1. Peoeple of the Sun: Rage manages to gloriously blend alternative rock, funk, and metal with this revolutionary gem of a track. Definitely one of Rage's best!

2. Bulls On Parade: My personal favorite. This track starts off with a crushing two-note intro and continues its juggernaut assault on your ears and doesn't stop. One of the best rock songs ever!!!

3. Vietnow: One of their most angry songs, Vietnow mixes heavy metal with hardcore rap. Listen to this one when you're pissed.

4. Revolver: The intro guitar solo is unbelievable! It's kind of like a subdued Jimi Hendrix type solo. The rest of the song is superb too!

5. Snakecharmer: Many people overlook this one. Zack De La Rocha's (lead singer) mood swings are genius throught this entire song. Great great tune!

6. Tire Me: A grammy winner!!! Fast paced and entrancing, Tire Me is a furious track. Take a minute to catch your breath after listening to this one.

7. Down Rodeo: With highly offensive and revolutionary lyrics, odd guitar sounds, distorted, and furious drum loops, this song is a great example of what Rage is all about.

8. Without a Face: It was clear that the focus was more on rap for this song, and that's not a bad thing!!! Zack is unbelievably gifted. The end chorus is strikingly powerful (and loud not to mention!)

9. Wind Below: One of my favorite Rage songs (I'm not sure why), Wind Below is a devastatingly truthful tirade. You've gotta love it when Rage trashes major companies like GE and ABC.

10. Roll Right: The message at the end of this song ("Take 'em to the seventh level!") is just as powerful as "f*** you I won't do what you tell me!" This is a truly heavy song!

11. Year of the Boomerang: Not very heavy, but never the less catchy, Year of the Boomerang is a beautiful song and a wonderful way to close out the greatest cd ever made.

Few flaws, but still a standout
After 3 to 4 years, Rage released this "more metal than rap" style album. Evil Empire doesn't have as much talent as the debut with the exception of a few songs(People Of The Sun, Bulls On Parade, Down Rodeo), but it's still better than Renegades. Battle Of L.A. Is better than this, but this isn't far behind. Tom Morello takes the guitar skills to the next level on Revolver, People Of The Sun and Roll Right. Zack De La Rocha really gives it the young Phil Anselmo style voice on the vocals on the songs like Snake Charmer and Tire Me. Well, here's the song-depth review:

1)People Of The Sun(2:30) - Shortest song, but really heavy. Pretty cool, sounds better live. This is a standout track. 4/5

2)Bulls On Parade(3:52) - My personal favourite on the album, much like everyone else. Seems really cool, no cheesy starts, just goes straight to the action. Not as good as Guerilla Radio from Battle Of L.A., but the best song on Evil Empire. 5/5

3)Vietnow(4:39) - Well, it's not too bad, but it's very average. A bit like Take The Power Back, only less good. Unfortunately it's my least favourite. 2/5

4)Revolver(5:30) - Long, but heavy. This is tied with Down Rodeo for 3rd best song. It's soft, much like Settle For Nothing and Born Of A Broken Man, but then it gets heavy with a lot of screaming. This is a song that never gets old. Standout. 5/5

5)Snakecharmer(3:55) - 2nd best song. It's nice, It's a fast song with a lot of screaming, much like Revolver, but shorter, heavier and more creative lyrics. Another standout. 5/5

6)Tire Me(3:00) - 3 minutes exact. This is the closest song to being much like 13 Steps To Nowhere from Pantera's Great Southern Trendkill. Perfect, but just loses to Down Rodeo. Still good. Zack really makes this a different Rage. This is the only song that even comes close to being heavy metal. 5/5

7)Down Rodeo(5:20) - Nice guitars. A pretty good tune. Nice screaming near the end. It's a very creative song, that doesn't drag on, despite the fact that it's 5:20. It's a perfect song. 3rd favourite with Revolver. 5/5

8)Without A Face(3:37) - Not bad. Just doesn't seem as good as the likes of Tire Me and Bulls On Parade. But still, you just can't skip it. 2.6/5

