The Downward Spiral

Hated the first track, liked the second bit then struggled to get though the rest. Not for me.

The lyrics detach me from any positive experience I might have. The concept is supposed to be a descent into madness, and it's supposed to deal with complicated, deep, and dark themes, but all the lyrics are superficial and very underdeveloped, almost childish, which makes it feel ridiculous considering the topics it wants to address. All the feelings of anguish and despair feel forced and performative; when they talk about sex, it makes me want to never fuck again. The music also doesn't help to generate the sense of descent that it's theoretically intended to create; the production choices are quite conservative for the industrial genre, the instrumentals are good but I don't feel that it works organically.

Interesting sounds and production but it’s just not my style.

Not up my alley ngl😭💔

Not as great as i thought it would be. Hurt sticks out like crazy. Why does he wanna fuck everything and everyone

As a concept album, this captures its subject, the downward spiral, decently well. Its rhythms, frills, vocal delivery, lyrics, and so on all deliver on the theme. The beats are nerve wracking, the ornamentations are jarring, the lyrics are blunt and ugly. Irreverence and self-loathing are sown into the songs' DNA. On that front, it is a 3/5. As *just music,* all of the above qualities are still there. And it makes it a rough listen, not a pleasant one. The lyrics are so unbearably cringey, the delivery just ... painful at times (the stupid little flourishes where Reznor sings "Now doesn't it make you feel better~" in "March of the Pigs" will probably haunt me for the next few weeks). The industrial electronic fills are teeth grinding fuel. The length of some of these songs are so goddamn self-indulgent; "Closer" does NOT have to be six minutes long. Now that I think about it, even most of the shorter songs could've benefited from a major haircut, if not outright decapitation. It all makes for a laborious listen if you're not in the mood for it (which is probably only the case if you hit a major depressive streak as a teenager and/or are a vampire at a nightclub in the Blade universe). What is quite bothersome to me is how often moments of brilliance shine through but are muddled in the muck and mire Reznor purposely made here. Some of the guitar work is ridiculously good. The piano in "I Do Not Want This" is beautiful and layered in so well. There are cinematic buildups in so many of these songs that never meet their full potential, and that really bites. An artsy person will probably counter that with, "well, that's the point, failed self-realization is sorta the theme of the album," but man, that shouldn't result in the music itself being majorly dragged down by the message. It is worth noting how many depressed and downard-spiral prone artists managed to make really beautiful, uplifting music (see Nick Drake or Elliott Smith who experienced more than their fair share of troubles and pain but managed to channel it into something wonderful) — the music here tried to make you think a depressed soul is only capable of making discordant, ugly, and antisocial art, and that couldn't be further from the truth. All in all, I really can't vouch for this album. I respect the attempt, I respect the sheer musical chops of Reznor and co., but I do not like the music or its message (meta or internal). Call it a 2/5 for the attempt and talent that underpin it all.

Felt unaccessible at the start, but less so on some later tracks. Sounded quite Australian to me.

No from me dawg

To loud and messy

Having never knowingly listened to NIN, I came in with fairly high expectations (Trent Reznor is a genius, didn't you know?) Well, I'm leaving disappointed. I knew the milieu this would come from, so I would have hoped to hear something sophisticated, dynamic, intellectual. Instead, we hear one-dimensional songs where, in most of the arrangements, the synth bed tracks feel overly repetitive, abrasive, and poorly mixed enough that we lose the balance of the instrumentation, and the chorus gets little more than an overdrive distortion effect to telegraph "hey, this is a different section!" At least I got to hear Trent tell me he wants to fuck me like an animal for like 5 minutes though, that redeemed this digressive dud. /s

Best thing about this album is that Johnny Cash did a cover of Hurt. There are bits I almost like but a lot that I don't like at all. 2 stars or D+.

This may be one of the most incomprehensible albums I've ever heard, and I mean that in the most neutral way possible. It oscillated between pretty cool and confusing and then just sort of ended (I am familiar with the OG Hurt and don't really care for it. A wise buff once said that there's no such thing as a 0 bag rating, so I will give this the most neutral rating I can (2.5)

I missed my Trent Reznor/NIN phase and never got into the group, so I was excited to hear this one. I would have liked this a bit more if it didn't continue on and on. I think it made its point pretty early on and the later songs don't add much. I'm also a bit turned off by "Big Man with a Gun," not because of the lyrics but because Reznor thought he was making a witty commentary on gangsta rap. It felt to me like his comments made it clear he doesn't (or didn't) understand the nuances of that subgenre very well. But to call it "cartoonish" and not have the self-awareness of the kind of music he makes is pretty wild.

