Rage Against the Machine is the debut studio album by Rage Against the Machine. It was released on November 3, 1992, by Epic Records. The band released their first commercial demo tape of the same name 11 months prior to the album’s release. The tape contained earlier recordings of 7 of the 10 songs featured on the album.
With politically themed, revolutionary lyrical content, the album artwork was notable for featuring a graphic photograph of Thích Quảng Đức performing self-immolation. Coincidentally, the release date for Rage Against the Machine was on November 3, 1992, the same day as the 1992 United States presidential election.
Rage Against the Machine was a critical success upon release with several critics noting the album’s politically motivated agenda and praising Zack de la Rocha‘s strong vocal delivery. The album peaked at number 1 on the US Billboard Heatseekers chart and number 45 on the US Billboard 200 and has gone on to achieve a triple platinum sales certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the US. Multiple publications have ranked it as one of the best albums of the 1990s.
The cover features a crop of Malcolm Browne‘s famous photograph of the self-immolation of Thích Quảng Đức, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, in Saigon in 1963. The monk was protesting President Ngô Đình Diệm’s administration for oppressing the Buddhist religion. The photograph drew international attention and persuaded U.S. President John F. Kennedy to withdraw support for Diệm’s government. In 1963, Associated Press correspondent Browne‘s coverage of the event earned the World Press Photo of the Year award.
The songs on Rage Against the Machine all feature political messages. Activists such as Provisional IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands and Black Panther Party founder Huey P. Newton are listed in the “Thanks For Inspiration” section. Also thanked were Ian and Alec MacKaye.
The lyrics for each song were printed in the album booklet with the exception of those for Killing in the Name, which were omitted; the booklet reads “2. KILLING IN THE NAME”, skips the lyrics and continues with the next song.
The statement “no samples, keyboards or synthesizers used in the making of this record” can be found at the end of the sleeve notes. Similar statements were made in the band’s subsequent albums. The band also refer to themselves as “Guilty Parties” for each album.
Tracklist:
- Bombtrack
- Killing in the Name
- Take the Power Back
- Settle for Nothing
- Bullet in the Head
- Know Your Enemy (featuring Maynard James Keenan)
- Wake Up
- Fistful of Steel
- Township Rebellion
- Freedom
Rage Against the Machine
Zack de la Rocha: vocals, production, art direction
Tom Morello: guitar, production, art direction
Tim Commerford (credited as “Timmy C.”): bass, backing vocals, production, art direction
Brad Wilk: drums, percussion, production, art direction
Additional musicians
Maynard James Keenan: additional vocals on “Know Your Enemy”
Stephen Perkins: additional percussion on “Know Your Enemy”
Technical
Craig Doubet: assistant engineer
Stan Katayama: engineer
Nicky Lindeman: art direction
Garth Richardson: production, engineering
Jeff Sheehan: assistant engineer
Steve Sisco: mixing assistant
Andy Wallace: mixing
Bob Ludwig: mastering (1992 CD and vinyl)
Steve Hoffman: mastering (2016 Hybrid SACD)
