Rage Against the Machine’s 10 Best Songs
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The post Rage Against the Machine’s 10 Best Songs appeared first on Consequence.
When four Los Angeles punks formed a new band in 1991 called Rage Against the Machine, they likely weren’t expecting to become one of the most influential acts of the decade and beyond. But Tom Morello, Brad Wilk, Tim Commerford, and Zack de la Rocha stumbled upon a sound that was so vibrant, visceral, and urgent, that 30 years later, it’s easy to see why they are so revered.
Sure, RATM’s novel sound is highlighted by funk rock, swampy riffs, and rousing grooves, but it’s their values and ideology that continue to make this band relevant. Zack de la Rocha’s fierce and prescient meditations on oppression, power imbalances, our country’s treatment of immigrants and people of color, and a capitalist system that pits us against each other are still important today. At the same time, Tom Morello’s insistence on writing experimental, idiosyncratic guitar solos is admirable and rewarding. In short, no one has done it quite like Rage Against the Machine.
They may have only put out three studio albums of original material, but their impact looms large: Their unique combination of hip-hop and rock inspired a significant amount of similar-sounding bands throughout the ’90s and 2000s, and their music continues to reach Millennials and Gen-Z as a prime example of rock’s fearless and politically-fueled values. At a time where discourse around social justice and politics is more highly visible than ever before, Rage Against the Machine’s powerful output is a conduit for our frustrations and anxieties, to seeking out injustice and revolution.
So, you can imagine our excitement when they announced they’d be returning for a reunion tour back in 2020. Of course, pandemic delays offset the tour by a couple of years, and it got even more complicated when de la Rocha ruptured his achilles just two dates in. But the dates they did manage to pull off were spectacular, even with de la Rocha seated throughout — so much so that their reunion performances made our list of the Top 10 Live Shows of 2022. They may be taking some extra time off for de la Rocha’s recovery, but when and if they return again, we’ll be thankful to have them back.
From 1991 to 2000, Rage Against the Machine put out three stellar works: their 1992 self-titled debut, 1996’s Evil Empire, and 1999’s The Battle of Los Angeles. They followed the trilogy up with cover album Renegades, and while those songs are wonderful Rage cuts (see: “Renegades of Funk” and “The Ghost of Tom Joad”), we’ve opted to stick with just their originals for this list.
Read below for our list of Rage Against the Machine’s 10 best songs, and check out a playlist of the selections as well.
— Paolo Ragusa
Editorial Coordinator
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10. “Township Rebellion”
This song off Rage’s 1992 debut album shows them experimenting with an electronic sound, blending it with the broody riffs and thick bass that would define their later work. Reflecting aspects of hip-hop of the era and an early ’90s metal sound, you can hear these young artists bursting out of their shell with something important to say. Zack de la Rocha brings it all together with his robust vocals, and in the process, they cemented a style that would go on to influence countless groups after them. — André Heizer
09. “Know Your Enemy” (feat. Maynard James Keenan)
“Know Your Enemy,” which features a bridge performed by Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan, is a hard rock staple for Rage Against the Machine. Tom Morello certainly drives the song with some quick, chopped up guitar work and escalating verse riffs, but de la Rocha uses it as another thesis statement: “I was born to rage against ’em,” spits de la Rocha before defiantly warning, “The land of the free?/ Whoever told you that is your enemy.” Keenan’s bridge is particularly fascinating and charged, especially considering the fact that there aren’t any other features in Rage’s discography. Shoutout to Commerford’s slap bass on this one, too. — P.R.
08. “People of the Sun”
The opening track of Evil Empire wastes no time in giving you a bit of a history lesson: “People of the Sun” chronicles the colonization of the Aztec Empire, the oppression inflicted on Mexico’s indigenous population, the Zoot Suit Riots in Los Angeles, and the Zapatista revolution. If this sounds like a lot of ground for de la Rocha to cover in a two-and-a-half minutes song, then you’re correct — but luckily, he makes it work with a poetic reflection on the hardships of his people, and the band echoes him with a furious arrangement. — P.R.
07. “Guerilla Radio”
At the height of Rage’s mainstream success, this single off The Battle of Los Angeles made a seismic impact in the scene. To this day, “Guerilla Radio” is the band’s only song to make it on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts, staying on for 20 weeks straight and eventually peaking at No. 69. To the naysayers, this might be the song that solidified the band as a commercial enterprise. But let us not forget the bold music video, where the group spotlighted the plight of garment workers in the fast fashion industry… in 1999. Wilk’s punchy drum beats groove effortlessly with Commerford’s bass line and Morello’s fuzzy guitar tones, all of them feeling at home with de la Rocha’s voice as he raps over the riffs in the coolest way possible. It all culminates into an explosive chorus, a chant we all know so well, as the lights go out. — A.H.
