When you are feeling angry, the best way forward is to listen to music that matches your mood. Using music to release your anger is a great way to adjust and detach from frustrating emotions. There are endless amounts of songs that focus on revenge, heartbreak, and injustices.
We have narrowed down the 31 best rage-filled songs to listen to when you’re angry to release emotions:
1. The Way I Am – Eminem
“The Way I Am” by Eminem is a rap song that encapsulates anger. Eminem’s rap verses circle around all the ways he feels wronged in life. Eminem’s way of rapping is also powerful and profound, creating a sense of rage throughout the song.
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2. Double Dare Ya – Bikini Kill
Released in 1991, “Double Dare Ya” by Bikini Kill was released to empower girls and women. The song is written from a position of rage to show that women should be able to do anything they want.
Next: Greatest women empowerment songs of all time (our list)
3. In The End – Linkin Park
“In The End,” by Linkin Park, is a song that knows anger to the fullest. The song revolves around how the singer is constantly trying to get ahead but cannot succeed. Looking back on the life of Chester Bennington, this song takes on so many more different meanings.
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4. Violet – Hole
Released in 1995, “Violet” by Hole shows anger in a more feminine tone. The song is about a relationship that has reached its end and has been nothing but turbulent. She is singing about how she is ready for her lover to leave and go. The song shows anger through her aggressive need for him to leave.
Next: Top songs of the 90s (our list of favorites from the 1990s)
5. The Kill (Bury Me) – Thirty Seconds To Mars
Jared Leto’s band 30 Seconds To Mars released “The Kill” in 2004. The song is expressively angry, violent, and aggressive. It became a rock anthem and has a chorus that loudly expresses rage and anger.
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6. Killing In The Name – Rage Against The Machine
“Killing In The Name” by Rage Against The Machine is popularly known as a rage anthem. The band came out with the song in 1992 to show their rage toward politics, inequalities, and socio-political injustices.
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7. Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana brought out anger and resentment into the 90s through grunge rock. The song revolves around a call to arms to bring youth together and create a revolution through rage.
Next: Greatest 90s rock songs (our list of picks)
8. Break Stuff – Limp Bizkit
Just like its title says, “Break Stuff” by Limp Bizkit, is a rap song that revolves around being angry with your surrounding environment, and in turn, breaking anything you see. It is a song with high tension within the “rap metal” genre.
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9. You Oughta Know – Alanis Morissette
Released in 1995, “You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morissette is a song that revolves around anger towards an ex-boyfriend. The message is filled with rage from one person to another.
Next: The best breakup songs ever recorded (our list of favs)
10. You’re So Vain – Carly Simon
“You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon has a softer approach to anger. The song revolves around a woman who is upset with her ex-boyfriend. It became an anthem for women in the same boat, who have or had lovers with an egotistical side.
Next: The full meaning of Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” explained
11. This is America – Childish Gambino
Childish Gambino’s “This is America,” is a hip-hop song that revolves around political rage and injustices. The song revolves around a violent feeling that exists inside people who are constantly faced with inequalities.
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12. Chop Suey! – System of a Down
“Chop Suey!” easily became System of a Down’s signature song. Released in 2001, the song revolves around death. The rageful song centers on how people are treated based on how they died, rather than simply being mournful.
Next: The greatest songs about death ever recorded (our list of picks)
13. Masters of War – Bob Dylan
Released in 1963, “Masters of War” by Bob Dylan is a song that revolves around anger towards war. Dylan wrote the song to expose that the Americans who are being manipulated into going to war do not profit from it, but rather the manipulators or politicians.
Next: The greatest war and anti-war songs of all time
14. Rolling in the Deep – Adele
Adele’s first hit song “Rolling in the Deep” displays anger towards her ex-husband. The song is seen as a blues and gospel song that expels much of her rage and resentment towards their relationship.
15. I Hate Myself for Loving You – Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
The 1988 hit song, “I Hate Myself for Loving You” by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts is a rock song surrounding rageful feelings. The song implies that she dislikes her lover so much that she feels rageful towards herself for loving him.
