Rage Against the Machine (demo tape)

Infobox Album |
Name = Rage Against the Machine
Type = demo
Artist = Rage Against the Machine


Released = December 1991
Recorded =
Genre = Alternative metal
Funk metal
Rapcore
Length = 56:37
Label = Atlantic Records
Producer = Rage Against the Machine
Last album =
This album = "Rage Against the Machine (demo tape)"
(1992)
Next album = "Rage Against the Machine (album)"
(1992)

"Rage Against the Machine" is the original demo tape by Los Angeles alternative rock band Rage Against the Machine, released in December 1991. The 12-track tape was recorded at Sunbirth Studio in Los Angeles, California after drummer Brad Wilk joined the band, but before they had played their first live show.cite book | last = Taylor | first = Steve | title = A to X of Alternative Music | publisher = Continuum International Publishing Group | pages = p.205 | year = 2006 | isbn = 0826482171 ] When the band began performing live shows they sold the tape for $5, and sold around 5,000 copies. [Malkin, John. Sounds of freedom : musicians on spirituality & social change. Page 94. Berkeley, Calif. : Parallax Press, ©2005. ISBN 1888375477. oclc|57625671] The band were signed to a record deal with Epic Records on the strength of the demo's success shortly afterwards.

Most of the songs on the demo tape were included on the band's eponymous debut album, with only five songs being left out; "Darkness of Greed", "Clear the Lane", "Mindsets a Threat", "Autologic" and "Narrows". Two of these were eventually included as B-sides, with the remaining three songs never seeing an official release.cite web | last = Woodlief | first = Mark | title = Rage Against the Machine | work = Trouser Press | url = http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=rage_against_the_machine | accessdate = 2007-01-07] Some of the tracks on the demo are almost identical to the versions that appear in the debut album, whereas others have noticeable differences; the tempo of Take the Power Back" on the demo for example is much slower and has a different final verse. The record was notable for the first appearance of the song "Bullet in the Head" which became a hit when reissued as a single later in the year after being transferred intact from the demo to the album.cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=RAGE|AGAINST|THE|MACHINE&sql=11:kpfpxqw5ldje~T1 |title=Rage Against the Machine > Biography |accessdate=2008-08-02 |last=Ankeny |first=Jason |work=Allmusic.com |publisher=AMG]

The artwork features images from a newspaper's stockmarket section with a single match taped to the inlay card. As with all the bands later recordings, the statement "no samples, keyboards or synthesizers used in the making of this record" can be found on the cover, and the band also refer to themselves as "Guilty Parties" as they did in each subsequent original studio album. [cite album-notes |title=Rage Against the Machine |albumlink=Rage Against the Machine (album) |bandname=Rage Against the Machine |year=1992 |mbid=e956c901-acb7-48d6-9dc6-389a5f91f372 ] [cite album-notes |title=Evil Empire |albumlink= Evil Empire (album) |bandname=Rage Against the Machine |year=1996 |mbid=e9c991e2-2b60-4166-8fd1-875a0ab94613 ] [cite album-notes |title=The Battle of Los Angeles |albumlink= The Battle of Los Angeles (album) |bandname=Rage Against the Machine |year=2000 |mbid=962df9d5-0ab5-4f90-97d9-99cb0ab52360 ]

Track listing

The songs on the demo were as follows:cite web |url=http://www.ratm.net/promos.html |title=Rage Against the Machine: Discography |accessdate=2008-08-02 |work=Ratm.net |date= ]
# "Bombtrack"–4:13
# "Take the Power Back"–5:51
# "Bullet in the Head"–5:16
# "Darkness of Greed"–3:44
# "Clear the Lane"–3:53
# "Township Rebellion" - 4:27
# "Know Your Enemy"–4:21
# "Mindsets a Threat" - 4:01
# "Killing in the Name" - 6:37
# "Autologic" - 4:11
# "Narrows"–4:11
# "Freedom"–5:46

Personnel - "Guilty Parties"

* Rage Against the Machine – Producer
* Zack de la Rocha – Vocals
* Tom Morello – Guitar
* Tim Commerford – Bass (listed as Timmy C.)
* Brad Wilk – Drums
* Auburn Burell – Engineer

References