The Downward Spiral

Trent Reznor is one of those paradoxical artists who I respect but do not necessarily enjoy listening to.

Just enough (or little enough) industrial and electronic sound to make things interesting.

Not my thing.

No private session used for Spotify. Industrial noise rock at it's finest. It's a little too melodramatically angry for me, I know some folks really connected with it, but not me. Hurt is a classic, though.

Now I want to play Quake again.

That whole angsty, angry Gen-Xer stereotype? Yeah, this is the album that launched a generation of anger. When I would go to the Industrial clubs in the mid-90s this sound that Trent Reznor established was everywhere. It became mainstream and launched singles like Hurt and Closer - never before had you had such aggression spit out over the radio airwaves and on MTV. 4.5/5

Oh it's fine. Bonus point for reminding my of Broken / Fixed EP and the look on my program managers face when I played it at 2 in the afternoon.

more hardcore i like it, not perfect though, has a very aged and edgy sound.

have to be in a very specific mood to enjoy this. I was not.

Nine Inch Nails go so hard in The Downward Spiral! At some points, their industrial sound is like you're in a horror movie and I felt so off kilter--but that was the obvious intention, so I give credit where it's due. "Hurt" in particular made me feel unnerved because of the static sound, harsh cords, and minimal piano; it's fascinating to see how Johnny Cash adapted the song, but it's just as fascinating here, too. NIN excel in the industrial genre--every single song was just right. I would even describe NIN as harsh but in a good way. This as their second album reveals to me that, yeah, NIN were always this way. 3.5

If there were any question as to why Nine Inch Nails is regarded among industrial royalty, "The Downward Spiral" is the answer to that question. Many NIN fans argue about whether this is or isn't their best album, but most agree that it is among their best. And it goes without saying that it is definitely home to their biggest hit, "Closer". The music here is expertly layered with so much sound, you almost have to listen more than once to hear all the delicate nuances. It is crafted in such a way that it not only conveys but brings out the most raw, raging emotions. Trent Reznor and NIN is absolutely a legend in this regard, and in pioneering industrial rock in general. I would put this at about 3.5, but I am pretty sure this is the only NIN album on this project, which seems wild to me considering some of the people who are on here more than once. So I'm rounding up for the sheer impact and uniqueness that NIN has brought to the music scene over the years.

One of the best albums ever made. Perfect balance of noise and melody. Still sounds fresh, 30 years on.

A raw and oppressive album that is unrelenting in its message of pain, longing and apathy. I almost feel like the overly harsh and very loud sound add to the discord and despair the album conveys. It's not an easy listen, which makes it almost feel like an art piece instead of just another album. Jarring and yet not as unpleasant as you'd think. Top tracks: Heresy, A Warm Place, Hurt

This album should realistically be a 5/5 based on my music taste. I just don’t like it though, I‘m sorryyyy…

Trent has this incredible ability to put sounds together in a way that is disturbing yet groovy, sounds that hurt your ears and delight them at the same time. This is a remarkable album and NIN belongs in the club of nineties artists that went their own direction and found absolute gold in grimey dark places.

Paar gute Lieder. Aber insgesamt zu metal

Nine Inch Nails deserves 5 stars for this for the herculean task of making industrial metal into something catchy and memorable.

Mr. Self Destruct 2 Piggy 1.8 Heresy 1.5 March of the Pigs 1.6 Closer 3.4 Ruiner 2.8 The Becoming 1.7 I Do Not Want This 1.4 Big Man with a Gun 1.5 A Warm Place 2 Eraser 1.8 Reptile 2 The Downward Spiral 1.8 Hurt 3 Score: 2.021428571

Amazing

In every photo of Trent Reznor he has to be looking tortured haha. I can appreciate that NIN is expressive and captures a particular mood, but I can't help but feel like it's kinda corny since he was almost in his 30s.

the industrial rock is alright, but i feel like lyrically this album is really disconcerting and not in a clever or creative way but just in a crude and thoughtless one.

This album probably sounds a lot better when you're not sick with a headache. I love songs that go from one extreme to another, the little piano and acoustic breaks between the industrial sound was great.

Trent Rezner is a spooky guy with incredible ideas. Didn’t he record this album in Celio St. where the Manson murdered took place? Industrial metal is not my thing, but I can get into for a bit. This album was unlike anything heard when it came out. It’s the soundtrack in hell, and not in a bad way.

Very industrial Why is this album over an hour long Techno and pianos were crazy Wayyy too long for what it is

Anyone who claims this isn't a masterpiece can actually fight me.

Heresy Closer I’m bored. Looped lyrics on top of weird beats. Not a fan

I never felt like I cared much for NIN, but this album changed that perception slightly. Closer is still overplayed, but the rest of the songs are diverse and interesting. Some interesting melodies and rhythms. Lyrics are engaging and seemed relevant for the time.

I listen to this several times a week and i physically cannot be objective. This record was my number one for years and i know it back to front and all the Halo remixes too. You could say I am a fan. This record has EVERYTHING… dance, trance, prance? Fuckin GROOVIN for the most part. Almost no skippable tracks, ALMOST. But this is the album you put on when you need a good cry, a good staring out the window with headphones, a good sit in the closet with a boombox record. Or maybe that’s just what I did but when you have a nice big closet why the fuck NOT. How do I even start… the opening track Mr Self Destruct has a single beat which I always took as someone being whipped. COME ON THAT IS SO FUCKING COOL. In 1994 finding subversive shit was hard if you didn’t know where to look so I’d imagine this was the entryway for a LOT of people into darker music. Not to be gatekeeping or anything, but this record did eventually kinda turn into entry level NIN but I blame Closer for that. Anyway. Lyrically the record spans from super deep shit to absolute fucking nonsense so there’s a lot of ground to cover. I’ve always hated Closer lyrically and thought it was the throwaway track because the rest of the album is just insane. The exception to that is Big Man With A Gun because… what the fuck is that? Cmon bro that one could have stayed in the vault. Nobody cares about your dick ya goober. Industrial AND dancey is kinda hard to pull off without sounding corny or silly and I think this was his best effort at mixing the two. The goofy parts of Pretty Hate Machine and the actually creepy parts of Broken melt down into something way more accessible here, and it rules ass. It’s also fairly diverse with the transition from the 1st track into Piggy which is weirdly chill but evolves into chaos. Which also rules ass. Heresy could be a LITTLE bit corny with the god is dead stuff but again this was 1994 so that sort of thing was still controversial. March of the Pigs is such an insane song too. Weird ass time signature, calming piano… brilliant. Ruiner is heavy and cool and slogs along with this weird tension I’ve always loved. The Becoming is so intense. Every young person goes through some depressing time and comes out different and this song captures that feeling. Plus the lyric “god damn this noise inside my head” is cool as fuck. My first long sleeve band shirt had that all on the back and if anyone has one in a small bang my line lol. I think my favorite tracks are Eraser and The Downward Spiral. Eraser is a slow burn and it fully dissolves as it goes but maintains that intensity and feeling like yes, I am indeed losing my mind. Reptile… just gross. Sexy and sticky kinda groove and it makes you want to take a shower haha. Hurt is probably the other track I’d argue brought this into the light BUT it was the Johnny cash version that got all the credit. And I get it, but the original version is the best one. Many people who are smarter than I am have written a ton about this record so I’ll spare the rest of my feelings but i can’t overstate how important this record was. Trent was really onto something during the Broken years and he crafted this record and the b sides out of something special. Yeah some of the lyrics are a bit sophomoric but the guy knew he was gonna be huge. The Fragile is sooooo long and there are too many filler tracks on it so this is my favorite album of theirs by far. Find the B sides and remixes too. All incredibly good.

So, two women that broke my heart in seemingly irreparable ways were both big NIN fans. Tried approaching this without that bias, as I do like some industrial, mainly Ministry and Killing Joke. This is fine. For as batshit as the opener goes, the second track hits the E-brake and just changes the mood entirely. Then stretch that out a bit. Really, remove the bias, I'd probably skip this anyhow. Love the Johnny Cash cover at the end though.

I’m a casual fan of early Wax Trax material, and loved Pretty Hate Machine years back, but I never really gave NIN’s later material attention. Digging this a lot more than I expected. It’s got just the right blend of chaos and aggression, but still sticks with that early industrial dance beat to keep it focused. Probably going to be listening to this more.

excellent album musically, lyrics reflect raw honest self-loathing and tragedy. Hard to listen to at times, but genre defining.

