Rage Against the Machine's fourth and final studio album, Renegades, is a testament to the band's eclectic influences and their ability to reimagine iconic tracks in their unique style. Released on 5 December 2000 via Epic Records, this 12-track album is a masterful collection of covers, featuring songs by legendary artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Afrika Bambaataa, and The Rolling Stones.
With Renegades, Rage Against the Machine pays tribute to the musicians who have shaped their sound, from the punk-infused energy of The MC5's 'Kick Out The Jams' to the hip-hop prowess of Cypress Hill's 'How I Could Just Kill a Man'. The album's cover art, a reinterpretation of Robert Indiana's Love artwork series, sets the tone for a record that is both a nod to the past and a bold statement of the band's own innovative spirit.
Throughout its 51-minute duration, Renegades showcases the band's genre-bending approach, blending elements of rap metal, rap rock, alternative metal, and nu metal to create a sonic landscape that is both fierce and captivating. From the opening notes of 'Microphone Fiend' to the closing strains of 'Maggie's Farm', Rage Against the Machine's Renegades is a powerful and unapologetic album that cements the band's status as one of the most influential and innovative acts of their generation.