fitzerman's Full Review: Evil Empire [PA] by Rage Against the Machine
Introduction
This is my review for Evil Empire. If you’ve read my review of Rage’s self-titled album, you’ll know that I have wanted to review this for ages. Firstly, I just want to say, now this album is as good as the first album and, yes, this is as good as anyone else I can think about’s best album. In other words… This is a very good album, a masterpiece in it’s self, but off the back as their self-titled album it really was going to find it difficult. And don’t worry; Tom Morrello is still a legend on this album.
The Cons
Okay, let’s get the cons over us. Firstly… Zack’s voice. It seems like he’s a lot older now. Last album, his voice sounded like he hadn’t gone thru puberty and well even though this must read very corny, it sounded better. It sounded much more energetic and filled with pure unadulterated hatred. Now it seems more laid back and almost at times, harsh. And I suppose, with the first album, Zack sounded like a teenager and teens everywhere could relate to him. He was like the voice of the people.
Next, the bass and drums aren’t as apparent and you lose the kind of booming sound needed in songs like Killing in The Name Of while screaming along with the lyrics. I really miss that deep sound providing a great underlay for Tom and Zack to work their magic. Luckily, this is back with Battle of Los Angeles album. You really have to have heard the first album, otherwise this will mean nothing to you.
That’s the cons out of the way so let’s get into the many pros of this album.
The Actual Review!
Let’s get straight to the song reviews:
PEOPLE OF THE SUN “Since 1516 minds attacked and overseen, now
crawl amidst the ruins of this, empty dream”
This starts with Tom playing cords on his own before Zack comes in and starts right into the topic of this song. This is straight into the anti-establishment feel with tight rapping from Zack. I was preparing for a screaming chorus where Zack spills his vital organs up his throat, out of his mouth and onto the floor with anguish. It doesn’t happen with the chorus sung in a harsh tone but ultimately isn’t powerful enough for me and is slightly repetitive. Having said this, I love this song and Tom’s guitar playing is great. I think this is pretty cool with amazing lyrics
MUSIC;
Great, although can get repetitive after awhile. This is one of the tracks that aren’t booming bass and drum oriented. Tom doesn’t have a solo in this one.
SCORE; 8.5/10
BULLS ON PARADE “They rally round the family, with a pocket full of shells.”
Arguably Rage’s most famous song and definitely the song that got them noticed. Much better than ‘People of the Sun’ and much more powerful. Good rapping from Zack
MUSIC;
Tom Morello is legendary on guitar. He has an amazing solo where he makes the guitar sound like a turntable! I thought it was until I saw the ‘All sounds made by bass, drums, guitar and voice’ sentence in the booklet and heard an interview with Tom. This solo is in the top 50 of all time according to the magazine Guitar World and I can see why!
9/10
VIETNOW “Turn on the radio, nah, f@ck it. On the radio, fear is your only hope.”
This song is about people who preach their beliefs as radio personalities over the airwaves. Now this is more like it! Has all the anger and vigour of their first album. Great! I love this song!
MUSIC;
The music is powerful and angry. And good news… The bass and drums are excellent! Tom plays brilliantly as usual playing riffs that work off Zack rapping/shouting/barking! Pure unadulterated hatred has never sounded so good!
10/10
REVOLVER “His spit is worth more than her work. Pass the purse to the pugilists”
Wow! To excellent songs in a row! Zack’s starts of whispering and spitting out his words before it gets really heavy. This is brilliant. The band shouts ‘Revolver!” Then it calms then again, like the eye of the storm. Zack recites the lyrics poem like before we blast back into the chorus. One of my favorite songs on the album, this got good radio play.
MUSIC; Great guitarwork (do I have to keep saying that!?) Morello is great. He really plays old school like Blackmore or Hendrix. Bass and drums are good and powerful on the chorus here.
11/10!
SNAKECHARMER “And you gotta make it where? To a sanctuary that’s only that’s only a fragile American hell.”
I’ve got to say I like this, although not as much as the last two. Very angry ( as usual) Just a good Rage song that will have you singing along.
MUSIC; Bass not as predominant as the last but still brilliant. I think RATM have one of the best sounds around at the moment. I think you get the picture!
8/10
TIRE ME “ I wanna be Jackie Onassis. I wanna wear wear a pair of dark sunglasses”
Another good one, if a little repetitive. I crack up every time I here that line above. I don’t think Zack wanted to have that reaction! Yes the song can begin to tire me(okay, okay slight pun intended, but it’s true!) after awhile. Still good
MUSIC; What you would expect. Rage have to be one of the most consistent bands of all time. Every song is up to par, it’s just some people enjoy certain ones more than others!
8/10
DOWN RODEO “Can’t waste a day when the night brings a hearse.”
This song has the best chorus on the album. (maybe on par with Roll Right)
This is basically about peoples hardship and poverty (see the chorus) Zack is laid back (Like I gave out about in the cons!) but on this track it works in a very cool way. He paints a picture with his words.
MUSIC; This starts off sounding like U2, yes U2! Then some sort of hair metal style and then into Rage style. Guitars are cool and sound computerized (and later like a shotgun!) Outstanding musicianship.
WITHOUT A FACE “Got no card so I got no soul, life in prison, no parole, no control”
This song is about illegal immigrants (I think) or prisoners released from jail. Let’s just say it’s about people without green card. Zack tells us because they have no card it’s like they have no face or soul. Very powerful.
MUSIC;
Up to par with the other songs. ‘Nuff said!
WIND BELOW “All the shareholders gonna flex, and try to annex the truth”
Probably my least favorite song on the album. Notice how I don’t say worst. Because it isn’t. It might even be SOMEONE’s favorite! Just not mine.
MUSIC; Listen, the music is brilliant EVERY song! Tom ALWAYS rule thesound with solo here and there and the bass and drum, while not as powerful as the first album, are excellent and are better than most other bands!
ROLL RIGHT “Roll right, roll call. Now we’re alright, we’re all calm”
This is about how the government try to cover up everything and keep us in check. Basically it’s about right winged people (duh!) saying that everything is fine when it really isn’t.
MUSIC; This has the best (along with DOWN RODEO) chorus on the album. It’s screamed like ‘Burn!’ was on Bombtrack. The music is powerful and pumping.
YEAR OF THE BOOMERANG “So let the guilty hang in tha year of the Boomerang, now it upon you.
This is about soldiers and war where they have no say and must do as their superior tell them “I got no property, but I’m a piece of it”
Another song like this is Disposable Heroes by Metallica on the Master of Puppets record; “Back to the front. You must do what I say, when I say, Back to the Front. You must die when I say, you must die. Back to the Front!”
The song is fitting end to the album with the last line “Now it’s upon you” basically saying the band has told us and taught us about the horrors of the world, now go and try and make the world a better place. And I will.
I strongly recommend this album. If you have the first album you will love this. If you buy this, get the first one as well. Both are great classics. I know I said a lot about the first album, but that had such an impression on me I had to compare the two. Both are great and don’t deserve to be compared. Get them!!! Thanks for reading everyone and I hope I helped you decide. If not, well I did my best. Thanks.
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