Even as a fan of extreme genres like death metal, noise rock, and post-hardcore, I still wasn’t prepare for the violent, nihilistic jolt of The Downward Spiral. Somehow, I missed NIN growing up, which makes little sense because I would’ve obsessed over this as a kid. Thankfully, the abrasiveness still feels fresh today, and won me over instantly. After the initial shock wore off, though, I was really able to dig into how intricate and meticulous this whole record is. Reznor builds a track with a lot of meat on the bones, and that creates a splatter painting of pure sonic chaos, but if your ears can stomach loud, then there’s a lot of texture and craft to appreciate here. For me, the sheer scope of The Downward Spiral is a double-edged sword, though, and at times borders on bloat. It opens great for a first listen, but the real beauty of this record is in its mid-section. It’s a small issue, but it is glaringly obvious on relisten that the album doesn’t really kick into 5th gear until “Heresy.” But from there, it keeps my attention locked in until “Big Man With A Gun.” I’d also say the last leg starts to wear thin; while I respect and understand the logic of the sparser tracks like “A Warm Place” and the title track, it’s almost too much whiplash, especially when a) Reznor has quiet moments sprinkled throughout the tracklist already, and b) these songs are maybe the least detailed songs on the whole album. That said, “Hurt” is a gorgeous song, both from a production standpoint and a songwriting perspective, and it honestly might be one of the best closers of all time. It’s records like this that make me wish that this list had even more space for the loud, the abrasive, and the strange, because The Downward Spiral is an obvious testament to how even those records can be mind-bending yet remain catchy, and build to create amazing works of art.

Angry?

Viel grunge-Geräusche, düstere Stimmung 3/5

This is a great album. It seems like such a unique space in the rock genre because it leans heavily into electronic music. I've always liked NIN, but I'd never listened to the whole album before. It's consistently great all the way through. 'Hurt' is a hell of a closing song too. I listened three times.

I didn't like this at all. It was like a whole record of a CSI theme song

Deep, dark, energised. Somehow this album provides flutters of hope even though it’s messages seem hopeless.

dislike the genre so doomed from the start

Heavy

I bought this CD when it came out out of appreciation for "Closer" which I thought was so amazing (and still do). However I don't remember the rest of the album very well, so I assume that I wasn't so into repeated listening of the extended amounts of angry screaming. That said, it's rough to listen to but still very powerful.

I don't think that I would let every artist get by with the intense industrial sound of most of the tracks here. However, Trent Reznor seems to have some magic sprinkled on top that makes it sound cool and not irritating (almost always).

All right. Sit back. Put your feet up. Pop open a cold one. This is gonna get long. I have thoughts! Feelings! Irrelevant anecdotes! First, I have jokingly referred to this person as Terence Trent Reznor for so many years that I now have to stop and think what his name actually is when I want to talk about him. Misnaming someone or mispronouncing something is one of my favorite jokes but it gets dangerous the older I get and someday I will embarrass myself by saying “supposably” because I think it’s funny and some smarty-pants won’t know I’m joking and will think I’m an idiot. (Related: I had a roommate in college who gave her friends nicknames based on their resemblance to famous people. She had a friend she called Echo because he looked like someone from Echo & the Bunnymen, a friend she called Maverick because he looked like Tom Cruise, and a (female) friend she called Quasi (which had something to do with Quasimodo but not looks...I don't think). A name like Echo, Maverick, Quasi, you know to ask, “Hey, what is your actual name?” BUT she did not give EVERYONE a nickname and she had a friend she introduced as Larry and whom I called Larry for months before he said, “You know that’s not my name, right?” NO! I DID NOT KNOW THAT! But now that you mention it, you do look like Larry Mullen, Jr. Oh… My point is, maybe calling people by their actual names is best practice.) Anyway, (Terence) Trent Reznor always seems to me like he’s SO MAD at his mom and he’s just slammed the door to his bedroom because NO ONE UNDERSTANDS HIS PAIN!!! My vision of him as a petulant, selfish teenager was cemented when I read that The Downward Spiral was recorded at 10500 Cielo Drive, which just seems like the most childish of choices. And then to read further that it hadn’t occurred to him until he met Sharon Tate’s sister that it was exploitative and cruel (1) to have sought out that location in particular and (2) to have named the studio he created there “Le Pig.” Ugh! Are you in 8th grade??? (And there is some hypocrisy happening on my part because I have consumed enough media about that event that I know without further elaboration the significance of the address 10500 Cielo Drive and the reference implied by the name Le Pig. So I am part of the problem. Or I was. WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER!) (Reading further, I see that he moved out of the house in 1993 BUT TOOK THE FRONT DOOR WITH HIM! The door on which was written in Sharon Tate’s blood the word “pig.” Classy!) Any-anyway, the album’s theme is nihilistic self-destruction on the titular downward spiral. More reading tells me that (T)TR resisted friends’ suggestions at this time that he get himself on antidepressants and that makes me like him even less because if your friends are telling you to do that, maybe it’s because self-destruction tends to destroy a lot more than the self? I get that artists worry that antidepresh meds will blunt their precious gifts but is the gift of your art worth the grief you may be causing your loved ones by not getting help? Shrug emoji! (It seems he eventually got married, had a bunch of kids, won some oscars and is “happy” now, so good!) Any-any-anyway, is this a good piece of art? Yeah, I think so. As cheerful as I seem, nihilism and self-destruction are themes that I identify with more than I’d like. I kind of prefer it when broken people realize they’re broken and try to unbreak themselves but I don’t get to write the end of every story. Nine Inch Nails has a unique sound, brash grating industrial noise breaking suddenly into a lilting piano medley can really get to me, even if the story ends with no hope, “the pain eternal.” I actually like this album a lot.

In 1990 I became a huge fan of Pretty Hate Machine from Nine Inch Nails. When The Downward Spiral was released in 1994 I loved Closer and Hurt, but an hour of anger seemed less appealing and so I never actually acquired or listened to the entire album. Fast forward to the early 2000s… the Internet opened new avenues of music acquisition so I hoovered up albums much faster than I could consume them. Sometime during that period I added this to my library. I likely listened to this once then moved on to other shiny things. I’m thrilled that this project has put the spotlight on The Downward Spiral. This incredible album did not deserve the short shrift I gave it. I did have an incredulous moment when I saw this that it wasn’t Pretty Hate Machine. A few songs into the listen the feeling faded as I realized there’s a strong case to elevate this above my old favorite. The Downward Spiral packs a surprising amount of nuance here amongst an awful lot of rage. This is incredibly satisfying to listen to. It’s likely that the me of the 90s and early aughts was too optimistic to spend much time with this dark masterpiece. The me of today is very much at home here.

Simplesmente caótico. Fácil de se entender porque é uma banda tão conhecida. Algumas músicas são excelentes, outras eu achei bem chatinhas. Mas a variedade é inquestionável.

bleak

✅✅✅ Wow. I knew a couple of these songs from the radio, but I had no idea how sophisticated this album was. It's very dark, but also beautiful and very raw. The drums are great. This will be added to the rotation of shit I come back to when I'm really depressed

Average...prefer Pretty Hate Machine

I've always said noone can bollox up a truly great song. The Bad News cover of Bohemian Rhapsody, Rolf Harris's cover of Stairway to Heaven are examples of this. And the cover of Hurt tht we have here, although it is definitely not the Nine Inch Nails version that I know it is still ok. But even that is not good enough to drag this heap of shit out of the mire. 1 because Hurt stopped it from being lower.

So very very dark but it really gets a groove on too! Lyrically suspect but he’s a great vocalist. Musically it’s heavy of course, but a great range of pace and style. I know I’ll end up in hell, but I really love this album. It’s an album for the right occasion, usually alone under headphones and not distracted but the joyous things in your life.

Never one to judge when I was younger, but I always classed NIN as a Yankie B-Tec Depeche Mode. After listening to this for the first time in its entirety, I was quite impressed, it has a lot of depth to its arrangements, some fast thrashy and some dead slow. I've heard 2 songs covered by other artists, so it must be quite influential. I still can't shake off that US insincerity to some of the emotion - us Brits do that much better, or maybe that is because of cultural reasons? For that it's losing a atar

Has to be the worst one so far. Absolutely horrible, and I now feel vindicated for all the times I thought my classmates were shallow or lame for liking 9IN

Bought it on release.

I hate this record.

Dang, we're on a real 90s kick around here. This was another record released when I was a teen that I am now judging in hindsight and with the passage of 30 years. This one still holds up, mostly. As with any of this kind of stuff--during an industry-wide race to publish woe-is-me diary entries as song lyrics--there are some clunky moments here. But the sonic textures and sound choices made by ol' Trent are still moving, arresting, awesome. Some of this still freaks me out; the whispered messages in the opening track are still frightening as fuck. Reptile is sui generis, constructed entirely from blocks of noise. And Hurt remains a sad bastard classic. I still hang with The Downward Sprial. Even taken a couple myself, since 1994. So this record still resonates with me.

DNF

It was ok not especially musical. Enjoyed it more as it went on

While well made and I'm grateful that this album gave us the song Hurt that was covered even better by Johnny Cash, much of it is just far too vulgar, nihilistic etc. for its' own good. I regret hearing songs such as Closer and Big Man With A Gun and would warn people against listening to most of this album. The NIN album Fragile is a much better balanced reflection on darkness in my opinion.

