“

Rage Against the Machine spent four years making their second album, Evil Empire. As the title suggests, their rage and contempt for the "fascist" capitalist system in America hadn't declined in the nearly half-decade they were away. - Stephen Thomas Erlewine/AMG

”

Evil Empire is the second album by American rap metal band Rage Against the Machine. It was released on April 16, 1996, almost four years after the band's first, self-titled album.

The album's title is taken from the phrase "evil empire," which was used by former U.S. President Ronald Reagan and many conservatives in describing the former Soviet Union.

The track "Bulls on Parade" became the first single and, as with their debut, five singles were released in total.

Evil Empire debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. The song "Tire Me" won the 1996 Grammy award for Best Metal Performance. The tracks "Bulls on Parade" and "People of the Sun" were both nominated for Grammy's for Best Hard Rock Performance in separate years.

On May 24, 2000 the album went Triple Platinum.




Track listing

All songs written and arranged by Rage Against the Machine and all lyrics by Zack de la Rocha.

Side A

"People of the Sun" – 2:30
"Bulls on Parade" – 3:51
"Vietnow" – 4:39
"Revolver" – 5:30
"Snakecharmer" – 3:56

Side B

"Tire Me" – 3:00
"Down Rodeo" – 5:20
"Without a Face" – 3:36
"Wind Below" – 5:50
"Roll Right" – 4:22
"Year of tha Boomerang" – 3:59

Personnel - "Guilty Parties"

Rage Against the Machine – producer, art direction
Zack de la Rocha – vocals, lyricist
Tom Morello – guitar
Tim Commerford – bass (credited as "tim bob")
Brad Wilk – drums
Aimee Macauley – Art Director
Nick DiDia – engineer, recording technician
Clay Harper – assistant engineer
Lisa Johnson – photography
Paul Kosky – recording technician
Bob Ludwig – mastering
Brendan O'Brien – producer
Andy Wallace – mixing
Caram Costanzo – second engineer
Dave Rat – recording technician