Review Summary: Rage Against the Machine's most overlooked album which contains some of their best material.
Rage Against the Machine is a very unique band. In my opinion, they flawlessly implemented rap vocals over their alternative/funk instrumentals and used it to their advantage. The anti-governmental
Zach de la Rocha uses unjust policies and similar topics as lyrical themes. It’s a good change of pace from the typical love or hate filled lyrics that are commonly used nowadays. Guitar wizard
Tom Morello uses many effects on the guitar to compliment the band and give it a unique sound.
Tim Commerford drives the band with great bass riffs and serves as the band’s foundation.
Brad Wilk is the drummer and uses a variety of alternative beats to give the band its funky groove. Each member of the band complements each other and work together to make exceptional music.
Now, let’s get to the album review. Keep in mind, my ratings might come off as lenient since Rage is my favorite band.
People of the Sun – Ah, here we go. People of the Sun starts off with a very simple yet great guitar riff with an interesting guitar tone. What makes this song so great is the chorus. It’s a repeated riff in both the guitar and bass using only two pitches and Zach rapping:
“It’s coming back around again!
This is for the people of the sun!”
It’s a very short track clocking in at only two and a half minutes, but in my opinion one of the best on the album. My rating:
9.5/10
Bulls on Parade – The most famous song on the album. Grew in popularity by being in the video game Guitar Hero 3, and was a great choice for the game. This song starts off with a riff of two pitches and octave apart. Soon after, Tom takes it away with a wah-wah driven guitar riff and then the verses come in. After a couple choruses, there’s a key change and a fairly short yet very awesome bass solo which leads into the guitar solo. Again, Tom uses his wah-wah work to make a great guitar solo and soon after Zach raps
“Bulls on Parade!” repeatedly. This is one of the best songs on the album (second best in my opinion) and one of the best Rage Against the Machine songs in general. My rating:
9.7/10
Vietnow – Vietnow is one of the best songs on the album. It also contains the infamous lines:
“Turn on the radio!
Nah, **** it. Turn it off.
Fear is your only god on the radio!
Nah, **** it. Turn it off.”
This is one of the more recognizable songs on the album since it begins with a unique riff. During the verses, a simple riff is played in both the guitar and bass. Most of Rage’s riffs are fairly simple, but powerful nonetheless. The song ends with Tom playing a note repeatedly and then raises the note a half-step up. Great song. My rating:
8.8/10
Revolver – This has one of the coolest intros of all Rage Against the Machine songs. It just starts off with very deep and low guitar sounds and then they raise and vary in pitch and sound. Finally, the main riff kicks in and the whole band is groovin’. The verses of the song are very mellow and Zach whispers over the instruments to give the band an ominous feeling. Then the pre-chorus comes in with a build-up and the chorus kicks in:
“Hey revolver, don't mothers make good fathers?
Revolver!
Hey revolver, don't mothers make good fathers?
Revolver!”
The main riff is continued after this and the process repeats. Another stellar track. The album starts off with four superb songs and the rest of the album doesn’t disappoint. My rating:
9.2/10
Snakecharmer – In my opinion, this is probably the weakest song on the album, but still an excellent song. Virtually every song on this album is great, even the weak ones. Snakecharmer starts with some random drum licks by Brad and goes into a groove with Brad’s drumming being the focus. Then Zach comes in and the verse begins. After the verse the band plays about three different riffs that serve as the chorus. The song ends with Zach repeating
“Interested in you, interested in you, etc.” Excellent track despite being the weakest. My rating:
8.4/10
Tire Me – Possibly the heaviest track on the album since it starts off with a distorted, deep bass riff that continues through the beginning of the track and the verses. Tim drives the entire song with the bass. I think of this track as Jesus Christ Pose was on the album Badmotorfinger by Soundgarden. It has a different feel from the rest of the album, but a still a great song. Not much more to say about this song. My rating:
8.5/10
Down Rodeo – In my opinion this is the best song on the album and in my top five Rage songs. It starts off with guitar and bass repeating the same chord/note until the bass changes the note to give it a dominant sound, then leads into the excellent main riff. Then enters Zach who is rapping:
“Yeah I'm rollin' down Rodeo with a shotgun.
These people ain't seen a brown skin man
Since their grandparents bought one!”
Powerful lyrics by Zach as always. The guitar during the verses sounds just like a keyboard. I don’t know how Tom does it… Anyway, the pre-chorus + chorus are the high points of the song. At the end of the second chorus, it goes into the bass playing a repeated note and then comes the bridge and finally the close of the song. Great, great song by Rage. My rating:
9.8/10
Without a Face – Like Tire Me, the bass is the focus of the song; at least in the verses. The chorus is powerful as always and has a guitar solo after the second chorus. Pretty much a typical Rage song (which is a great thing by the way). The song ends with the bridge like Down Rodeo and Zach repeats:
“You say
Fortify!
Reaction!
You divide!”
Another great song in the album. My rating:
8.5/10
Wind Below – Starts off with one of the best riffs on the album and soon the verses come in with an interesting feel. Tom repeats trills on various notes during the verses and it complements the band perfectly. The bass is groovin’ during the verses and then the chorus comes in with the beginning riff. Then soon after, there’s a very ominous guitar solo and it sounds undeniably awesome. Then is a soft section that builds up to a riff that’s repeated until the end of the song. Another excellent song. My rating:
8.8/10
Roll Right – This song starts with an excellent riff and then goes into the verse which contains no guitar. Soon after the chorus comes in:
“Roll right! Roll call!
But now we’re alright! We’re all calm!”
This song closes with the bridge like other songs on the album do. We’re nearing the end of the album… My rating:
8.7/10
Year of tha Boomerang – Starts off with an interesting riff on guitar and the verses come in. 43 seconds into the song, a five second bass interlude is played and, let me tell you, it’s beautiful, but a little bit out of place. Well not so much out of place, but you want it to go on longer. No matter, as the riffing continues in the verse that follows and then the chorus:
“I got no property but yo I'm a piece of it,
So let the guilty hang!
I got no property but yo I'm a piece of it,
In the year of tha boomerang!”
Following the chorus is a heavy riff, and the little bass interlude is repeated after the riff. The intro guitar riff is played through the choruses and the song ends with a heavy riff and then guitar squeaks. Excellent end to this phenomenal album. My rating:
9/10
So that was it, Evil Empire. Viewed by most as Rage’s weakest album next to Renegades, but you just have to get used to the funky feel of it. I think their debut album is better than Evil Empire, but this is still a classic piece of work that definitely shouldn’t be overlooked.
Recommended listens:
- Down Rodeo
- Bulls on Parade
- People of the Sun
- Year of tha Boomerang
- Vietnow
My first review. I wanted to start off with an album I’m comfortable with.
