Straight Forward Simplicity Blends in Peak Form
Rage against the Machine was the first band to introduce the furious combination of hard rock, metal and rap. This musical style was unheard of in the music industry. After seven years and two multi-platinum successes, the Machine further shows its musical intensity and superiority with its recent release, The Battle of Los Angeles. Although they have not made any significant changes in their style and lyrics, they further enhance their musical approaches, coming through in peak fashion with their sharpest album to date. Lead singer Zack De La Rocha remains steady with his lyrical fuel. In The Battle of Los Angeles, he deals with topics such as the media, capitalism and political controversy. He also devotes many of his lyrical opinions toward Mumia Abu-Jamal, a jailed journalist and former Black Panther who was sentenced to death in the 1981 shooting of a Philadelphia policeman. Because of the heated controversy and large-scale protest, both nationally and internationally, toward Abu-Jamal's sentencing, De La Rocha states his beliefs in the album. He shows this through "Guerrilla Radio" and "Voice of the Voiceless." In "Voiceless," De La Rocha says, "My Panther, my brother, we are at war until you're free." The heart and soul of Rage Against the Machine is shown through guitarist Tom Morello. He proves, once again, why he is considered to be one of the most explosive and multi-talented guitarists in the business. He expresses a versatile range of music in the album. Besides his cliche of clean-cut power riffs in tracks such as "Guerrilla Radio" and "Testify," Morello displays every sound imaginable in "Mic Check" and gives a pure hard rock sound to "Sleep Now in the Fire." He also intertwines a solemn and ferocious effect in "Born of a Broken Man." It is this combination of Zack De La Rocha and Tom Morello that have formed a strong nucleus for Rage Against the Machine. They have maintained a sound that they have been able to expand on with simplicity, control and style. Their styles blend together perfectly in The Battle of Los Angeles, proving why they are one of the most dominant bands in the business.
Excellent CD, but still not as good as the debut...
The Battle Of Los Angeles is Rage Against The Machine's glorious return to the music industry. One of the best bands out there has finally come back, and they give their return justice too. This album continues their legacy of delivering a great message as well as great songs. Zach De La Rocha hasn't lost a step, and his delivery is still very strong. Tom Morello is still one of the most talented and innovative guitarists of this era. The band still has their solid lineup of annoyingly catchy songs (try going a day without reciting the line "lights out, guerilla radio").The Battle Of LA is a great album, but I still wouldn't feel comfortable calling it Rage's best album. It is Rage's freshest album to date, but it still doesn't surpass their 1992 self-titled debut, which blew me away and still continues to. It's good to see them try to surpass it, just as they did with Evil Empire. But, as with Evil Empire, The Battle Of LA only goes so far as to excell Rage's career rather than define it. They didn't lose their touch after the first album like Korn somewhat did, they just can't seem to match it. Still, The Battle Of Los Angeles is an amazing album from an amazing band, and I highly reccomend it to everyone.
rage is great .....
this album is the most unique and powerful album that i ve ever heard.the album kicks off with testify,which is a mighty song .the second one ,gurellia radio, is a melodious track ,with zack spitting out his words prodigiously.sporadic track born of a brakon man ;is another track that can revitalize even the dead and listless soul.sleep now in the fire is a preeminent song which is so real and the guitar part of morello in this song is awesome with nasty effects like that of a running dj.fire spitter zack's rapping style in mariais simply perfect.ashes in the fall is another track which should be adored coz zack's ebullient vocals in this song is inevitable.mellifluous track mic check is nicely generated in timing and more than a song it sounds like a mayhem. all in all the album is greatly packed up with power and fury which can knock down so called system ,norm and values.now rage is no more with us .tom morello and other remaing freaks really made a bad move by colliding with chris cornell to form audioslave which is not at all worth listening.
Rage Against the Machine spews hyprocritical bull
I know of no women of any age, race, or ethnicity who listen to Rage's music. Rage is strictly a band for teenage male sheep who think they're doing the world some great justice by being "political" by listening to "political" music. Sure, just like the majority of Americans, I want Bush to get the hell out of office too, but instead of creating the chaos and moshpit-like riots that Rage want, we need to unite and vote against the hate-filled warmonger instead. The reality with Rage is that they're all about touting militant bullsh*t 90% of the time, and their fans don't even realize it. They just like de la Rocha's violent vocal delivery and stage presence because he makes being militant anthematic. He's mucho macho, that Zach de la Rocha. Rage Against the Machine have no idea what they're talking about when it comes to certain issues that they should have absolutely no say in. Rage Against the Machine claim they are for freedom and citizens' rights to do what they believe is in their best interest, but then Rage come out with an anti-abortion song ("Born as Ghosts"). And it's always the men who don't understand women that come out against abortion. Either those types of men, or Christian fundamentalists. Tom Morello thinks that just because he went to Harvard that he can spew his own personal bullsh*t views and have them be true. Sorry guy, but your opinion isn't what anyone else should live their life by, so quit acting like you state any facts. Hey, Tom, if you think you should have a say in whether a woman can get an abortion, how about we decide whether or not you can get a testicular cancer removed?
Question the government and all forms of media, especially music that shouts it tells the truth, because truth is in the eye of the beholder. There are as many truths as there are individuals in the world.
one of the best albums ever
This is, at the moment my favourite album. I will tell you the best songs on the cd. I love Testify, Guerilla Radio, Calm like a Bomb, Sleep now in the fire, War within a breath, and ashes in the fall. the lyrics are great politicly charged and angry. This album establishes rage's place as the best by far rap/metal band of all time. that may sound repetative but it doesn't even say it enough. Zack DeLa Rocha is the coolest guy in the world. tom morello is in my opinion one of the best guiatists ever he is insane (i base that on nothing ha ha just kidding). rage may not be around any more but they popularized rap/metal and for that they will never be forgotten. if u r interested in the members of the band are now 3 of them are in the band audioslave. thank you for your time. ROCK ON!
