Rage Against the Machine (1997) Review

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(More customer reviews)If you never had a chance to see Rage Against the Machine live, you really missed out. There was a time when Zach de la Rocha was the most frightening performer in the land. I caught them twice in '93, just as they were hitting - the shows were incendiary. Zach was wrath in the flesh, a live wire, ready to strike at any moment with unbridled fury. The pit was as wild as any I've ever experienced (I almost had a tooth knocked out!)
I saw them once again in 1999 during "The Battle of Los Angeles" tour. The band was much tighter, and Zach got down, but I felt like they had lost much of their menacing edge. Still, they were absolutely captivating.
This DVD captures Rage somewhere in between these two states. Most of the performances are from 1996/1997, their "Evil Empire" tour, with the exception of a couple from 1994 (pre-"Evil Empire"). Zach comes off as monstrous in '94, and more human in 1996/1997. Throughout, his intensity is at peak, especially on "Freedom" and "Tire Me" where he just goes absolutely nuts. It will give you shivers. Tom Morello is an extraordinary guitar player and is fascinating to watch as well.
The live stuff is the reason to get this, but they've also included six music videos as a bonus. The early videos, like "Killing in the Name", are so poorly dubbed and low budget that they're almost painful to watch. The later videos border on jaw dropping they're so good (my favorite is "Bulls on Parade".)
Unfortunately the special features are a little bland. One, for example, is a reading list. Another is a list of non-profit organizations that the band supports. Noble, sure, but both are already available on the Rage web site, where they are more legible. The best special feature is the ability to view the lyrics during the songs - all music DVDs should have this feature! The biggest thing lacking from this DVD is behind-the-scenes footage. I'm sure it's out there - why not include it?
If you were lucky enough to see Rage live, this DVD will bring back memories and have you pining for a reunion. If you missed them, brother/sister, I can't help you. In fact, you probably should avoid this - your envy for those of us who saw them could easily grow to unbearable proportions. Anyways, if you're a big fan, this DVD is a must-own. Don't hesitate to purchase it.

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