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Rage Against The Machine: Evil empire

08/12/11 || The Duff

I would put two bands to the wall and gun them down for the creation of nu-metal, specifically the variety that mixes real simple “riffs”, real simple “drums”, rage and/or rap “lyrics” “sung” by someone who can’t sing (woah, inverted commas be flyin’, bitch!) and of course the band that epitomizes the scene, Limp Bizkit – Sepultura for the release of “Roots” and Rage Against the Machine for mixing metal’s awesome wit’ da spittin’ of da lyrics.

Not racist, here.

Now I don’t have a problem with (people who can’t articulate properly) Limp Bizkit, but to say (if you’re too stupid to speak the language, please stay away from me) overlaying distortion with rap would be grotesque, chances are with current musical climes you’d be guilty of a bit of an understatement. Yes, I’m biased in the sense that I think Limp Bizkit’s music is shit.

Not educated or empathetic, here.

This band, though, contrary to popular belief make it work tremendously by mixing Sabbath, Tom Morello’s unusual, innovative guitar techniques, heavy bass-led groove and real catchy, rapid-fire spitted tirades that evoke disgust, hope, narcissism (positive though, as in with the confidence associated with it), slander, genuine humanity, the mentality in not taking it lying down. Giving it to the man, one inch at a time.

Although not an amazing vocalist, Zac de la Rocha is a passionate one who sings about stuff of meaning, y’know, topical and relevant to our times, yo. No disrespect to Fred Durst, but Zac understands the idiocy of wearing a ski-jacket in the middle of Summer. Also, PEOPLE DYING AND SHIT!

Words like “pimpin’ it dawg”, “dollar billz, y’allz” and “bootey-stickin’ da bitch” are representative of a degrading culture, the dumbed down who like to clap a lot of the time, cruising down streets on skateboards wearing oversized football shirts and their mother’s jewelery in the hopes that one day Sony will sign their “Slappin’ Dikz on Hoe’zes Lipz” demo. Zac hits you in the face with the truth, BAM! – no pussyfooting around, straight-up and hardcore, fucken ALIVE!

The follow-up to the self-titled debut was one of the most anticipated albums of the year back in 1996; “Rage Against the Machine” was a riff-salad that was fresh, catchy and a return to the importance of the riff when grunge (specifically Nirvana’s grunge) was swamping the masses with energy, attitude, soul but little musical sturdiness.

I’m in the minority, but I think “Empire of the Sun” is the better of the two albums; there isn’t a bad track on here unlike the self-titled, where “Rage Against the Machine” had a more aggro-bent to it, was more direct, “Empire of the Sun” is groovier, more empowering, more dour, with more of an atmosphere and all versed with more political rhetoric delivered in true concrete fashion.

Overall a very inspiring record mixing the darkness of grunge, the hip of funk and ska (I’m seriously out of my depth here, so feel free to correct me) and the groove of Sabbath, an album that came when everyone else was doing an entirely different thing. Except for Audioslave which touched on the sound (but had a far more trained, soulful vocalist and more of a restrained, popular edge to it), Rage Against the Machine remain peerless with such records under their belt.

Information
Released: 1996
Label: Epic
Website: www.ratm.com
Band
Zach de la Rocha: vocals
Tom Morello: guitars
Tim Commerford: bass, vocals
Brad Wilk: drums

Tracklist
01. People of the Sun
02. Bulls on Parade
03. Vietnow
04. Revolver
05. Snakecharmer
06. Tire Me
07. Down Rodeo
08. Without a Face
09. Wind Below
10. Roll Right
11. Year of tha Boomerang

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