06. “Wake Up”
The Matrix inclusion notwithstanding, “Wake Up” is Rage Against the Machine through and through. From its riffage to its funk-infused verses, its “Kashmir”-reminiscent intro to its incorporation of J. Edgar Hoover’s abhorrent political rhetoric, the track takes the band’s name extremely literally. Despite alt-right, red-pilled conspiracy theorists’ (a group we can, with a fair amount of confidence, assume Rage Against the Machine doesn’t appreciate) adoption of the term “Wake Up,” the song perfectly and succinctly reminds fans what the band is here to do. — Jonah Krueger
05. “Sleep Now in the Fire”
Tom Morello packed The Battle of Los Angeles with barnstorming riffs, but perhaps none is more rousing and irresistible than “Sleep Now in the Fire.” He and Commerford go full blues rock on “Sleep Now…,” and combined with Wilk’s wash of cymbals and de la Rocha’s call to arms, it definitely pays off. When Morello doubles up his guitar in the final chorus, it’s genuinely overwhelming, and every ounce of power in that riff can jolt you awake. Not only is it a major album highlight, it was used in TV, movies, and commercials alike — including an absurd and iconic action sequence at the start of 2003’s Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle — P.R.
04. “Take the Power Back”
Following “Killing in the Name” on an album is a damn near impossible task. Yet, “Take the Power Back” does just about as good as any track could hope to. The tune immediately distinguishes itself with a funky, Flea-esque bass groove before de la Rocha busts in to question the establishment. The rest of the song takes a less aggressive approach to its sloganeering, at least by Rage Against the Machine standards. Like all great Rage songs, though, it’s blood-pumping, to the point, and serves as the perfect soundtrack for a rebellion. — J.K.
03. “Testify”
It’s right outside your door: “Testify” is an urgent reminder that we, the people, actually have power in naming the injustices of those who manipulate us and take advantage of the weak. Zack de la Rocha wants us to know it’s in our magazines, our news programs, it’s everywhere we look: The powers that be will do whatever it takes to continue pacifying and sedating us so they can prevent any dissent. He specifically cites the US’s foreign policy around oil, using the backdrop of war in the Middle East to call out leaders for their lack of compassion towards the people that end up being collateral (“Mass graves for the pump when the price is set,” goes the bridge). Empowering is an understatement; “Testify” is a cannonball of fury, an urgent cry for justice, and one of the band’s most impressive and succinct bits of songwriting. — P.R.
02. “Bulls on Parade”
Featuring one of the most iconic riffs of all time (and use of the wah pedal), this track shoves you through the hellscape wreaked by the American military-industrial complex around the turn of the millennium. Zack de la Rocha angrily asserts — in classic Rage style — that this war machine is destroying our society. While these forces run wild, it is the people who have to deal with the consequences of its devastation. This song is angry, and everything about it demands serious consideration. Morello’s solo here is instantly recognizable; he creates a vinyl scratch effect to emulate the hip-hop groups that inspired his own sound. Twenty-five years later and this song is still being replayed over and over by new and old fans spanning various generations, a testament to its emotive power and gripping soundscape. — A.H.
01. “Killing in the Name”
“Killing in the Name” is not only the platonic ideal of a Rage Against the Machine song, it’s one of the hardest-hitting political anthems ever written. From the earth-shattering opening guitar chords to the catharsis of the final chorus, the track has found a deserving spot in the history of popular music. Thanks to its enthralling structure and one of Morello’s most iconic riffs, even those who aren’t familiar with Rage Against the Machine know “Killing in the Name.” It’s simply timeless.
Which also happens to be the unfortunate aspect of the song. In addition to its flawless alt-rock construction, the political overtones of “Killing in the Name” remain disturbingly relevant even three decades after its initial release. The infamous opening lines could have easily been written in the wake of the 2020 protests against ongoing police brutality: “Some of those who work forces/ Are the same who burn crosses.” Hopefully, the song won’t ring so prescient forever, but until then, Rage tells us exactly what to do: “Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me.” — J.K.
Rage Against the Machine’s 10 Best Songs Playlist:
Rage Against the Machine’s 10 Best Songs
Consequence Staff
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