Tom Morello – Everyone Gets Everything They Want

It took about twenty albums and decades of musical activism for Tom Morello to finally unveil his first solo record. With Everyone Gets Everything They Want, the legendary guitarist from Rage Against The Machine makes no compromises, delivering a well-deserved dose of riffs and rebellion.

Like a Family Bond

After stacking collaborations on the Atlas Underground trilogy (2018 to 2021), the founder of Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave, and Prophets Of Rage, today releases his first true solo album.

A personal record, certainly, but behind it lies above all a family affair, as he invites his son Roman Morello. Described as a “prodigy” by his father, the 15-year-old guitarist helped compose part of the album and lends a hand on three tracks. A musical transmission from father to son that crackles, especially on the powerful “Date Night,” and on “Soldier In The Army Of Love” with its ravaging riffs. No doubt, the next generation is ready.

An Uncompromising Activist Heart

Of course, it’s hard to imagine a Tom Morello record without a committed stance for social justice. “Adjourn It,” featuring Serj Tankian, is perhaps the most revealing. With a title that plays on a double meaning (literally “Adjourn It,” a direct reference to immigration court jargon), the track denounces ICE’s actions in the United States. An explicit call, brimming with sharp riffs that pair perfectly with the voice of System of a Down’s frontman.

The message steps up a notch with “Unconquered,” collaboration with the group KNEECAP. The guitar harmonies give way to Irish rappers and a relentless rhythm. A successful rap-rock alliance that inevitably echoes the fury of RATM. Meanwhile, “Soldier In The Army Of Love” stands as an anthem to solidarity. A true concentration of the Morello signature, between riffs and guitar solos, underscored by a gospel choir that strengthens this sense of community.

Soul Power

This new project also lets the guitarist reveal a more narrative and experimental side. While not a renowned singer, Tom delivers almost spoken-word verses, giving the impression of listening to a street-corner, engaged tale, as in the title track or “They Can’t Kill Us All,” tinged with harmonica and filled with hope.

With “The Last Rung On The Ladder,” the album takes a confident acoustic folk turn. A pleasant surprise, offering a classical guitar solo with very Springsteen-esque accents. Yet it’s the Fender Stratocaster that Tom Morello truly excels on. The intensity of “Pretend You Remember Me” proves it, with the rare power to convey a full range of emotions through the piercing notes of a guitar.

In a different register, the explosive “Everything Burns” unveiled late 2025 as the soundtrack for the video game Final Fantasy XIV finds a second life on the record. Caleb Shomo’s (Beartooth) vocal prowess demonstrates Morello’s ability to adapt to a more modern and industrial genre. Further along, “Untethered” slides into a darker atmosphere. A muted threat that deepens, particularly thanks to the backing vocals of Sam Nelson Harris (X Ambassadors).

The sole shadow on the project is the sequencing of tracks, whose stylistic leaps sometimes disrupt the rhythm and unity of the whole. Yet it remains an authentic and successful record.

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