10 Greatest Screams In Rock Music History

If you were to rate all of the greatest singers in rock and roll history, Zack de la Rocha occupies a real interesting space. In terms of what he does in Rage Against the Machine, he isn't really a singer or a rapper, just taking the different criticisms of the government and channeling it into a sound that's almost conversational at some points. If you strip all of it out, Zack is just a pure vocalist, and Killing in the Name is a good example of what can be done with the power behind your throat.

While there aren't that many words in this song from a technical standpoint, it's all about what Zack does to twist those words into something different. When you hear him talk about those working forces burning crosses, you can physically hear him building in intensity, starting almost as a loud whisper before ramping it up with the rest of the band behind him. Every single word that comes out of his mouth has a good case for this list, until we reach the end of Tom Morello's guitar solo.

Since most of this song was talking about being kept down by racist points of authority, the mantra of "f*** you I won't do what you tell me" is one of the most cathartic moments in any rock song, almost like Zack's voice is a volcano about to erupt until he finally goes over the top at the very end. For as polarizing as the band can be at times, anger really is a gift for them, and Zack's vocals are probably the purest version of what unbridled rage can really sound like.