12. Rage Against The MachineRage Against The Machine

Okay, please don’t come for me Rage Against the Machine, but I was given this album on a burnt CD in the playground. I would have been maybe 11 or 12, I was not at high school yet. It was given to me by a guy at school called Dan. Maybe you’ll have to redact his name – or I just won’t say his second name. Anyway, I felt like I’d been handed drugs when I put this on. It subsequently led me to wearing a red Che Guevara t shirt and a beret at school, probably within the week. 

From the band’s outspoken views, to the way it sounds, to what it signified at that period of time of rock music, to the composition, to the way Tom Morello was playing those guitars – it just feels like a big moment in time. A massive soundtrack to that part of my life and one that I come back to so much. It’s such a constant.

I always find that the gym is a good place for me to really put albums to the test. I actually put in my personal best on the running machine with the new Knocked Loose record. And I will often put this album on when I’m in the gym. So shout out, Rage Against the Machine – cheers for all the gains.