10 Best Hard Rock Album Covers Of All Time
4. Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against the Machine were always a band that were on the fringes of every genre. By being one part rock, one part rap, and one part punk, the band made something completely unique whose influence is still being felt to this day. Given the band's penchant for more savage lyrical themes, the band certainly made an impression with their first album cover.
Taken from a news story the band had heard about, this image is of a Vietnamese monk who burned himself alive as a protest against the mistreatment of Buddhists in his native land. For many young kids, a man on fire might seem like the most metal thing to put on your album, but something about this photo seems much more real.
For one, this was an actual incident that happened, which eventually led to John F Kennedy withdrawing support to Vietnam. At the same time, the actual meaning behind the photo is a unique parallel to Rage's music, which is full of sonic destruction in the name of fighting for your rights. The censors may have seen an album like this as being cheeky, but the background behind this photo speaks to those who would put their life on the line for their freedom.