Originally released on November 3, 1992 by Epic Records.

The band released their demo also Rage Against The Machine, 11 months prior which contained earlier recordings of 7 out of 12 songs found on this album.

With politically themed lyrical content, the album artwork was notable for featuring a graphic photograph of Thích Quảng Đức committing self-immolation. Rage Against the Machine was a critical success upon release with several critics noting the album's politically motivated agenda as well as de la Rocha's strong delivery.

Rated number 24 on the Rolling Stone's list of "100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time", the album peaked at number 1 on the US Billboard Heatseekers chart and number 45 on the US Billboard 200 and has gone on to achieve triple platinum sales certification in the US and produced four singles:
"Killing In The Name"
"Bullet In The Head"
"Bombtrack"
"Freedom"

The band announced on October 9, 2012, via their Facebook page that they would be releasing a special 20th anniversary boxset to commemorate the group's debut album. The boxset contains never-before-released concert material, including the band's 2010 Finsbury Park show and footage from early in their career, as well as a digitally-remastered version of the album, B-sides and the original Rage Against The Machine demo tape (on CD for the first time). The collection was released on November 27, 2012.

How to find the correct CD-version with catalogue number containing '472224 2':

Versions manufactured by DADC Austria, most of them released before April 1994.
The next three versions are believed to be the initial releases from 1992:
- Version without DADC logo and silver disc, BIEM/STEMRA, CB 791 and no SID-codes. Inner ring without etching.
- Version without DADC logo and silver disc, BIEM/STEMRA, CB 791 and no SID-codes. Inner ring with star etching.
- Version without DADC logo and blue striped disc, BIEM/STEMRA, CB 791 and no SID-codes. Inner ring without etching.

The next three versions are considered to be early repress versions from 1993 and early 1994:
- Version with DADC logo with mould star, CB 791, BIEM and no SID-codes.
- Version with DADC logo, CB 811, BIEM, empty inner ring and no SID-codes.

The next version is the 'youngest' DADC repress version and was made around 1994:
- Version with DADC logo and mould SID-code, CB 811 and BIEM.

Versions manufactured by Sony Music, most of them were released after April 1994.

One version is listed without SID-codes:
- Version with 'Sony Music' in matrix and without SID-codes, BIEM and without noted CB-code.

Two versions with Mould SID-code only:
- Version with 'Sony Music' in matrix and mould SID-code, BIEM, CB 811 and Made in Austria.
- Version with 'Sony Music' in matrix and mould SID-code, BIEM, CB 811 and without Made in Austria.

Four versions are with both SID-codes displaying:
- Version with 'S01..' in matrix and CB 791, both SID-codes and BIEM.
- Version with 'S01..' in matrix and CB 770, both SID-codes and BIEM.
- Version with 'S01..' in matrix and no CB-code, no 'Made in Austria' on disc, both SID-codes and BIEM.
- Version with 'S01..' in matrix and no CB-code, 'Made in Austria' on disc, both SID-codes and BIEM.

Six further versions , which are easier to distinguish:
- Version with bonus disc
- SMEA version from Australia
- Vinyl artwork version with CB770 and BIEM/GEMA
- Vinyl classic series version with SACEM/BIEM
- Argentinian version with TELTRON in matrix
- SMEA version from Australia
- BIEM Digipak version