Rage Against the Machine (album)

Tour

The album was supported by the Rage Against the Machine Tour which commenced in early 1993 and concluded on December 31, 1993.

XX 20th Anniversary Edition

The band announced on October 9, 2012, via their Facebook page that they would be releasing a special 20th anniversary boxset to commemorate the group's debut album. The boxset contains never-before-released concert material, including the band's 2010 Finsbury Park show and footage from early in their career, as well as a digitally-remastered version of the album, b-sides and the original demo tape (on disc for the first time). The collection was released on November 27, 2012.

The release features 3 distinct versions:

Critical reception

In a contemporary review, NME wrote that "what makes RATM more than just another bunch of prodigiously capable genre-benders is their total lack of pretension or contrivance ... the results burn with an undeniable conviction." Q magazine deemed it "a record of real attitude and energy", while Los Angeles Times critic Robert Hilburn hailed it as "a striking, politically conscious debut" and de la Rocha "a bona fide star who combines on stage a Bob Marley-like charisma and a Chuck D.-style rap command -- and the music itself is as tough and relentless as his raps." Robert Christgau was somewhat less impressed in The Village Voice, summing it up as "metal for rap-lovers—and opera-haters" while naming "Know Your Enemy" and "Wake Up" as highlights. AllMusic reviewer Eduardo Rivadavia wrote in a retrospective review, "it was the first album to successfully merge the seemingly disparate sounds of rap and heavy metal", he also praised the album's "meaningful rhymes and emotionally charged conviction".

In 2001, Q named Rage Against the Machine as one of the 50 Heaviest Albums Of All Time. The album is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. In 2012, the album was ranked number 365 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe named Rage Against the Machine as one of four 'Masterpieces'. This was his best album, on December 2, 2008. In October 2011, Rage Against the Machine was ranked number five on Guitar World magazine's top ten list of guitar albums of 1992.

Track listing

All tracks written by Rage Against the Machine (Tim Commerford, Zack de la Rocha, Tom Morello, Brad Wilk).

Anger Is a Gift bonus disc – released with the 1995 Australian CD re-release

1. "Darkness" – 3:40
2. "Year of tha Boomerang" – 4:02
3. "Freedom" (Remix) – 6:14
4. "Take the Power Back" (Live) – 6:12

Bonus Maxi 12" from the "Limited Tour Edition" red vinyl 1993 European re-release included this second LP labeled sides C and D

1. C1 "Freedom" (Live) – 6:13
2. C2 "Bombtrack" (From Mark Goodier's "Evening Session") – 4:08
3. C3 "Bullet in the Head" (Remix) – 5:40
4. D1 "Darkness of Greed" – 3:40
5. D2 "Bullet in the Head" (Live) – 5:44
6. D3 "Bombtrack" (Live) – 5:33

All songs from both bonuses are the versions from previously released singles and promos, except C1 which is from a different performance. No information is given on the 12" about the date nor venue.

Personnel

Rage Against the Machine

Additional musicians

Technical