Album 444 of 1001 Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral Rating : 4 / 5 Lots to take in on this one with just a single listen. A good concept album takes a bit more time. Not terribly uplifting. This rating could go up.

This has sat, well attended, on my unrated pile for two years. It took a few listens to understand it, but then once it clicked I enjoyed it and heard more with every listen. I now think it's great. Creative, interesting, well produced, occasionally filtyh. I'm a fan.

I tend to process negative emotions by listening to music that really externalizes turmoil via fast rhythms, hard production, and angry lyrics. This album offered some of that (tracks like Big Man With a Gun, Eraser), but would pivot sharply to near silence. I felt like I was riding straight off a cliff. Knowing someone who's struggling with depression, I found this haunting and a bit disturbing. I think it really achieves what it sets out to, but I don't imagine I'll be giving it a cover-to-cover relisten again. The last track really hit too close to home.

Influential, the singles all go hard

Visceral and intense. I cannot stress how important this music was for people like myself, living in rural America. Before you could just go find music on the internet, finding a CD like this one was life changing.

Absolutely enthralling, with not a single weak track. The Downward Spiral is just as powerful and honest as ever. A dirty and cathartic masterpiece. <3

The album, like the story it tells, is a chaotic mess, and I love it

About 20 seconds after the start of the first track there was a very loud voice inside my head screaming "Make it stop". I didn't give into that voice immediately but by the third track I could no longer ignore it. So I listened to A Walk Across the Rooftops by The Blue Nile in order to preserve my sanity..

I hate this so much. I would pay money to never hear this again.

I fucking love this album, it has gotten me through life in a lot of ways. I’m too biased to even really review this, but so many great tracks. This is really a unique and complete album, some cool recurring melodies and themes throughout. You didn’t hurt me nothing can hurt me You didn’t hurt me nothing can stop me now - Ruiner NIN

I have never really understood the hype around NIN. I definitely don’t hate them, but they also don’t excite me in the way that other people are. It means I listen to this every couple of years in the hopes it will get better (for me) but it never does… Maybe next time

Not my groove

If you're into this genre, I'm sure this is great. I'm not though, and I don't want listen all the way through this. Too much screaming and loudness. 4/10 (2/5)

I think that Nine Inch Nails are ehh I think this because its good but its not as good as I thought it would be I liked his singing the instruments I did not like the bad words but I was ok of listening the bad words

not the type of song I will listen to but its ok

Nicht schlecht, ich gebe 4 Punkte, die ich im übrigen gerne nachträglich auch noch Primal Scream zukommen lassen würde. Geht aber nicht :-)

2/5, nie podobało mi się, ale nie na tyle, żeby wyłączyć

I think I like the idea of NiN more than the music. There’s so many good little bits and ideas in this, and I love the production, but it just doesnt work for me like I would like it to. It sounds more like a scrapbook of ideas mashed together. Some are great, others not so.

I do like NIN, prefer year zero but downward spiral is their 'big' album and is the best example of what they are about. I think the music is class, love march of the pigs in particular but most of the album is great. Lyrics are largely over the top depressive or made for a goth sex tape but I think they work for the music, though taken in isolation they are a bit silly. Hurt is obviously iconic too, major claim this version is better than the Cash one. I think it suffers from being made when it did, the better production of today would improve it I think, guitars in particular are too overdriven and sound very muddy. Still, bit of a classic album.

I didn't really get it. The jarring noises ended up feeling so frequent that the music faded into the background - I found this utterly anonymous.

NIN have never really grabbed me, but not really listened to them properly before so glad this came up. I didn't enjoy it particularly, that industrial sound and the jarring noises just doesn't do it for me. There's barely any melody to cling to in any songs. Don't think I get it. Know it's highly thought of, but not for me

Favorite Tracks: Hurt Closer

favorite album of all time fr fr

this album is killer! some really hard industrial rock, that actually grooves and (in my opinion) doesn't sound like machines clanging. i've been more of a Trent Reznor fan ever since watching the Sound City documentary, which I highly recommend, listening to him talk about music, his methodology, is something really awesome to experience. anyways, back to the album, this album is a real smash to the face. its hard, its heavy, its grinding along... and then it ends with Hurts... and just slowly fades away. a really really good album.

This is one of those albums , irregardless of quality , is either a hit or miss for you sonically . It is not a bad album in any right and some people may consider it as one of their all time favourites , but it's just not for me.

It’s ok but would not have made it on my list of 1000 albums.

Much more my vibe than the last 2! Rock on

★★★★½

Non stop screaming. Horrible music

Nine Inch Nails really know how to write great Nine Inch Nails songs. I was gonna use this review to showcase my hot take that The Fragile is better but I don’t know if I think that anymore.

Just a phenomenal album. It's honestly not one of my favorite albums to listen to because of how abrasive it can be, but I appreciate the greatness of it all. It's harsh, thoughtful, insane, haunting, and brilliant all at the same time. I love the little details of the album, like how the title and album cover match the subject matter so well. Most of all, I love how relatable it ends up feeling (theoretically) and how Trent Reznor used all of the tools to his advantage to maximally fill the auditory space on each track to convey the intense and manic mental breakdown of the character in the album. If music is all about being a medium for expressing feelings and emotions, this album does it as well as any that I know of.

It’s good

Genious mix of synth-pop, metall, industrial and a lot of angryness.

**In-depth Review of "The Downward Spiral" by Nine Inch Nails** **Introduction** Released in 1994, Nine Inch Nails' "The Downward Spiral" is a landmark industrial rock album that cemented Trent Reznor's status as a creative force in the music industry. The album explores themes of self-destruction, addiction, and existential angst, delivered through a blend of aggressive and haunting soundscapes. This review will examine the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and its influence on the music industry, while also considering its pros and cons. **Lyrics** The lyrics of "The Downward Spiral" are raw, introspective, and often disturbing. Reznor's writing delves deep into the psyche of a character spiraling into madness and self-destruction. Tracks like "Closer" and "Hurt" stand out for their brutally honest portrayal of inner turmoil and nihilism. "Closer" is infamous for its explicit content, particularly the chorus, "I want to f*** you like an animal." Beyond its shock value, the song examines themes of desire, power, and degradation. The explicit nature of the lyrics serves to underscore the desperation and intensity of the protagonist's psychological state. "Hurt" is a stark contrast, offering a somber reflection on pain and self-harm. The line "I hurt myself today, to see if I still feel" captures the essence of the album’s exploration of self-inflicted suffering and emotional numbness. Reznor’s ability to convey vulnerability and despair in his lyrics is a significant strength of the album. **Music** Musically, "The Downward Spiral" is a complex and innovative work that blends industrial rock with elements of electronic, metal, and ambient music. The album’s sonic landscape is dense and textured, with Reznor employing a wide range of instruments and sounds to create an unsettling and immersive experience. The opening track, "Mr. Self Destruct," sets the tone with its abrasive industrial beats and distorted vocals. The aggressive, chaotic energy of the song mirrors the album’s themes of self-destruction and inner conflict. "March of the Pigs" features an unusual time signature and abrupt shifts in tempo, creating a sense of instability and urgency. The song’s frantic energy and dissonant melodies reflect the protagonist’s volatile state of mind. In contrast, "A Warm Place" is a serene instrumental that offers a moment of calm amidst the chaos. Its soothing, ambient tones provide a brief respite, highlighting Reznor’s ability to evoke a wide range of emotions through his music. **Production** The production on "The Downward Spiral" is meticulous and groundbreaking. Reznor, who produced the album himself, employed innovative recording techniques and extensive use of digital manipulation to achieve its distinctive sound. The album was recorded in the infamous 10050 Cielo Drive mansion, where the Manson Family murders took place, adding a layer of macabre history to its creation. Reznor’s use of dynamic range is particularly noteworthy. He masterfully balances loud, aggressive passages with quieter, more introspective moments, creating a sense of tension and release. This dynamic interplay enhances the emotional impact of the album. The meticulous layering of sounds and effects adds depth and complexity to the tracks. From the mechanical clanks and hisses in "Reptile" to the eerie, dissonant textures in "The Becoming," the production creates a rich, immersive soundscape that draws the listener into the protagonist’s descent into madness. **Themes** "The Downward Spiral" is a concept album that follows the downward trajectory of its protagonist. The overarching theme is one of self-destruction, as the character grapples with addiction, alienation, and existential despair. Each track represents a step further into darkness and chaos. Addiction is a recurring motif, explored through the metaphor of self-inflicted wounds and the pursuit of self-annihilation. In "The Becoming," the protagonist becomes increasingly detached from reality, losing his sense of self and humanity. The theme of alienation is prevalent throughout the album. The protagonist feels disconnected from society and struggles with feelings of emptiness and meaninglessness. This is poignantly captured in "Piggy," where the lyrics convey a sense of betrayal and isolation. Existential despair and nihilism are central to the album’s narrative. The protagonist questions the value of his existence and grapples with the inevitability of death. This is most powerfully expressed in "Hurt," where the lyrics convey a profound sense of hopelessness and resignation. **Influence** "The Downward Spiral" has had a profound influence on both the industrial rock genre and the broader music landscape. Its innovative use of digital technology and production techniques set new standards for sound design and experimentation in rock music. The album’s success helped to bring industrial music into the mainstream, paving the way for other artists in the genre. Bands like Marilyn Manson and Korn have cited "The Downward Spiral" as a major influence on their work. The raw emotional honesty and thematic depth of the album have resonated with listeners and inspired countless artists across various genres. The influence of "The Downward Spiral" can be seen in the work of artists ranging from electronic musicians like Aphex Twin to alternative rock bands like Radiohead. **Pros** 1. **Innovative Sound Design**: The album’s production is groundbreaking, with Reznor pushing the boundaries of what was possible with digital technology at the time. The meticulous layering of sounds and use of dynamic range create a rich, immersive experience. 2. **Emotional Depth**: The lyrics are raw and honest, delving deep into themes of self-destruction and existential despair. Reznor’s ability to convey vulnerability and intensity adds to the emotional impact of the album. 3. **Cohesive Narrative**: As a concept album, "The Downward Spiral" has a strong narrative arc that enhances the listening experience. The progression of the protagonist’s descent into madness is compelling and well-executed. 4. **Musical Diversity**: The album blends a wide range of genres and styles, from aggressive industrial rock to serene ambient music. This diversity keeps the album engaging and showcases Reznor’s versatility as a musician. **Cons** 1. **Dark and Disturbing Themes**: The album’s exploration of self-destruction, addiction, and nihilism can be overwhelming and may not be suitable for all listeners. Its unrelenting darkness can make for a challenging listening experience. 2. **Explicit Content**: The explicit lyrics and themes in songs like "Closer" may be off-putting to some listeners. The album’s raw and unfiltered approach can be polarizing. 3. **Dense Production**: While the intricate production is a strength, it can also be a barrier for some listeners. The dense, layered soundscapes may require multiple listens to fully appreciate and can be difficult to digest initially. 4. **Pacing**: The album’s relentless intensity can be exhausting, with few moments of respite. While tracks like "A Warm Place" offer brief relief, the overall pacing may be too intense for some listeners. **Conclusion** "The Downward Spiral" by Nine Inch Nails is a landmark album that has left an indelible mark on the music industry. Its innovative production, emotional depth, and cohesive narrative make it a compelling and influential work. However, its dark themes, explicit content, and dense soundscapes may not appeal to all listeners. Despite these challenges, the album’s strengths far outweigh its drawbacks, solidifying its place as a seminal work in industrial rock and a testament to Trent Reznor’s creative genius.

