10 Most Influential Hard Rock Albums

Rap and rock had always had a bit of a tumultuous relationship when getting the ball rolling. Though both of these respective genres had an emphasis on heaviness and a healthy dose of attitude, the difference in tones and subject matter made it hard for fans of one to really get into the other. Even though there was a lot of contention surrounding these genres, Rage Against the Machine's debut was proof that the marriage can work if done correctly.

Coming right in the midst of the grunge movement, Rage had an axe to grind from the moment the first track begins, as Zack da la Rocha pulls no punches in regards to the injustices he sees happening around him. Compared to the drum machines you may have found in other hip hop acts, the rock instrumentation blended perfectly, with Tom Morello working as the unofficial DJ in the band, incorporating scratches and ambient noise in between his licks.

Above all else, Rage's music also showed that hard rock wasn't afraid to get serious if the time called for it, with songs like Freedom and Killing in the Name becoming rallying cries for the next generation. It's also fair to say that without Rage, we wouldn't have gotten the influx of nu metal that would come in the '00s. While the more sinful nu metal bands may have been a mixed blessing, the pure aggression on here can't be denied.