Thanks to the recent “Rage Against the X-Factor” campaign over here in the UK, I’ve been listening to a lot of Rage Against the Machine recently. In fact, I must’ve listened to each album at least three times over the course of two days. It was great as I haven’t listened to Rage Against the Machine so intensely for a good few years. The campaign made me realise just how good a band they are and how strong their messages stand out. Listening to Rage Against the Machine so intensely led me on to listening to Inside Out with equal intensity…

Zack de la Rocha fascinates me. I think he’s a fantastic vocalist and lyricist and I have great respect for the activist work that he has been a part of over the years and what an impact his lyrics have had, as well as the various important issues that he has addressed through said lyrics. During my intense Rage Against the Machine listening session, I decided to delve into his pre-Rage Against the Machine musical career and found the No Spiritual Surrender EP by an old band of his by the name of Inside Out circulating on the internet. “No Spiritual Surrender” is a fantastic example of passionate, rage-filled old-school hardcore punk and opened me up to another side of Zack de la Rocha, a side which, I must admit, I didn’t realise existed. Before discovering Inside Out, I knew little of Zack’s earlier musical career, let alone that he was part of such a powerful and talented hardcore band. As a hardcore lover, this has made me fall further in love with him and his musical talents.

Although short, No Spiritual Surrender is a fantastic example of old-school hardcore punk at its best, showcasing Zack de la Rocha’s rage and discontent through cleverly crafted lyrics and the band on a whole’s obvious talent and passion for playing straight-up and true hardcore punk music.

7.5/10