I bought this album at midnight the day of its release. I loved it then. It was angry, digital, fun and sweaty. I haven't listed to this all the way through in a long time. I forgot how awesome it was.

This albums has some intersting sound choices that sometimes go well and sometimes makes my ears bleed, lol

'The Downward Spiral' is a perfect example of beauty in cacophony and comfort in noise. While a bit difficult at first, once I'm locked into the groove (for me, it's usually when I get to the song 'Closer'), I am fully immersed in its cyborg, synthetic fusions of alternative rock and electronic music. Relatively straightforward drum and synth grooves are overdubbed with layers of impalpable distortion and noise - like with the first half or 'Ruiner'. It feels like the traditional hard rock formula from the 70s is mangled into something dystopian on this album to an unrecognizable degree. With that said, the band also knows exactly when to slow it down to fit the narrative - like on the gorgeously ambient 'A Warm Place' or the painfully tragic 'Hurt' The "mechanization" of the hard-rock genre into industrial perfectly fits the overarching story put on display here as Trent Reznor describes the gruesome process of losing his humanity and turning into a machine, most evident in a song like 'The Becoming'. Troubled lyrics paralleling Reznor's real-life grapples with depression are delivered through contrasting means - be that faint whispers or clipping screams - juxtaposing feelings of both anger and defeat through the inability to act. Obviously, there's more to the story when analyzing the specific songs - as self-loathing related to sexual desires and religion also play a big part in building the concept here. Many albums attempt to deliver a sort of 'Downward Spiral' effect with their concept albums, but few have been as effective, both instrumentally and lyrically, as this one. By the time I get to the song 'Hurt', I'm always emotionally drained.

This was incredibly unpleasant to listen to for much of it. I think on purpose. 5 stars.

Don't feel his voice, but nonetheless the album excited me. Those intense sounds and extreme and aprupt changes between hard and soft made it a crazy ride.

command and conquer soundtrack ruiner, warm place, hurt

⭐️ Heresy, Hurt 🫤 Mr Self Destruct, Closer Thoughts after 43 seconds: I hate this. Wasn’t as bad in the end. Would have probably loved this at 16. Alas, not really for me anymore.

What a trip. Dynamics and tension ark across the album are top notch.

An interesting and deliberately challenging listen, but not one I have any desire to go back to.

Beautiful, harrowing, horny.

I didn't really have the time to listen to this one as closely as I think it deserves. The music is very complex. There are lots of non-musical sounds mixed with heavily processed synths, but then the there are pleasant acoustic guitars. I find myself wondering how they even started composing these songs. I don't know if the angsty lyrics always work for me. Maybe when I was younger I would have identified with them more. Hurt is the perfect final track. The fact that he wrote such a beautiful and poetic song, and still recorded it in such a complex way was definitely a risk. But it comes across beautifully.

This album grew on me the further into it I got. After the first song I thought for sure that it would be a 2 star album for me, but the song variation and themes worked really well. Not every song is my cup of tea, but there are some fun ones.

Own

101/1001

Very raw at times. Visceral (like on I want to F*** you like an animal) but also deep and emotional. Hurt is of course absolutely wonderful, but Johnny Cash's cover of this is just a million times better.

Really good album. Some of the lyrics approach ‘so angsty it’s cringe’ territory but imo the production more than makes up for it. Besides to be cringe is to be free.

:-/

Don't think I've ever really listened to industrial rock. Album was very quiet at times, but also could go hard. Would give this a 2.5, round it up to a 3.

This was exhausting. Lyrics are revelatory. Music made it one long dirge. Categorizing as industrial rock is dead on because this is a tough job to listen to… Johnny Cash’s later cover of “Hurt” has always been a favorite.

Giving this a 4 for the arrangements alone. Not really into the lyrics or vibe at times but the brilliance of the creation is undeniable. It’s like industrial classical music

I don't understand why anyone would voluntarily listen to this album

N-I-N has a cool vibe and sound that defines their albums, and this is no exception. It's a cool mesh of hardcore electro and metal, and it makes for an interesting listen. That said, I don't find a ton of variety in their music. Its either a fast N-I-N song or a slow one. Wash, rinse, repeat. Good for a listen or two, probably not an album I'll consistently return to.

Always found Nine Inch Nails to be an aquired taste. I've heard the album a few times before, but it's only recently started to click. Unnecessarily pretentious at parts, but an undeniably important cog in the musical niche they've created.

What a stellar album. An essential industrial album. This album has great tracks likes Hurt, piggies, Reptilian, and closer. However there are some tracks that just don’t do it for me. The Fragile and hesitation marks seem more complete albums to me.

Interesting music, never really knew that NIN was this electronic. Just wish it wasn't all woe is me, though.

One of the most well made, unique, and emotional rock records I've ever listened to. Every song feels unique and full of energy and empathetic emotion. It's like I'm staring into Reznor's soul while listening.

This one took a few days and a few listens, but I am very glad I took the time. It’s dark, loud, and abrasive instrumentally and lyrically. This album makes exceptional use of dynamics, lulling you in with quiet electronics before smashing your head open with drums that sound like shotgun blasts and guitars with enough effects to induce a headache. Exceptional art piece at telling a story and leading you on this downward spiral with the main character. This felt like the soundtrack to an alternate version of Fight Club where the narrator gets really into heroin. P.S. The vocals at the end of The Becoming sound kind of like Toad and I can’t unhear it.

Great at what it's doing but this is such teenage edge. This sounds like a kid who grew up with their parents listening to 80s Peter Gabriel while they argued and the kid played video games. I think this should be on the list for his it influenced a genre but it's nothing magical. It sounds like what someone puts on when they slam their door after being told they need to start paying their own phone bill.

I was not looking forward to this listen. March of the Pigs - Was that Ben Folds ? A lot of this album makes me feel like part of the Cyber Generation, like I'm hacking the planet or surfing the world wide web. A Warm Place - Cinematic This is a real solid album, just a little immature. A few tracks being cut would have improved it even more. The lyrics are not great but easy to ignore. How important are lyrics? We have amazing nonsense songs. Some artists admit to putting in place holders when making a song. Millions of people listen to music in languages that they don't understand. On the other hand Johnny Cash made the lyrics of Hurt important.

