Rage Against The Machine

Welcome to the home of rebellion: Rage Against the Machine in Mexico City.\nAfter hurling its music and muscle behind political causes in Mexico, RATM threw its grenade of sound into Mexico City for the first time. Luckily enough, someone was taping.\nRATM plays to a seething crowd of 5,000, everybody thrashing to create a wave in front of the stage. It is easy to see why RATM is successful. The fans are just as intense.\nAlready raging with the first song, "Testify" from The Battle of Los Angeles, the energy comes in a steady downpour for the next 68 minutes. The only breaker to the rounds of sound-fire are the Zach de la Rocha vocalized commentaries on destitution in Mexico.\nReciting the plight of the Zapatista rebellion, the evils of the North American Free Trade Agreement and the student fight for justice, RATM not only entertains but educates. The sincere concern of the band and the horrifying statistics are enough to make an activist out of anyone. \nWhen the musicians are onstage, they convey the same passion. From the vehement vocals of de la Rocha to the collective trashing of Tom Morello, Tim C. and Brad Wilk, the onstage fire never wavers. With sweat trailing down his brow, de la Rocha's joyless, fevered and passionate expressions show the faces behind the songs.\nMost of the tracks are from The Battle of Los Angeles, but the Zapatista-inspired "People of the Sun" and explosive "Bulls on Parade" and "Killing in the Name" are also included. \nThe only detrimental points to the video have nothing to do with the performance. Jerky and oddly placed stills interfere with the rhythm of the music and frustrated me to the point of cursing. Had the concert not been processed in the hands of technological wizards, it would be much better. \nOtherwise "The Battle of Mexico City" makes the reason behind the roaring of RATM visual. Without letting down, the video is true to the band's most important fans: the politically purged who are fighting for justice.\nJust witness the war with a good set of speakers.