Kneecap x Tom Morello’s huge RATM collab Unconquered
When rock guitar meets raw political fire, the resulting sound can be anything but tame. Tom Morello has always been a sonic architect, known for fusing hard rock, hip-hop, and electronic textures into a single, chaotic masterpiece. Now, he has teamed up with the Irish trio Kneecap to craft ‘Unconquered’—a track that doesn’t just play music; it sounds like a declaration.
‘Unconquered’ is a powerhouse collaboration, channeling Morello’s signature serrated guitar work alongside frantic electronic percussion and rapid-fire verses delivered in both Irish and English by Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap. The track successfully lands firmly in the territory that first established Morello’s legendary reputation, fusing hard rock energy with deep electronic undertones, all culminating in a characteristically warped guitar solo that screams defiance.
Morello himself shared the powerful intent behind the song, revealing that ‘Unconquered’ is about capturing an enduring spirit of opposition in the face of global repression. He described the track as embodying the “ember that does not go out, no matter how great the repression, state violence and state terror directed against people or artists.” For him, the song became an anthem where a single guitar sound could represent an entire revolution.
This sense of kinship between Morello and Kneecap is deep-rooted. Morello has long expressed profound admiration for the Belfast group, calling them “clearly the Rage Against The Machine of now.” He found a strong connection with their fearless alignment with the world’s oppressed, noting, “I see a kinship with Kneecap.”
When approaching the trio to create this explosive track, Morello laid out three simple, uncompromising criteria: the song had to be called ‘Unconquered’, it needed a devastating hook, and it had to rock a festival like crazy. They, he noted, checked all three boxes.
This collaborative spirit reflects Morello’s broader artistic journey. His latest solo rock album, ‘Everyone Gets Everything They Want’, which is his 22nd record, is built on the premise of necessity. He stated that the record is for “everyone who’s had enough,” suggesting that the music is born from the very reality of the growing “spectre of authoritarianism” worldwide.
Meanwhile, Kneecap has continued their powerful momentum with their recent release, ‘Fenian’, an album that received four-and-a-half stars and was lauded as “a solid, progressive and fearless album” that showcased the trio’s power and maturity. Following this success, they have embarked on a massive ‘Fenian’ world tour across the UK and Ireland.
Buy on Amazon
Credit