A LOT. I think I enjoy it but it's a lot to process, especially as a background listen. I like some moments a lot like the opening/backing track (?) of Heresy. I do not want this is also a highlight, but it feels weird to call it that when it's so intense. Closer and Hurt are probably the best songs on the album. 4.

Man, The Downward Spiral was honestly quite the listening experience and it was one i didn't regret a single second of. Many of the songs just sounded perfectly heavy in the way that they are just fun to rock out to while seamlessly blending in many electronic influences. Throughout the album, there were so many cool moments involving the vocals and the music that made me ask \"How are Trent and the other members of the band doing this?\". This is one heck of an amazing album and is probably the best one i have done so far. Sorry Appetite For Destruction, you have been dethroned. Best Song: Reptile Worst Song: Piggy

I enjoyed this album more than I thought I would. I went fully into this just expecting loud noise. March of the pigs and Heresy are great song and I enjoyed self destruct Favourite song: March of the pigs Least favourite: the becoming Album artwork: I wont be getting the poster.

Pretty unique

Closer is a great track! The rest is a bit meh

This shit is ass. And it’s a shame Trents work on the social network soundtrack is my favorite work of all time. It’s not that it’s going over my head either. I totally get it. the experimentation is pretty cool but it gets drowned out by nonsense. And his vocals are trash. For some reason I keep thinking of Oakley sunglasses and Nissan Z3s. It’s so damn try-hard, I’m gonna have to try hard to listen to the rest of it. Keep feeling like I’m watching an episode of CSI. I gotta turn this shit on next time I’m hacking a computer. Something something this album sent me down a downward spiral.

Masterpiece.

ong ong ong

Every once in a while, an album comes along that alters the way people look at it and hear a certain kind of music. Almost every single popular genre has been faced with this at some point. And if there are people trying to argue that this record didn’t do that for industrial metal, they might need to take a look back at the last 30 years. In the time since its release, The Downward Spiral has acted as the fuel for every experimental metal outfit of the last 3 decades. Any project that is even somewhat aligned with industrial music released after 1994 is influenced by this record in some way. And I think as a gateway to the genre, it’s not a bad start. If you aren’t into this, maybe industrial music isn’t your thing. This isn’t an easy listen. I think people have a perception of what NIN sounds like because of songs like Closer and Hurt, but Mr. Self Destruct is far more telling as to what you are getting here. This is an album powered by some incredibly intense emotions. And remains as one of the angriest, horniest, and most deviant records ever put out. But all of these emotions are expressed in a cathartic manner. This doesn’t feel angry to the point where there is a disconnect between artist and listener. Make no mistake, this is still industrial rock. But the guitar sounds you will be hearing on this will be unlike anything you have probably ever heard. Trent moved very far beyond the conventional means of creating music like this, and it’s sort of mind blowing how many unique sounds one man can come up with. I’m aware that it’s a basic pick, but Closer is still my favorite song. The layers and layers of different textures are just wonderful. And its fusion of industrial, funk, and electronic dance music is really cool. I’m not 100% on board with every idea this presents, but this is a decade and genre defining album that will undoubtedly continue to move people for many years. Rating: 8/10

Well, this is cheery. Pain, degradation, despair and hopelessness set to music that sounds like being trepanned with an electric drill. I imagine. Actually, I’m being hard on this. I do like harsh, industrial electronica - my introduction to NiN was via the Quake soundtrack and I really like the movie and TV soundtracks that Reznor is doing now. Hurt (at least the Johnny Cash cover) is a masterpiece. This is just a bit *too* grimdark for my tastes.

This album is a gem. It's perhaps one of the most influencial indus albums, and it's well diserve. It has an insane combination of agressive rhythms, layers of noise, melodies and experimentation. I love the very dense and cold sound of the record. Not my favourite NIN, but a 5 nonetheless!

Well, that was unexpected. I didn't consider myself a NIN fan and assumed I knew what this album would be. I absolutely loved it.

Although the album has some interesting and creative parts, it is not really for me. Too dark and not really a fan of the vocals.

Not my thing and rather listen to Johnny Cash’s cover of hurt than this original

Actually better than i thought it would be, very nice dark tones.

Nope

Heavy, gritty and super industrial. Gotta be in the right frame of mind to listen to this, but it's a powerful piece of work.

one of the best albums of all time

hype as heck i should walk inside of factories more often

3.8 GOATed gym album faves: closer, hurt, mr self destruct

Yeah. 5 stars. This album is one of the best albums I’ve ever heard. Not a single weak song. Goddamn, if I could give this higher than 5 stars I would. Masterpiece.

Didn't care for this one at all. Don't get the appeal either

Pain in the ears

I thought I liked Nine Inch Nails. I had Pretty Hate Machine in heavy rotation when it came out. I just can’t get into this as an album. It’s too depressing and heavy at times without a melody. The exceptions of course, are Closer and Hurt. Those are classics from this album but cant save the entire thing.

Dude's mad and I'm not mad about it

Always a good listen.

No, Trent Reznor, I don’t want you to do those things to me.

The album has a lot of momentum as well as moments of contemplation, but it's a bit too edgy for me. The subject matter... Yeah, sometimes I don't get down with it.

Note my music. Lot of noise, lot of sounds, but not melodious.

A personal favorite. Formative.

Listening to this album is the closest I can get to meeting my husband as a teenager.

Many people regard Nine Inch Nails pioneers in their area and hold them very highly, so I went in with quite high expectations. I was thoroughly disappointed. I listen to quite a lot of techno, and that genre usually get comments about being monotone and just "noise", so it's funny that I should have the exact same feeling about this album. I think the melodies are not interesting enough and lacking in general. Almost everything is just distorted way too much for the sake of it (at least that's how it feels). Extremely edgy in general. 'Close' has a cool beat, but the lyrics are just weird. I prefer Johnny Cash's version of 'Hurt' many times over this original with it's dissonant quirks. Might be heresy, but going to have to give this a strong 1 since I feel that it is borderline hard to listen to sometimes. I think it's a matter of taste though, NiN are obviously praised by many but this wasn't an album for me.

Ugh, so much cringy lyrics in this, I think Closer takes the cake. Didn't really enjoy it but something they find a cool beat and it's just ruined by cringy lyrics (using the word fuck is cool right?). Angry but in a teenage way. I liked the industrial aspects and some riffs but that's all. At least "Hurt" got a redo with "Johnny Cash" to a much better song.

Having an industrial noise rock tune from a depressive album like this become a sex anthem is a pretty good job.

This one had me all over. I'll be honest and say this isn't my kind of music. I've never been a fan of really aggressive or raspy anger. And for the first few tracks I tolerated it rather than enjoyed it. However I did come out the far side resp dating the work and kind of enjoying it. There is a lot more variety and depth than id expected. The light and dark were good contrasts and the album was filled with good ideas and hooks. When 'hurt' appeared at the end it was very interesting to get a different perspective on it habig only heard the Johnny Cash original (joke). I won't be going back, but I'm glad I listened.

NIN was far too scary for 11yo me, but this album has aged surprisingly well. Such a unique sound that conveys huge doses of bitterness and darkness without feeling overwrought.

Good lyrics but bad music. Pretentious shit that RYM loves to suck off.

fuck noise, do better. or dont idc. i listened to the free bird solo instead.

I like the aggression and the drums

Simply incredible and one of my all time favorite albums.

This album is a little out there for me, but seems very ahead of its time (or prime for its time because this was 1994 and things were shifting?). 2* 'The becoming' gives Doom vibes. 'I do not want this' was too much angry white man rock (not that I'm against it, but meh). I think I'd need many listens to follow the concept, I'm too tired today. Highlights: closer

Cool

This is one hell of an album. So good. Very varied.

Who hurt you Trent? NIN are cool as fuck, but they never really blow me away. Closer and ...Pigs are classics, but there's a lot of similar sounding songs padding around that. If you want a raw as hell album to have carnal sex to this is the one, but I'm hiding this CD when grandma gets in the car.

Too much anger, dissonance and frankly, NOISE. I miss musicianship in music…especially during the 90s.

Industrial rock is a genre I just cannot stand. I do like loud rock music but also like it to be melodic and easily able to distinguish the different instruments and voices making the tune. This is just a cacophony of random noise. I’d rather have a 9 inch nail through my skull than listen to this again. 1/5 6/5/24

crushing, dark, sick. definite must listen. I'd say the first five tracks are all incredible blends of accessible but still authentic industrial music. After that, not every track hits as hard. I enjoy the two ambient tracks (a warm place and the downward spiral) along with "big man with a gun" and the closer "Hurt" is a perfect song. I know everyone goes off on the johnny cash version but I prefer this one. I think each time i revisit and get more exposed I'm able to get through the back half easier as its not that the songs are bad (I like ruiner, eraser, reptile etc) but this genre/album is just a lot to take in for both its volume levels, sound palettes and subject matter. Definite a worthwhile listen but just prepare your ears.