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16. Look Back in Anger – David Bowie
David Bowie’s song “Look Back in Anger” is a song that reveals how he is angered at his past actions, feelings, and way of being. His insightful look at the past displays that regret can be just as rageful as it is mournful.
17. Gives You Hell – The All-American Rejects
The 2008 hit song by The All-American Rejects, “Gives You Hell,” is a song that shows anger through pop melodies. The song is catchy, memorable, and revolves around an ex-boyfriend getting his revenge.
18. Black Me Out – Against Me!
“Black Me Out” by Against Me! is a great example of a rage anthem. It revolves around anger that you may feel when you have to be inauthentic to please other people.
19. Here Comes Revenge – Metallica
Released in 2019, “Here Comes Revenge” by Metallica is a song, quite frankly, about revenge. This song focuses on revenge for wrongs that have been done to the lead singer and people close to him.
Next: The greatest revenge songs of all time (ever recorded)
20. Take the Power Back – Rage Against the Machine
“Take the Power Back” by Rage Against the Machine is a song that focuses on rage towards the American government. The song encapsulates anger by singing about how the American dream is only to make citizens conform and how it is time to “take the power back.”
Next: The best songs about control of all time (taking power songs)
21. Somebody That I Used to Know – Gotye
Gotye’s song “Somebody That I Used to Know,” revolves around the distance between lovers that are soon going to end their relationship. They are both angry with each other as their relationship becomes more distant and resentful.
22. March of the Pigs – Nine Inch Nails
The 1994 metal song “March of the Pigs” by Nine Inch Nails is another rage-filled song about society and its politics. The song centers around capitalism and how it is hard to see society for what it is while capitalism is in place.
23. Don’t Look Back in Anger – Oasis
“Don’t Look Back in Anger” by Oasis is a song about rage towards people who are constantly regretting the past instead of looking forward. The song revolves around how defiant people are to think differently.
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24. Hate (I Really Don’t Like You) – Plain White T’s
The Plain White T’s’ song “Hate (I Really Don’t Like You)” encapsulates anger for a person. The song revolves around how the singer was once in love only to be brokenhearted and full of rage.
25. One Way Or Another – Blondie
While “One Way Or Another” by Blondie may be a fun, upbeat song, the meaning is full of revenge and rageful emotion. The 1978 song circles around a male stalker who is very determined to bring hurt and evil to his victim.
26. The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia – Vicki Lawrence
The 1973 song “The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia” by Vicki Lawrence revolves around a man who has been wronged by his best friend. He finds out his wife is cheating on him with his friend while he was on vacation. The song is full of anger towards the two people who are tearing down his life.
27. Basket Case – Green Day
“Basket Case” by Green Day is a song that focuses on anxiety and the rage that comes out during anxiety and panic attacks.
Next: Greatest songs about anxiety of all time (ever recorded)
28. I Don’t Care Anymore – Phil Collins
The song “I Don’t Care Anymore” by Phil Collins is a rageful anthem. The song focuses on the lead singer’s frustrations over his divorce and how his wife was a bad partner. The song is full of anger as he feels he was wronged.
Next: The best divorce songs for a rough patch playlist
29. Bigmouth Strikes Again – The Smiths
“Bigmouth Strikes Again” by The Smiths is one of their many rageful and angry songs. The song revolves around how the lead singer is done with getting criticism and attacks from the press.
30. White Limo – Foo Fighters
The Foo Fighters’ 2011 single, “White Limo,” encapsulates anger towards complacency. The song revolves around a rock star who partied too hard and wasted his youth.
31. God Save The Queen – Sex Pistols
The 1977 song “God Save The Queen” by the Sex Pistols is a perfect embodiment of a rageful song. The song revolves around how they are rebelling against the British government and continue to mock it throughout the song.
As the Head Editor and Writer at Music Grotto, Liam helps write and edit content produced from professional music/media journalists and other contributing writers. He works closely with journalists and other staff to format and publish music content for the Music Grotto website. Liam is also the founding member of Music Grotto and is passionate in disseminating editorial content to its readers.
Liam’s lifelong love for music makes his role at Music Grotto such a rewarding one. He loves researching, writing and editing music content for Music Grotto.