Tom Morello, 24th June 2026, Helviti, Copenhell Festival, Denmark

Photo: Zoran https://www.sonic-shot.com

Few things can match the energy that occurs when Rage Against the Machine play live. And if you were fortunate enough to see them in concert – especially back in their heyday – then you know that the magic created by those four people playing those songs is hard to replicate in different constellations. Not even Audioslave managed to give those songs the same explosiveness in a live setting.

The band’s guitarist, Tom Morello, however, has proven capable of getting more out of those songs with his own live band. He already proved that at Copenhell two years ago.

Morello used the same recipe as before, relying on the energy and skill of his players and, most importantly, the universal quality of many of those legendary songs. Songs from throughout his own career were mixed with covers such as Bruce Springsteen’s “The Ghost of Tom Joad” and Ozzy Osbourne’s “Mr. Crowley,” during which his son, Roman Morello, had the pleasure of playing all of Randy Rhoads’ legendary solos. In a way, it felt like a full circle moment, knowing what a huge influence Rhoads had on Tom Morello’s playing.

The medley of “Bombtrack / Know Your Enemy / Bulls on Parade / Guerrilla Radio / Sleep Now in the Fire / Bullet in the Head / Cochise” once again proved the timeless quality of those iconic riffs, which kept the crowd jumping even without a vocalist. A shortened version of Audioslave’s “Like a Stone” was accompanied by a picture of the late Chris Cornell on the massive screen, and Morello closed the show with another cover – John Lennon’s “Power to the People.”

There is so much quality in many of these songs, and they are perfectly suited for a hot summer day at a festival. Audioslave will not return after the passing of Cornell, and Rage Against the Machine seem unlikely to reunite for another touring attempt, so this is probably the closest we can get. Rest assured, Morello and his band do these songs justice, and they work exceptionally well in a live setting.

SETLIST:

• Soldier in the Army of Love
• Adjourn It
• Testify / Take the Power Back / Freedom / Snakecharmer / Ghetto Blaster
• Hold the Line
• Let’s Get the Party Started
• Everything Burns
• Mr. Crowley
• The Ghost of Tom Joad
• Bombtrack / Know Your Enemy / Bulls on Parade / Guerilla Radio / Sleep Now in the Fire / Bullet in the Head / Cochise
• Like a Stone
• Killing in the Name
• Power to the People