Rage Against The Machine: Rage Against The Machine (Epic/All formats)

THE RAP-rock crossover is a long-cherished ideal that has invariably tarnished the credentials of its various practitioners and collaborators. Just as Run DMC were consigned to figures of fun-oblivion after rehabilitating Aerosmith's career with 'Walk This Way', so Anthrax were snubbed by many metal purists for daring to slap skin with Chuck D. Yet such pioneering efforts have acclimatised people's eyes and ears — last year saw The Disposable Heroes bridge the gap with a far more organic approach, and now only a fool would bet against the debut from Rage Against The Machine doing the same.