• Record Label: Fantasy
  • Release Date: Sep 15, 2017
User Score
5.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 24 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 24
  2. Negative: 9 out of 24
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
  1. Sep 16, 2017
    4
    A disappointing watered down version of Rage Against the Machine. The album sounds like a bunch of RATM B-sides with Chuck D and B Real rapping instead of Zack. The biggest issues with Chuck D and B Real is that their vocal styles don't fit the music. Zack had an aggressive delivery style as he put the RAGE in Rage Against the Machine. Zack's signature RAGE is absent from the album. ItA disappointing watered down version of Rage Against the Machine. The album sounds like a bunch of RATM B-sides with Chuck D and B Real rapping instead of Zack. The biggest issues with Chuck D and B Real is that their vocal styles don't fit the music. Zack had an aggressive delivery style as he put the RAGE in Rage Against the Machine. Zack's signature RAGE is absent from the album. It sounds like a bunch of happy dudes pretending to be angry. There is no genuine anger on this album. Tom Morello, the second best thing about RATM really dropped the ball here. There are a tone of recycled riffs and solos from previous RATM and Audioslave albums. It's like he's too lazy to come up with something fresh and original. "Hail to the Chief" recycles the Bulls on Parade solo. Lyrically both B Real and Chuck D lack the genius lyricism of De La Rocha. Many of the lyrics are cringe worthy. The album as a whole is incredibly formulaic and every song sounds the same. Even Nickelback has more variety in their albums than Prophets of Rage. Expand
  2. Oct 20, 2017
    6
    These guys are all too old and financially successful to summon any real, honest-to-goodness RAGE anymore (save, perhaps, for the “Get off my lawn, you kids!” variety), but they sure can lay down a nice, heavy funk groove. This record plays like a blend of Audioslave and early Red Hot Chili Peppers, with Chuck D’s distinctive rapping laid down over the top. Only now, nearly thirty yearsThese guys are all too old and financially successful to summon any real, honest-to-goodness RAGE anymore (save, perhaps, for the “Get off my lawn, you kids!” variety), but they sure can lay down a nice, heavy funk groove. This record plays like a blend of Audioslave and early Red Hot Chili Peppers, with Chuck D’s distinctive rapping laid down over the top. Only now, nearly thirty years after “Fight the Power,” one finds Chuck’s powerful but familiar delivery more comforting than intimidating. This is an enjoyable record, but try as it might, it never really manages to feel angry. This is reminiscing with old friends, not rioting with angry revolutionaries. Expand
Metascore
54

Mixed or average reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 19
  2. Negative: 1 out of 19
  1. 40
    This album and The Party’s Over share many of the same problems that the band can't seem to shake off. Whether you were fan of Public Enemy, Cypress Hill or Rage Against The Machine first I think you’ll agree that this whole project just comes off as clumsy.
  2. The Wire
    Oct 11, 2017
    50
    Prophets Of Rage can’t help sounding a little male-menopausal even if lyrically the targets remain crucial and the trajectory remains ferocious thanks to the sheer undimmed timbre of Chuck’s meshrattling voice. [Sep 2017, p.55]
  3. Sep 20, 2017
    60
    The message feels less than vital at a time when vitality is so needed, and no, there will be no revolution off the back of the subversive royalty involved in this release. The slogans feel thin, but the music itself is substantive. Whether that counts as a success or not comes down to what you came here for.