Es tan incomodo pero a la vez puedo reconocer lo tan bien que esta hecho que me siento como... culpable por que me guste?? es un sentimiento tan extrano pero de alguna forma es adictivo. Nine Inch Nails hizo un trabajo terrorífico con The Downward Spiral, un trabajo que definitivamente ningún otro artista pudiera replicar en cuanto creatividad y producción se refiere. Inspirador y a la vez algo que no quieres que se vuelva a repetir por pesado que es, como si de un trauma se tratara. 8/10.

Este álbum es incómodo de escuchar, no lo disfruté. Es estresante, abrumador y de verdad suena alguien cayendo a un punto más y más oscuro en su vida. Habiendo dicho esto, también creo que el álbum está hecho con ese mismo fin. Tonces una parte de mí le quiere dar un 5 y la otra un 2.

One of my faves of all time

What he said 👆

At the time of my listening this is my favorite album and is likely top for my 2024 play time on Amazon Music. A literal downward spiral put to music, this album is hauntingly angry. Lyrics are brutal, vulgar, but necessary to paint the picture of an addict that is spiraling out of control. Dark themes and imagery are present throughout the album. The instrumentals hold up to this day and some rather recognizable beats, riffs have been recognizable to me since I was a kid (Closer, Hurt, March of the Pigs). The anger and themes may not appeal to everyone but I consider the Downward Spiral a masterpiece concept album for it’s strong imagery and emotion. “Everyone I know goes away in the end.”

Angsty, adolescent, and humorless. It hasn’t aged well, but still, moments of real brilliance shine through.

You must be in the right mood - if not, too much „noise“ and much too less music 🤔

Good.

Turns out I just don’t like NIN all that much. Stopped short when there was a loop of people screaming.

This shit goes hard. Never listened before and first time hearing the original Hurt which I really liked.

Dark and brooding, furious and horny, desperately nihilist but oddly life affirming in its pure heavy catharsis. NIN combines the moody goth synth sounds of Depeche Mode with the relentless intensity of Big Black. This is like a prototype for Nu-Metal, minus the rapping: the grooves that turn into riffs, the confessional verses that turn into tortured screaming choruses, the fusion of metal and electronica. Reznor's efforts to explore mood and texture are a huge success, this is an album you can see when you close your eyes: rust, char, ooze, scratches scrawl and scar...you know, goth shit.

Along with the wall, it’s been a good week for concept albums. While probably not quite as good as the wall, it’s definitely top 3 for concept albums that I can think of off the top of my head. I can just imagine this entire track list playing all at once in the final moments before the narrator shoots himself at the end of fight club. From disillusionment to depression to anger to horniness to brief glimpses of happiness back to even deeper sadness to a beautifully sad ending, it really does feel like you’re on the spiral too. It starts with the overwhelming mr self destruct and never really lets up except for a warm place. Closer and hurt were my other two standouts.

Prince for incels

Respect the process but not my jam.

If you listened to this as a teenager when it came out, you probably thought you were the edgiest kid on the block. I was 19 or 20, so I was over that phase, so I never listened to NIN. This album is noisy, abrasive, annoying, but also boring and repetitive. I hate the drum machine and the whole industrial sound. I didn't like any of it - not for me.

NIN isn’t my thing but it’s a solid album

I'm the unassuming fan Reznor did not know existed when he submitted this album. I don't know what it is about NIN, about the anger, about the sadness, about the negativity that fills this album, but I find it cathartic and raw. Other bands, artists, and songs that attempt to replicate this sound don't work for me. Mr. Self Destruct is as perfect an opening track as Hurt is a closing one. Reznor taps into something that is clearly painful and sadly associated with individuals who tragically have done some terrible things in this world. But, intelligent, thoughtful, emotional listeners realize this album and this artist is not trying to rile people up or harm anyone, but rather open up and satirize some dark emotions that are confusingly already present. All of the animal imagery, specifically pig-related animal imagery is meant to criticize an easy to lead and manipulate group of people who inadvertanly allow the minority to rule. I love an album that swings for the fences like this. It is an uneasy listen at times, but the more time spent understanding what Reznor is doing here, the less disturbing it becomes. This album is a rare alternative masterpiece that must be experienced from beginning to end.

Such a great album. I listen to NIN a lot so this was just a reason to listen to the full album. One of my favs!

A very intense industrial album. Trent Reznor is a great producer. Even with the brutality of the lyrics and sound elements, the songs maintain an engaging and even catchy quality. Big hits include "Closer" and "Hurt," the latter of which is a great closing track. Unfortunately I do find myself resonating with lots of the lyrics. "I Do Not Want This" and "Eraser" are good. It can become an awkward listen while at work or at 8 in the morning.

4/5

Love me some Trent Reznor, but even my more edgy younger self wasn't into NIN. Really like the cover of Johnny Cash's 'Hurt' though...

I now see that I have a love/ hate relationship with Nine Inch Nails. The passion and depth of his angst have been a beacon with his music and the gritty rawness is always amazing. But it starts to feel hopeless, bleak, like damn dude, lighten up... But it doesn't. I love industrial music (for reasons I don't understand) but it is not necessarily dark and ominous. This is. Under the right circumstances I can really embrace this, I really do like it a lot, and always have. It is like a great movie that nobody can favorite because it would be way too emotionally taxing. Great does not equate love in these cases. I think we need to take Nine Inch Nails in smaller doses than a full on album all at once..

Classic NIN. March of Pigs, heresy, closer, hurt all quintessential tracks.

Well this was a fun album at the time, and it really helped progress the music scene in a whole new direction, but to be honest NIN really didn’t age well, and standing the test of time is very important if your making a list of the best albums of all time.

There were parts of the album I would randomly love, the music was also technically very impressive. For me though, it was just to hard on the ears. I'm not the right audience.

edgy

Goed album, oncomfortabel om naar te luisteren. donker en zwaar.

The first time I listened to NIN, I really didn’t care for him/them. I’ve grown more interested in industrial music since then though, but it’s interesting that this wasn’t really my gateway, considering how The Downward Spiral is one of the most accessible industrial albums I’ve heard. I can’t really pinpoint why, but it doesn’t really appeal to me. Maybe it’s because of the alternating whispered and screeched vocals of Reznor or the weird cuts from very quiet to very loud or ending the song at an odd spot. But the instrumentals are brilliant, and I’m surprised I don’t like Reznor’s origins better considering how much I love what he’s done more recently composing film soundtracks. Hell, it’s crazy that the guy who wrote lyrics like “I wanna fuck you like an animal / I wanna feel you from the inside” composed the soundtrack to a Pixar movie (Soul, which is brilliant).

A dark and industrial hellscape that also happens to jam packed with hooks and emotional gut punches

I listened to this album endlessly as a teen. As I no longer exist in that state of frustrated anger and hormones, it hits different - but I still found myself really enjoying it. Raw and haunting and angry.

I love the opening of this album, Both “heresy” and “March of the pigs” are brilliant if a bit on the nose, Trent does this wonderful combination of noises his odd vocals, mixed with his occasional changes to a soft tone over this crazy industrial noise is so refreshing untill it’s not. The middle of the album suffers from not being as distinct as the beginning and by the end it feels as though all momentum is lost. Thankfully it ends on the brilliant “hurt”. This is a super interesting concept that’s so close to a 4 but just falls short through a mediocre beginning but gets a 4 solely because I have the las a 3.

Tough one. I recognise The Downward Spiral as one of the great and important albums of the 90ies but it wasn't quite my thing then and it isn't now. I think I like my angsty depression soundtracks more on the ethereal side.

1.5/5 This album contains a lot of, let’s call it “noise”. I don’t mind a little bit, but on this one it’s too much and disturbing. It was hard for me to get through this album. The only positive thing about this one is Hurt. Just so Johnny Cash could cover it.

Another that could be a 5 if not for the length. Just too long, but a solid album start to finish. Trim the fat. Cash definitely crushed the “Hurt” cover.

He sewed his eyes shut because he is afraid to see He tries to tell me what I put inside of me He got the answers to ease my curiosity He dreamed a god up and called it Christianity God is dead And no one cares If there is a hell I'll see you there He flexed his muscles to keep his flock of sheep in line He made a virus that would kill off all the swine His perfect kingdom of killing, suffering and pain Demands devotion, atrocities done in his name God is dead And no one cares If there is a hell I'll see you there Yeah, this is pretty fucking good. 5/5

Not terrible, not great.

