Rage Against the Machine isn't really the only metal band that matters, but their aggressive social and political activism is refreshing, especially in an age of blind (or usually self-directed) rage due to groups like Limp Bizkit, Bush, or Nine Inch Nails. Recorded in less than a month, The Battle of Los Angeles is the most focused album of the band's career, exploding from the gate and rarely letting go the whole way through. Like a few other famous revolution-in-the-head bands (most notably Minor Threat), Rage Against the Machine has always been blessed by the fact that the band is spewing just as much vitriol as its frontman.
Any potential problems created here by Zack de la Rocha's one-note delivery and extremist polemics are smoothed over by songs and grooves that make it sound like the revolution really is here, from the single "Guerrilla Radio" to album highlights like "Mic Check," "Calm Like a Bomb," and "Born of a Broken Man." As on the previous two Rage Against the Machine albums, Tom Morello's roster of guitar effects and vicious riffs are nigh overpowering, and are as contagious as the band has ever been since their debut.
De la Rocha is best when he has specific targets (like the government or the case against Mumia Abu Jamal), but when he attempts to cover more general societal problems, he falters. If anything less than one of the most talented and fiery bands in the music world were backing him, The Battle of Los Angeles wouldn't be nearly as high-rated as it is.
In 2003, The Battle of Los Angeles was ranked number 426 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. In 2005, the album was ranked number 369 in Rock Hard magazine's book of The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.
Track listing
01. "Testify" - 3:30
02. "Guerrilla Radio" - 3:26
03. "Calm Like a Bomb" - 4:58
04. "Mic Check" - 3:33
05. "Sleep Now in the Fire" - 3:25
06. "Born of a Broken Man" - 4:40
07. "Born as Ghosts" - 3:22
08. "Maria" - 3:48
09. "Voice of the Voiceless" - 2:31
10. "New Millennium Homes" - 3:44
11. "Ashes in the Fall" - 4:37
12. "War Within a Breath" - 3:36
All lyrics written by Zack de la Rocha, all music composed by Rage Against the Machine.
Rage Against The Machine
Zack de la Rocha – vocals
Tom Morello – guitars
Tim Commerford – bass
Brad Wilk – drums
Technical
Brendan O'Brien – production, mixing
Rage Against the Machine – co-production
Nick DiDia – engineering, recording
Russ Fowler – additional engineering
Sugar D – additional engineering
German Villacorta – assistant engineering (at A&M Studios)
Roger Sommers – assistant engineering (at Royaltone Studios)
Kevin Lively – assistant engineering (at Silent Sound Studios)
Ryan Williams – engineering (at Southern Tracks)
Karl Egsieker – assistant engineering (at Southern Tracks)
Monique Mitzrahl – assistant engineering (at Sunset Sound)
Kevin Dean – assistant engineering (at Sunset Sound)
Michael Parnin – assistant engineering (at Westlake Audio)
"Atom" – assistant engineering (at Westlake Audio)
Stephen Marcussen – mastering
Andrew Garver – digital editing
Cheryl Mondello – production coordination
Erin Haley – production coordination
Artwork and design
Rage Against the Machine – art direction
Aimee Macauley – art direction
Joey Krebs – artwork
Danny Clinch – photography
Matt DeMello (eye cue); photography
Steven Tirona – additional photography
Studios
A&M Studios, Los Angeles, CA – recording, mixing
Royaltone Studios, Los Angeles, CA – recording, mixing
Silent Sound Studios, Atlanta, GA – recording, mixing
Southern Tracks, Atlanta, GA – recording, mixing
Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, CA – recording, mixing
Westlake Audio, Los Angeles, CA – recording, mixing
A&M Mastering Studios, Los Angeles, CA – mastering
Notes
Release date: November 2, 1999
Recorded: September - October, 1998
Genre: Rap Metal, Alternative Metal, Funk Metal
Length: 45:10
© 1999
Label - Epic Records
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