8. Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against The Machine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vuC3JOrK84 Track List: 1. Bombtrack 2. Killing in the Name 3. Take the Power Back 4. Settle for Nothing 5. Bullet in the Head 6. Know Your Enemy 7. Wake Up 8. Fistful of Steel 9. Township Rebellion 10. Freedom A definitive 90's Rock record and surprisingly one that was neither labelled as Grunge or Nu-Metal. Rage Against the Machine existed in a sphere all of their own. It may have been Rap-Rock but the difference between Rage and the knuckle-dragging likes of Limp Bizkit or Hed (PE) is cavernous. Emotionally-charged and politically aggressive, Rage Against the Machine were like nothing we had heard before. The message on the sleeve notes stated "no samples, keyboards or synthesisers used in the making of this record". A statement not meant to amuse but to accurately exemplify the nature of the bands intentions; bullish*it free, stripped-back Rock with a hard-hitting message. In Tom Morello's guitar work the world was introduced to an innovative new voice. Untethered by tradition and free to embrace industrial/electronic noise he was also savvy enough to remember the importance of groove and that head-bangers like to head-bang; his style has been often copied but never bettered. "Killing in the Name", remains their defining statement, a scathing indictment of institutional racism and police brutality. Widely recognised as the bands signature song, "Killing in the Name" is a foul mouthed, guitar heavy, explosive tirade against the ills of American society. Throughout the tracks five minute running time, vocalist/activist Zack De La Rocha spits and snarls the word f*ck seventeen times and the song is famous for its "F*ck you, I wont do what you tell me" refrain. "Killing in the Name" earned its notoriety in the UK when BBC DJ Bruno Brookes aired the uncensored, expletive-ridden version during his Top 40 countdown. A monumental mistake from a corporation who revelled in censorship for sure - highly amusing for most of us listening, highly embarrassing for the BBC.
Christopher Jennings
Contributor
I love Heavy Metal, and generally anything that involves a guitar and loud noises, so I figured it was about time I put all the useless information in my head to good use and start writing a few things. Most of the time I'll be writing nonsense but occasionally I may surprise myself and appear half-way knowledgable.....but you can be the judge of that. Thanks for your fleeting attention!
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Christopher