Rage Against The Machine

Product Information

The etching doesn’t look like RL, More like A or even KI. I own a lot of RL pressings and Ludwig’s initials are always etched distinctively, an obvious R and L. This looks nothing like them. Rated number 24 on the Rolling Stone's list of "100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time", the album peaked at number 1 on the US Billboard Heatseekers chart and number 45 on the US Billboard 200 and has gone on to achieve triple platinum sales certification in the US and produced four singles: To add some more info, I have a first EU press. The etching on side A looks very much like the "A" from the second photo of the release. The strangely shaped A in the last photo of the release is also present, but on side 2.

The original vinyl pressing, mastered by Robert Ludwig, gets a lot of praise on this forum. Ludwig even cited it when asked in an interview about the three best sounding records he's (re)mastered. Version without DADC logo and silver disc, BIEM/STEMRA, CB 791 and no SID-codes. Inner ring without etching. This pressing is great, yeah it doesn't have the separation of the OG, but this album is mixed and mastered so good, that even CD slams, so this is perfectly fine pressing for majority of fans.Anyway, this sounds great to me. It has nice resonating bass that goess really deep and i couldnt tell if this is analog or digital but would guess analog.

Sonic wise - it sounds great but exactly like the European original CD, which is why I assume the same digital master were used for both. The master was of course made by Ludwig, but the cutting seem to be a straight transfer from the digital master. Version with 'S01..' in matrix and no CB-code, no 'Made in Austria' on disc, both SID-codes and BIEM.

On The Go

I think some people here may have got their wires crossed over this reissue? I dont think Vlado Meller had much to do with the sound on this issue...maybe just the digital? Btw, i hate most of what he lays his hands on.... I'm pretty certain the "A" variant is just a badly etched RL. It looks exactly like the etched RL we see on the other photo, just missing the tail of the L at the end of the etching. But it really boils down to what kind of hi fi system one has, as I remembered listening to the original when it first came out years ago, it was an ear bleeding experience. I gotta say I think this pressing sounds spectacular. Admittedly I haven't heard any pressed from the Bob Ludwig cut, but I know the material well and I'm not missing anything in detail and impact. There's a bit of surface noise, but when the band's in full flight who cares.

Version without DADC logo and blue striped disc, BIEM/STEMRA, CB 791 and no SID-codes. Inner ring without etching. Forum members have not been kind about the Rage Against The Machine, S/T album, 20th anniversary remaster in the thread about it. Bullet in the Head" recorded at Industrial Recording, North Hollywood, CA. The song was recorded before ever playing live. Happy to report that's not the case at all. Someone else can pull the data, but it sounds REALLY dynamic to my ears. Also, I had to turn the volume up way past where I normally listen to get it loud. Seems like they mixed the overall volume lower to keep the dynamics. Even the images are fuzzy on this. It’s fine and has a nice matte sleeve, but I wish it was a little better.One way or another, I also have the 20th anniversary press, and hearing that side by side with this, it’s like an entirely different album. The amount of detail, the soundstage, the dynamics - everything you want from a top notch record, it’s here. The bass guitar in particular sounds like it’s in the room. The band released their demo also Rage Against The Machine, 11 months prior which contained earlier recordings of 7 out of 12 songs found on this album. Whether the etching is an RL or not, it sounds like an RL to me. This is obviously a much heavier album than any of those, but the sound is similar - most similar to the AC/DC presses, but with more low end. With politically themed lyrical content, the album artwork was notable for featuring a graphic photograph of Thích Quảng Đức committing self-immolation. Rage Against the Machine was a critical success upon release with several critics noting the album's politically motivated agenda as well as de la Rocha's strong delivery. And just a tip; the MASTERDISK in the runout is VERY faint. You'll have to clean the fingerprints off and hope there aren't too many hairline scuffs.