9)Wind Below(5:50) - Longest song on the album. Although it does tend to drag on, it's got a pretty cool guitar riff, courtesy of our dear friend, Mr. Tom Morello. Zack's vocals really make it seem like a lullaby when it becomes soft, but the chorus really makes him shine. 3.8/5

10)Roll Right(4:22) - OK, this isn't bad at all. Tom really shines here, as does Tim Bob. Zack shines again here. A combination of People Of The Sun and Down Rodeo, kind of. It's not a favourite, but it's listenable. 4/5

11)Year Of Tha Boomerang(4:00) - Nice, we end on a good song. Although not as memorable as Freedom, or the latter War Within A Breath from Battle of L.A., it really shines here. Screaming and rapping again. Nuff said. 4.3/5

That's Evil Empire. Go get it now, or start with the debut and work your way up. You might be disappointed, but it's still a good buy. Get it now.

There is no logic to inciting violence to create peace
Look kids! If you shell out $16.00 you too can listen to the supposed socialist political musical stylings of Rage! So much for the band supposedly being anti-capitalism. Rage Against the Machine are 90% bullsh*t. I can't stand how they try to rationalize themselves. Violent, riot-like vocal inflections create riot situations (studies have shown). Vocalists don't get much more violent-sounding than de la Rocha (unless you're Alec Empire of Atari Teenage Riot, who has no relation to this album or Rage). Trying to get peace through inciting violent revolution doesn't work (and don't act like you don't know about the deaths attributed to tramplings at Rage concerts). I don't care if Rage played the Tibetan Freedom concert or not, it doesn't make them any more peaceful. Rage claim they're vehemently against capitalism, but then they go sell their records for profit. They don't even try to reduce the price either! F*cking hypocrites. Yeah, that's right: I'm questioning them, as anyone should be... just like everything political should be questioned. And unlike you Rage fans, I don't groove to the funky guitar solos of the upscale Harvard boy who has no business speaking for the downtrodden (I believe you fans know him as Tom Morello). I groove to my own beat of my own personal views instead.

Nice!
I like it a lot. But is not my favorite one.

The Joy of Rage
RATM's sophomore effort is a worthy followup to their incredible debut. I can't say that I enjoy this album quite as much as their first , but it still has a great collection of tunes. People of the Sun, Bulls on Parade, Vietnow, and Down Rodeo are some of my favorite Rage songs. I absolutely adore RATM's blend of politics and music. It is so great to hear intelligent music with an intelligent message behind it. I must say that I strongly disagree with Roni Sareg (author of Amazon's editorial review above). I don't find Rage's message misdirected at all. Zack, as he said on their first album, knows his enemy. Rage is against the entire global capitalist system. There is nothing empty or ranting about this. It is a much deeper and more philosophical political message than just railing against the President or the war or whatever would be specific enough. To me, the uncompromising opposition to the system that spawns so much destruction is a much more powerful message that gives RATM a uniquely powerful quality. Rage Against the Machine provides some of the best rock out there today. I highly recommend all their albums, both for the music and the message contained within the music.
As the vitriol spewed from Evil Empire, Rage Against the Machine's long-awaited follow up to their 1993 debut owes much to Chuck D.'s polemic fury and rapid-fire urgency--though as always the band rages without hip-hop machinery in favor of the heavy-duty power tools of rock. But no matter if Rage against the Machine amounts to revolutionary rap, protest metal, or a combination of the two, the band's command of sonic rage makes Evil Empire a powerful assault in any musical language.

But wait, there's more to the name. Raging against the machine, like yelling at the TV, is woefully misdirected. Lyricist Zack de la Rocha is clearly someone with strong political views--particularly when it comes to the plight of fellow Mexicans on both sides of the border. He vents his indignation sharply at times ("Vietnow," "Without a Face"), rather clumsily and artlessly most others. Music this angry should be aimed at something more specific than an entire race or nation or government, or else it risks sounding like the empty rants of confused postpubescent rebellion. If only Rage against the Machine's raw musical muscles were grinding over a focused message, lord knows how potent they could be. --Roni Sarig