In a fashion similar to when Van Halen erupted in the late ‘70s and Guns N’ Roses exploded in the mid-‘80s, Rage Against The Machine stirred a sensation — breathing much-needed excitement and energy into a stagnant early ‘90s rock scene. Birthing the breakout cuts, “Bombtrack” and “Killing in the Name,” the So-Cal combo’s 1992 multi-platinum-selling self-titled debut grabbed the town’s two most notorious truants (metal and hip-hop) by their respective collars and dragged ‘em both back into the classroom — challenging them to get along and to achieve academic excellence. The socially-conscience, politically-charged lyrics and ferocious, unbridled delivery of frontman Zack de la Rocha forced followers to shut up, sit down and pay attention. The untamed, frenzied guitar work of Tom Morello wa...
