Rage Against the Machine (album)
Template:Needs more sources Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use mdy dates {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |Template:Short description|noreplace}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Rage Against the Machine1991Evil Empire1996studioRage Against the MachineRageAgainsttheMachineRageAgainsttheMachine.jpgA black-and-white image of a man being burned alive. The album title/band name is shown at the bottom in lowercase letters with a black background.Rage Against the MachineNovember 6, 1992<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>April–May 1992Sound City (Van Nuys, California)* Rap metal<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
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Rage Against the Machine is the debut studio album by American rock band Rage Against the Machine.<ref name=ref1>The RMF Loves Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine (1992) Template:Webarchive Real Music Forum Template:Webarchive</ref> It was released on November 6, 1992, by Epic Records,<ref name="RIAA"/> four days after the release of the album's first single, "Killing in the Name". The album was based largely on the band's first commercial demo tape of the same name, completed 11 months prior to the album's release. The tape contained earlier recordings of seven of the ten songs.
With politically themed, revolutionary lyrical content, the album artwork was notable for its graphic photograph of Vietnamese monk Thích Quảng Đức performing self-immolation in June 1963.
The album was a critical success upon release, with several critics noting the album's politically motivated agenda and praising frontman Zack de la Rocha's strong vocal delivery. Ranked number 24 on Rolling StoneTemplate:'s list of the "100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time", the album peaked at number 1 on the US Billboard Heatseekers chart and number 45 on the US Billboard 200 and has gone on to achieve a triple platinum sales certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the US. In 2020, it was ranked 221 in Rolling Stone's updated list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time".
MusicEdit
The album contains politically-charged lyrical content and stylistically blends funk and heavy metal musical styles, similar to the Red Hot Chili Peppers.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Artwork and packagingEdit
The cover features a crop of Malcolm Browne's famous photograph of the self-immolation of Thích Quảng Đức, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, in Saigon 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.<ref>Kane, Rich (November 1999), Anger is a Gift. Retrieved February 27, 2007.</ref>
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.
Touring and promotionEdit
The album was supported by the Rage Against the Machine Tour, which commenced on January 15, 1993, in Chicago and concluded on December 31, 1993, in Detroit.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Rage Against The Machine was accompanied by opening acts in certain concerts, such as hip hop groups House of Pain and Cypress Hill.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Critical receptionEdit
Template:Music ratings Rage Against the Machine received critical acclaim. In a contemporary review, NME wrote that "what makes RATM more than just another bunch of prodigiously capable genre-benders is their total lack of pretension or contrivance ... the results burn with an undeniable conviction."<ref name="NME">Template:Cite journal</ref> Q magazine deemed it "a record of real attitude and energy",<ref name="Qmag">Template:Cite journal</ref> while Los Angeles Times critic Robert Hilburn hailed it as "a striking, politically conscious debut" and de la Rocha "a bona fide star who combines on stage a Bob Marley-like charisma and a Chuck D.-style rap command -- and the music itself is as tough and relentless as his raps."<ref name="latimes" />
Robert Christgau was somewhat less impressed in The Village Voice, summing it up as "metal for rap-lovers—and opera-haters" while naming "Know Your Enemy" and "Wake Up" as highlights.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> AllMusic reviewer Eduardo Rivadavia wrote in a retrospective review, "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" calling it "essential".<ref name="Allmusic" />
In 2001, Q 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 2003, the album was ranked number 368 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> climbing to number 365 in the 2012 revision and shooting up to number 221 in the 2020 reboot of the list.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> It was ranked number 24 on the magazine's list of "100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
In December 2008, BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe included Rage Against the Machine as one of 28 albums in his 'Masterpieces' series.<ref name="ref1" /> In October 2011, Rage Against the Machine was ranked number five on Guitar World magazine's top ten list of guitar albums of 1992.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
RereleaseEdit
The band announced on October 9, 2012, via their Facebook page that they would be releasing a special 20th anniversary box set to commemorate the group's debut album. The box set contains never-before-released concert material, including the band's 2010 Live at 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).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="ratm.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The collection was released on November 27, 2012.<ref name="ratm.com" />
The release features three distinct versions:
- Deluxe box set featuring two CDs, two DVDs, one 12-inch 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)
Track listingEdit
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Anger Is a Gift bonus disc – released with the 1995 Australian CD re-release
- "Darkness" – 3:40
- "Year of the Boomerang" – 4:02
- "Freedom" (Remix) – 6:14
- "Take the Power Back" (Live) – 6:12
Bonus Maxi 12-inch from the "Limited Tour Edition" red vinyl 1993 European re-release included this second LP labeled sides C and D
- C1 "Freedom" (Live) – 6:13
- C2 "Bombtrack" (From Mark Goodier's "Evening Session") – 4:08
- C3 "Bullet in the Head" (Remix) – 5:40
- D1 "Darkness of Greed" – 3:40
- D2 "Bullet in the Head" (Live) – 5:44
- 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-inch about the date nor venue.
PersonnelEdit
Rage Against the Machine
- Zack de la Rocha – vocals, production, art direction
- Tom Morello – guitar, production, art direction
- Tim Commerford (credited as "Timmy C.") – bass, backing 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
- 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
- Vlado Meller – 2012 remaster
- Steve Hoffman – 2016 Hybrid SACD remaster
ChartsEdit
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Weekly chartsEdit
Template:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chart| Chart (1993–1995) | Peak position |
|---|
| Chart (2002) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Irish Albums (IRMA)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
24 |
| Chart (2012) | Peak position |
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| Chart (2017) | Peak position |
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| Chart (2020) | Peak position |
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Year-end chartsEdit
| Chart (1993) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
9 |
| Chart (1994) | Position | |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
16 |
CertificationsEdit
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