Rage Against the Machine
– Evil Empire
If their debut was an explosion, Evil Empire is the sound of a band refining their aim before pulling the trigger. It’s leaner, meaner, and somehow even angrier—if that was even possible. Zach de la Rocha, Tom Morello, Tim Commerford, and Brad Wilk didn’t come here to compromise. They came to spit in the face of complacency, and they do it with enough conviction to shake the walls.
Musically, Evil Empire is all about tension and release. Morello’s guitar work is its own language, twisting funk, metal, and hip-hop into something unrecognizable yet entirely his own. The rhythm section grooves hard, pulling from jazz and punk as much as hard rock. And de la Rocha? He doesn’t just rap—he attacks, delivering every line like it’s both a sermon and a threat. The band’s chemistry is locked in, making every drop, break, and build-up hit with the force of a riot police baton.
This isn’t background music. It demands attention. It’s confrontational, relentless, and unafraid to challenge everything from American imperialism to systemic oppression. There’s no soft landing here—just fire, grit, and the sound of a band that believed music should be a weapon.
Choice Tracks
Bulls on Parade
That opening riff? Unstoppable. The song kicks in like a Molotov cocktail, and de la Rocha’s snarling delivery ensures it never lets up. The breakdown alone—wah pedal and all—is a masterclass in controlled chaos.
People of the Sun
A blistering call to arms with a groove that won’t quit. Morello makes his guitar sound like a DJ scratching vinyl, while de la Rocha delivers one of his tightest, most venomous performances.
Down Rodeo
Funky, heavy, and dripping with disdain. The slow burn of the verse makes the chorus hit even harder. The line “So now I’m rollin’ down Rodeo with a shotgun”? One of the coldest flexes in rock history.
Vietnow
A middle finger to right-wing talk radio wrapped in a pounding groove. Morello’s siren-like guitar work makes the whole thing feel even more urgent.
Year of the Boomerang
A closing track that feels like a warning. Hypnotic, menacing, and unshakable, it ends the album with a sense of tension that never quite resolves—because it’s not supposed to.
Evil Empire isn’t just Rage Against the Machine refining their sound—it’s them sharpening their knives. It’s lean, unfiltered, and still as explosive as the day it dropped.