I have actually never listened to Nine Inch Nails. They scared me when I was a kid haha and then I just always thought it would be stupid nu-metal or something. This is a really unique sounding rock album. The electronic music mixed with the industrial rock is pretty interested. It's very abrasive and angry sounding. Some really interesting production and surprises on the album too. Holy shit things got really heavy at the end of this record though. I understand that it's a concept album of someone in a suicidal spiral but damn the title track was a little heavy for 9am on a Monday.

This album was wild, but so well done. Extremely aggressive and sad, but really cool and interesting sounds. Some songs feel like heavy disco, while other songs are down right metal. It reminds me a lot of Depeche Mode but again, way heavier. Some of the slow songs surprised me though, really methodical and deep. Overall, I really liked this one.

Hurt is obviously very good and I probably prefer the original but the rest was a bit messy for me

Thought this was awesome

holy damn. a downward spiral is right, this whole album is pretty much the audio concept of someone experiencing just that. from denial to anger to lust to... completely hitting it rock bottom, accepting you're stuck in a big ol' pit. dark subject matter aside it's an AWESOME rock album with the craziest shreds and beats you've ever heard. like running nails against a chalkboard in the best way possible.

Closer and Hurt are amazing. And I admire Trent Raznor's abilities - this album does exactly what he wants it to do and how he wants it to do it. A great concept album. And the video for Closer is one of the best I've ever seen, a perfect match. But in terms of listening? Not for me. I'm not & was not ever a sad angry young man nor a mid 30s angry quiet woman, the two groups of people who are the biggest fans I know. It's a 3 for the artistry & the ability of Closer to suddenly pop up in my head decades later. Complete with Trent spinning in midair.

Kasvoin yli tästä jo 15+ vuotta sitten.

Obviously a very heavy record. I heard Closer and Hurt often when this was current and always thought they were cool. Older (cynical?) me now sees Closer and many of the other lyrical ideas (“you don’t know just how I feel!!!!!”) adolescent and amped up to 11 for effect (shock?), perhaps rather than true artistic purpose. But, who knows, maybe that’s the art of it. But, generally, I liked the music beds and tunes with longer instrumental sections much more than the vocals and lyrics. Hurt is truly an amazing song, still.

Closer Hurt

I really like NIN and have since Pretty Hate Machine came out. Unfortunately, this is such a product of its time - with all its angst and desire to shock - that I never really got into it like I have with other NIN releases. It’s a good enough album, but it pales in comparison to the band’s whole discography.

I've listened to a lot of metal and punk but this is still thr heaviest album I've ever heard

Not my usual taste but I enjoyed! Probs not the best thing to listen to while I was mid depressive episode but I rlly liked the electro vibes of closer

This album is really moving, I don’t tend to listen to music that affects my mood negatively because I don’t need help with that 😀 but this was so so good. I heard a lot of elements of nu metal which is a genre I love, and it was good to listen to an album/artist which influenced that genre. A great part of doing this project is opening myself up to music like this and I’m so glad I started because this album is really great. Standout tracks: - Heresy (3.5/5) - Closer (5/5) - Ruiner (3.5/5) - I do not want this (3.5/5) - A warm place (4/5) - Hurt (5/5)

3.5

Interesting

4/8/24. Yes, this album is abrasive and probably isn't a good introduction to show to someone, but I love the industrial sound and think Trent Reznor is a genius. I can listen to this over and over again and not get bored, whether it comes from the production, lyrical content (even if I don't fully relate), and how each song flows into each other nicely.

Great classics, Soo depressive, but Soo intense , love IT

I liked this album More than i expected

Too dark and angry for me. But cool to see early Trent and hear nuggets of what he gets to years later.

Another juvenile fit-thrower from the 90s, like Marilyn Manson and later Eminem. DNF

Someone said im not angry enough to like this and I thought it was silly but while listening I said let me play some competitive on a literally any team based rank game, I played marvel Rivals got angry and it did sound a bit better

Tbh, it was a pretty hard listen for me. sounded more like 9inch nails on a chalkboard TO ME. i’ve listened to obscure artists/bands so i’m willing to give them another shot but it was rough.

I never realised that this was a one man show. It’s really not my thing but Trent might be a genius. It’s really unique and it’s completely brutal. I’m tempted to go 5 stars but a little too much of unpleasantness for me to be honest. Oh fuck it, he’s done a really good job here - full marks.

I’d rather cut off a finger with my kitchen shears than listen to this shit again

I'm sorry I know a lot of you guys fw Trent but I'm gonna be honest I don't really get it. Most of this stuff is barely listenable.

One of my favorite NIN albums. Has a great dynamic mix from blaring metal to creepy quiet. Dark stuff, but brilliant.

- Ich dachte, dass ich mehr von NIN kennen würde - War nicht so, von dem Album kannte ich nur Closer und Hurt - Hurt ist ein absoluter Oberbanger und das Johnny Cash Cover einer meiner Alltime Favs - Irgendwie ein bisschen abgefucked das Album, was mir gut gefallen hat und der Stil ist absolut stringent - Leider fand ich das aber auch an vielen Stellen ziemlich anstrengend Rating: 3,25/5

- Irgendwie ein cooles Album, auch wenn es Parts gibt, die hin und wieder etwas anstrengender sind. Wobei ich mir auch ziemlich sicher bin, dass Nine Inch Nails genau das bezwecken wollten - Unangepasst, düster, krass - Normalerweise bin ich auch kein Fan von so industrial -Einschlägen, aber bei NIN passt das einfach so authentisch ins Konzept. 4/5

Cool industrial rock! The electro synths mixed with distortion guitar really sells it

Lots of hits and misses. But the misses are really far of target.

Carried hard by Hurt with the help of Closer

This record is easily in my top 5 favorite records of all time. The first time I heard it, it scared me. I was not prepared for the anger that it delivers. And if your headspace isn't right when you listen, this record can do damage. There is nothing more medically abrasive than Trent Reznor at his peak. He tore through his first 5 records with a real anger. Not some spooky Halloween thing like Marilyn Manson or the NuMetal that followed this release. This record is a true masterpiece. It's hard to drink in. Just as it should be.

I liked this more now than I would have a few years ago, having heard Trent Reznor's solo work I can hear the musicality in these tracks more easily than I used to.

Das Album grenzt teilweise an konzeptlosen Krach als sogenannten Industrial Rock. Dank einiger ordentlicher Stücke und Passage „A warm Place“ wurde der Platz annder roten Laterne vermieden.

Enjoyed this album throughout.

Cutting edge at the time. Have to be in a certain mood to enjoy it. And if you're in that mood all the time, you probably need help.

Amazing album, one of my favorites.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! 4 stars.

Would rather nail my balls to a plank than finish this album.

Industrial indie. Like when released. Not so much any longer

The Downward Spiral is brutal, harsh, abrasive and sometimes quiet and beautiful. It’s an album of extremes. Hurt is masterpiece, possibly the greatest album closer of all time. 6.4/10

Industrial rockalternative rockindustrial metal.

Terrific album through & through. Perhaps not safe for work but not a bad song on it.

Not my taste, but I didn't mind listening to it

An amazing display of space, layering and emotion.

I can see why this group is so heralded. I need to hear more of them. Standouts include Piggy, March Of The Pigs, Closer, and Hurt.

Definitely not my style. Can barely understand any of the lyrics, distortion of the backing tracks is way too high. Most of the album sounds like a factory where the parent company would be legally required to tell employees to wear ear plugs. I know it was all intentional, but still. I’ve definitely heard a few of these songs, but never knew the context. By the latter half of the album, I really started to appreciate how they put the album together. So many different styles that brought me through a range of emotions. It sort of reminded me of the Nick Cave album, but it was actually well executed. Some appreciation here, but I still don’t really want to listen to it again.

I forgot how hard closer goes. When the “beat” drops during the second half it makes me wanna run through a brick wall. That being said, I hope I never hear the word penetrate in any song ever again. This album is a weird one where it’s like a understand the vulgarity and why it’s used, especially how shit was going in the 90s but does that make it “better”?? Hard to say. But I did really enjoy this album. I knew hurt was NIN song but don’t think I had actually heard it all the way through. I was expecting to really not like it just because of how much I like the cover but I was pleasantly surprised and like it in its own right. Fun fact if you didn’t know. Lead singer Trent Reznor does a lot of movie/tv scores now. He’s done essentially every David fincher movie (which when you rewatch those movies, all the electric synths really make those movies so great)

How high can one song carry an album? Hurt and its legacy are undeniable. I don’t feel as if the album is very accessible, even hurt took me a few listens to appreciate it. That makes me wonder if the rest of the album would be the same way, though. Being that we have ~950 albums to listen to still, another listen will have to wait.

I like doing this random generator because I don’t know that I’d ever give Nine Inch Nails a full album listen otherwise. There were definitely parts that were way too rock heavy for me, the screaming isn’t my thing. But there were parts that I enjoyed, like the instrumental sections at the end and a couple of the other songs. I came into this one only knowing Hurt and Closer, and those two are probably the only ones I’d potentially go back and listen to. I also think it’s wild that this came out in 1994, it sounds like it was much more recent. Good, just not for me.

