Maps of Music

The Atlas Underground (2018)

Where the lyrics of The Atlas Underground take you, and where it was really made.

Tom Morello's fourth studio album was the first he released under his own name, and its guest list runs to 19 names.

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The Atlas Underground: fourth studio album by American rock musician Tom Morello
First album Morello released uniquely under his own name
Released 12 October 2018 by Mom + Pop Music
Twelve tracks, each with a featured guest artist
Morello plays guitars, with bass on some tracks and vocals on others

Morello was previously known as a member of Rage Against the Machine and Prophets of Rage
The Italian Wikipedia entry says this album sounds more EDM and hip hop than those groups, while keeping rap metal traits
The album includes the 2016 single Battle Sirens, made with Australian duo Knife Party
Guest artists include Big Boi, Killer Mike, GZA, RZA, Steve Aoki and Tim McIlrath
Track list: Battle Sirens, Rabbit's Revenge, Every Step That I Take, We Don't Need You, Find Another Way, How Long, Lucky One, One Nation, Vigilante Nocturno, Where It's at Ain't What It Is, Roadrunner, Lead Poisoning

Thomas Baptist Morello, born May 30, 1964 in Harlem, New York City, raised in Libertyville, Illinois.
Attended Harvard University and graduated in 1986 with a social studies degree.
Joined Lock Up in the mid-1980s; after it disbanded, he co-founded Rage Against the Machine with Zack de la Rocha in 1991.

Known for Rage Against the Machine (1991–2000, reunions 2007–2011 and 2019–2024), Audioslave (2001–2007, 2017), and Prophets of Rage (2016–2019).
Co-founded Street Sweeper Social Club with Boots Riley in 2006.
Also released solo albums under his own name and as The Nightwatchman, a folk alias.

Rage Against the Machine became one of the most popular and influential metal acts of the 1990s and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023.
Audioslave's debut album reached triple-platinum status; its second album debuted at number 1 on the Billboard charts.
Serves as an occasional touring guitarist with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, contributing to High Hopes (2014).
Co-founded Axis of Justice with Serj Tankian and is known for socialist political activism.
Ranked 18th on Rolling Stone's list of greatest guitarists of all time.

Metacritic, which gives a normalized score out of 100 to mainstream publication reviews, averaged 63
Based on 9 reviews, The Atlas Underground received generally positive reviews from critics

Italian Wikipedia describes the album as more EDM and hip hop oriented than the Rage Against the Machine and Prophets of Rage work
Italian Wikipedia notes rap metal elements remain alongside EDM and hip hop
Guest artists named include Big Boi, GZA, RZA, K.Flay, Tim McIlrath and Steve Aoki
The Italian entry also names Battle Sirens with Knife Party, a 2016 single included on the album

The album was released by Mom + Pop Music on 12 October 2018
Guest artists listed on the page include Knife Party, Bassnectar, Big Boi and Killer Mike
Italian Wikipedia says the 2016 single Battle Sirens with Knife Party is included