[SACD-R][OF] Rage Against The Machine - Evil Empire (Numbered Limited edition) - 1996/2016 (Rap-metal)

Evil Empire is the second studio album by American rap metal band Rage Against the Machine, released on April 16, 1996 by Epic Records, only four years after the band’s debut album. The album’s title is taken from the phrase “evil empire”, which was used by former U.S. President Ronald Reagan and many conservatives in describing the former Soviet Union. Evil Empire debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The song “Tire Me” won a 1996 Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance. The tracks “Bulls on Parade” and “People of the Sun” were also both nominated for Grammy Awards for Best Hard Rock Performance. The album was certified 3x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on May 24, 2000.
All Music Review
Rage Against the Machine spent four years making their second album, Evil Empire. As the title suggests, their rage and contempt for the “fascist” capitalist system in America hadn’t declined in the nearly half-decade they were away. Their musical approach didn’t change, either. Lead vocalist Zack de la Rocha is caught halfway between the militant raps of Chuck D and the fanatical ravings of a street preacher, shouting out his simplistic, libertarian slogans over the sonically dense assault of the band. Since the band didn’t perform together much after 1993, there isn’t a collective advance in their musicianship. Nevertheless, guitarist Tom Morello demonstrates an impressive palette of sound, creating new textures in heavy metal, which is quite difficult. Even with Morello’s studied virtuosity, the band sounds leaden, lacking the dexterity to fully execute their metal/hip-hop fusion — they don’t get into a groove; they simply pound. But that happens to fit the hysterical ravings of de la Rocha. Though his dedication to decidedly left-wing politics is admirable, his arhythmic phrasing and grating shouting cancel out any message he is trying to make. And that means Evil Empire succeeds only on the level of a sonic assault.