Evil Empire
Evil Empire is built around pressure. Zack de la Rocha sounds as though every word needs to come out, while the band support his rapping with heavy, compact playing. Rage Against the Machine sound rougher here than on their debut. The funk remains present, but it often has to work through distortion and an almost constant aggression.
Tom Morello keeps that approach interesting. His guitar supplies recognisable riffs but can just as easily suggest another instrument. On Bulls On Parade, the solo almost becomes a turntable. Those unusual sounds belong inside the song, giving its rhythm and developing tension another direction. The combination of a simple foundation and unfamiliar details works particularly well.
People of the Sun stays short and direct. A few strong musical ideas give it all the force it needs. Tire Me draws much of its power from the bass, demonstrating Tim Commerford's importance to the record's weight. Down Rodeo connects the heavy backing with a pointed social criticism. Message and performance feel closely joined there.
The aggression does have a cost. Some passages push so insistently that there is less room for the fluid movement this band can also provide. De la Rocha's delivery maintains a fairly constant intensity too. That suits the material but makes the whole record less varied than its range of guitar sounds might initially suggest.
Evil Empire still offers much more than a louder second round. Strong bass parts, individual guitar ideas and committed rapping give the music a clear identity. Paying attention to the interaction reveals how much happens inside that compact, aggressive shape. The album is most convincing when its anger finds a precise rhythm and a strong song.
