Rage Against the Machine

Evil Empire

First released1996

Evil Empire, the second studio album by Rage Against the Machine, was recorded in 1996 at various locations including One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles and other facilities. The album was produced by the band members themselves along with Brendan O'Brien, who also served as engineer and mixer. The recording sessions captured the band at peak creative confidence, featuring Tom Morello's innovative guitar processing and sampling techniques alongside the raw energy of the rhythm section. The album was released in April 1997 and marked the band's continued exploration of politically charged hip-hop influenced rap-metal sound. The production maintained the band's characteristic balance between live instrumentation and electronic manipulation while achieving greater sonic clarity than their debut.