, Rage Against The Machine will continue to rebel against the EVIL EMPIRE.

Rolling Stone (4/18/96, p.67) - 3 Stars (out of 5) - "...inflammatory blend of roaring guitars, barked raps and political activism..." Spin (1/97, p.58) - Ranked #7 on Spin's list of the "20 Best Albums of '96." Spin (5/96, p.103) - 8 (out of 10) - "...a redefined post-Sab groove that, to use a term that seems almost to have gone out of favor...rocks." Entertainment Weekly (4/19/96, p.77) - "...Even if it's not always clear just what de la Rocha is so upset about, the power and the fury of the music comes through louder than bombs." - Rating: A- Q (11/00, p.130) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Tilts at the standard windmills of global capitalism, racism, homophobia and what have you, sounding like an adrenalised hybrid of Jello Biafra, Crass and Motorhead..." Vibe (6/96, p.143) - "...the siren howls and DJ-type scratches guitarist Tom Morello grinds on his ax would make the Bomb Squad jealous." Village Voice (2/25/97) - Ranked #29 in the Village Voice's 1996 Pazz & Jop Critics' Poll.

While a select few hard rock bands incorporated rap into their sound (Anthrax, Faith No More, etc.), it was Rage Against The Machine that perfected and popularized the rap-metal genre in the 1990s. Unlike the aforementioned bands, the Los Angeles-based RATM was overtly political--especially in singer Zack De La Rocha's irate lyrics and vocal delivery. When De La Rocha split at the turn of the century, the rest of the band formed Audioslave with erstwhile Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell.

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