This is how you put together an album that goes against the mainstream without being so absurd that it's impossible to listen to (Looking at you Tom Waits). It's a hard industrial rock album that has both crass offensive lyrics as well as a deep meaning behind them. It's very easy to see how this can connect with people who feel so far removed from pop radio. I'm not sure why "Closer" became the standout song on this album. It doesn't feel that much different from anything else on here. I think "March of the Pigs" is the best representation of this album (and probably my favorite song on it). It's hard, fast and dark, but then the middle and ending hit you with a light piano and beautifully sung chorus. I think it perfectly represents the grittiness of songs like "Closer" and the beauty of songs like "Hurt" .

I can see why this be overlooked or misunderstood to listeners not familiar with Trent Reznor's work. I wasn't keen on first listens back in the 90s, even as a fan of Pretty Hate Machine, it sounded inaccessible and chaotically angry in a way that I just didn't care for. But having listened so many more times, and being intimately familiar with the rest of his work, I have come to appreciate this as one of too five favourites of all time. Trent's meticulous attention to detail, his amazing mix of creativity and expression with an absolute perfectionist approach to production is extraordinary. Whereas lots of other 90s industrial rock efforts sound dated now, anything by NIN still sounds fresh and timeless, despite countless listens. It's a genuine masterpiece, a modern classic work of art.

both the music and the edginess are boring. a Hollywoodized version of what was happening in industrial music, depoliticizing & taking out any depth from the connection to transgressive art, complete with changing the creation narrative from collaborative projects to lone genius in a mansion. perfect soundtrack for a movie where somebody goes to a vampire nightclub. the vampires are torturing and eating humans right in plain sight!! doesn't the evil decadence have so much to say about the decay of the modern world? no. it's a fuckin vampire movie. do some kinda meta analysis of edgelord culture if you want but this itself has got nothing to say. music: hated. (⌐■_■)

The angst of the thing was too much for me even as an angsty youth, so it’s certainly too much now. But man, if he was just singing “beebabooba woo woo wee woo” instead of actual lyrics, this would probably be a 5 to me. Reznor knows how to ride the line between noises and nice sounds like no one else. No surprise he’s had a whole other second career as a composer. Coulda done anything, did NIN. Cool stuff.

Not for me

Techno, heavy metal. Oof, this is not for me. I really dislike music that is designed to make me feel like I'm in a drug spiral.

At least it gave us Hurt

Day75 - a really good album with 2 classics

got bangers

I gave this two listens. At first, I thought maybe it had not aged terribly well, and that it might be almost a parody. But the more I listened the more it felt like a really good album. Nice precursor to the film scoring Trent would go on to do.

A digital nightmare. Brilliant.

I am certain there were radio releases by this band that I liked. Apparently none of them were from this album. This is mostly junk.

somehow my first time listening to nine inch nails; enjoyed it quite a bit, but probably will never seek it out on my own again

This album is so good. There is such raw emotion throughout and it really grips you as you listen to it

6 / 10 Mezcla de Techno, Methal y Rock. Demasiado "ruido" para mí.

Solid album. There's absolutely some 4-5 star tracks on here, but the whole thing as a singular work doesn't speak to me. And, of course now that there's some incredible alternative versions of some songs available that elevate them to the next level (Johnny Cash's take on Hurt, team-up with Peter Murphy on Reptile), it leaves the listener wanting something more when hearing the originals.

I think this was the first time I'd listened to an entire NIN album. I was obviously familiar with their singles, but I can't say I really enjoyed many of the songs that were new to me. This is one of those bands where I feel like I should like them more because I know some people think they're amazing, but they don't do much for me. I didn't dislike any of these songs, but I also didn't love them.

As much as I appreciate this record and what it has done for music it was never really my bag.

Cringe, but the good kind of cringe

Incredibly tense, dark and aggressive, but undeniably hooky. It's an impressive tightrope act and it's easy to see how it's innovative blend of industrial, rock, pop, and avant-garde noise established Trent Reznor as an icon. It might drag a little in the middle, but it's never boring.

THE industrial rock/metal album. The only one that matters anyway. Pretty Hate Machine and The Fragile I'd argue are different genres, so, (the broken EP aside) Trent came in and absolutely smashed it out of the park with this release. This album is probably the one that has the most profound impact on my life. I used to love other bands at earlier stages in my life - Oasis, Blink, Limp Bizkit (sorry), Queens of the Stone Age etc. But this was the first time I properly connected with an album on a much, much deeper level. The first and maybe only time I'd felt like an album was written *for* me. I havent listened to it properly in years so it's nice to be made to go back and listen to it afresh again. Mr Self Destruct is such a great opener. Basically tells you what you're going to get on this album. Other bands had mastered the soft/hard style of songwriting (Nirvana, Pixies spring to mind) but Trent shows he is equally adept at it here. Closer has perhaps been overplayed too many times that I didn't think too much of it on reflection despite absolutely loving it as a teenager. Ruiner/Becoming is such a good combination. The Godzilla samples he uses on Becoming are so perfectly placed. The last 5 songs though are just a phenomenal run. People (including Trent) have said that Hurt is now a Cash song, and I get that point of view, but also respectfully disagree. Cash changed it to something else which also had great meaning and sounded amazing, but in a different way. Similar to how the US office is totally different to the UK office but it's ok to love and respect both without feeling one ripped off the other or made it better. They're literally two different genres in each example. 5/5 on reflection, thought I'd like it less than I did listening back 20 years a later but it's an absolute beast. Phenomenal stuff.

If you’re could have given Zero stars, I would have…nails on a chalkboard!!

Metal

Dissonant, hard techno sound

Unfortunately, this came out during my high school years and will never not sound like angsty suburban teens. I was excited to give it another try as an adult, but just remembered sad alternative teens shout-singing “God is dead and no one cares” and it made me feel sort of embarrassed for everyone involved.

A couple of supermassive hits. Some of the lesser known songs were also pretty good. Would definitely listen to this again.

This album is all in on its apocalyptic diseased industrial electronic rock hell. Trent Reznor does a compelling job with tortured lyrics, music and vocal delivery through much of the album. This singular vision makes the tracks pretty compelling whether heavily instrumental (where mood is everything) or in the depth of twisted lyrics, such as from March of the Pigs. Very engaging.

3.4.

This album is pure genius. Trent is a master of weaving musical textures together as well as playing with the dynamics of loud vs quiet. A powerhouse of a concept album.

Terrible. Just awful. Bravely plumbing new depths of what it means to be really really bad. I mean, at a certain point, you have to hand it to them because you don’t get to sound this bad without trying really hard, so congrats I guess? But I don’t know, maybe next time, and hear me out, you try being deliberately good instead? Just a thought. PS - well done Johnny Cash for taking this album’s one good song and making it a hundred times better

He wrote this while he was living in the Sharon Tate Manson murders house. Which tells you everything you need to know about his mental state. Have only ever listened to Hurt before, actually went through a stage of listening to it a lot. It wasn’t a cry for help though, I just like a good sad lad. Probably won’t be listening to any more than Hurt in the future, would have been a solid 2* without it. Simpsons: Yes

Don't think I've ever listened to these before. Really enjoyed it, could see myself getting into them more. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

All I remember from nine inch nails as a kid was a creepy video for closer. Only ever listened to a couple of their songs. This album is all over the place, and you can tell Trent had some issues going on in his life at the time. Not the best but was and experience

Don’t know why I liked this so much but it was really enjoyable for me. Never heard any NiN but I’m vibing it

I am very familiar with the few singles that were released from this album, but NIN was never really a band i connected with. I did enjoy this album more than I expected.

Perfect.

I can only listen to this in small doses. A little frenetic for me

YES.

New respect for NIN. Solid. A little grating at times.

Graduated high school in 1991 when this album came out. Got to be one of the most influential albums during this time. Just for that alone I’m marking it high.

Interesting and angry

I should appreciate Trent Reznor more than I do. On every album, there are a couple of good songs, but listening to the full thing sort of beats me up.

If my dogs bark at it the whole time, it’s no good. In 2024, I can at least appreciate the mixing of these sounds, but I didn’t like it in 1994 when my brother(s) were listening to it, and I still don’t like it today. So so dark.

Oh man. This brings back some memories. Graduating High School, first place at Auburn, blaring NIN with the windows open. I bet I was annoying as hell. Pretty Hate Machine was my go to but definitely had this one in the rotation. 4 instead of 5 since Pretty Hate Machine is better. Was awesome to hear this album again. It's been so long and somehow kinda forgot about NIN. Well done random generator.

One of my favs

Quintessential NIN

Not really my taste, but there's a power to this album i do enjoy