Daft Punk’s evil, older brother ain’t for me. Went back and forth between “jesus, this is too much” and “oh okay, this sounds kinda cool” but definitely spent most of the time on the former. I’ll admit that I only listened through Closer (the drive back from Lexington to Versailles only got me that far and I wasn’t about to chill with this in my AirPods) so let me know if I missed anything other than Hurt.

More less

not my sauce

Yhh! Olipas tää nyt tervaa yrittää pyristellä läpi. Enkä lopulta ihan läpi päässyt vaan hyppäsin muutaman biisin yli Hurttia fiilistelemään 🫣 Se on kyl kova teos, mut tykkään enemmän Cashin coverista (jonka oon kuullu eka ja pitkään luulin alkuperäiseksi 😅). Mut siitä kuitenkin yksi piste 😌

I am 😚🐣🦋🌸👼🌱🌈❤️‍🔥 This album is ⛓️💀🪦⚰️😫🔪🚬👹⚔️🥴 Jossain toisessa mielentilassa saattais lähteä mut ei nyt Pride-pöhnässä ja kesäisessä fiiliksessä sekä helteessä. Liian likainen soundi ja synkät lyriikat. Ehkä tyyppaan uudestaan marraskuussa. Muutama vika biisi jäi kuulematta. En tiiä millasessa mielentilassa tarttis olla.

Tää on kyllä melkoista kuraa vaikka rehdin mahiksen annoinkin.

What's with the weird distortion on "Hurt" that makes it sound like my headphones are messed up? Kinda ruins the otherwise iconic song. "Closer to God" is a familiar one I haven't heard in a while. Everything else was meh. Not a huge Nine Inch Nails fan

Pretty cruel that Hurt is the last track and I was too good to skip down to it. Mostly too much for my soft ears.

Some great song but very dated angry young man syndrome. Piggy is ok and a few others Reptile etc Hurt but prefer Johnny Cashs version more point. Over all a lot of shouty shit with a few good songs. I like the way he whispers at times to offer dynamic but I had headache afterwards I guess you needed like them In the 90s to like them now.

I don't like it very much :(( I've heard closer before but i guess it's just not my cup of tea

Industrial rock doesn't do it for me. Quite difficult to listen to/enjoy and the best song on the album (Hurt) isn't anywhere near as good as the Johnny Cash version.

Mr. Self: Qobuz said this was pop?? Lmao Piggy: Very grimey and industrial which is dope Heresy: yeah previous two points are being reinforced, this is a very unique sound and it's a lot of fun! March of th pigs: fun continuation Closer: so this song sounds so awesome and I love the instrumentation of it. However, it lost me on the lyrical content, and while there IS a way to do vulgar lyrics this just isn't it for me, maybe I'm missing context from the album but it brought down the song a bit for me. Ruiner: Good middle ground to reset on The becoming: crazy bridge in the middle for the lyrical content and sound of the rest of the song, nasty back half of the song I dont want: uhh cool time signature! Big man gun: Reptile: so this is how you start a song with vulgar lyrics! Subject matter is super dope, love the implications of feeding herself as a reptile or whatever it said, I'm working as I listen and this is standing out as a favorite based on the lyrics. Hurt: Johnny Cash Would be a 2.5 but no half stars

The Downward Spiral ist das zweite Studioalbum des amerikanischen Industrial-Rock-Projekts Nine Inch Nails, das heißt: Trent Reznors Einpersonenunternehmen. Aufgenommen zwischen 1992 und 1993 im hauseigenen Studio Le Pig in Beverly Hills – dem berüchtigten Haus in Benedict Canyon, in dem einst Sharon Tate ermordet wurde –, im The Record Plant und in den A&M Studios in Los Angeles und Hollywood, erschien es am 8. März 1994 auf Nothing Records und Interscope. Das Konzeptalbum folgt einem Protagonisten auf seinem Weg in Nihilismus, Wahnsinn und Suizid, produziert von Reznor gemeinsam mit dem britischen Produzenten Flood. Die vierzehn Tracks sind keine Sammlung von Songs, sondern ein durch Leitmotive zusammengehaltener Strudel: Das chromatische Klaviermotiv kehrt immer wieder, die Phrase „nothing can stop me now" zieht sich wie ein bitterer Faden durch das Album. „March of the Pigs" eröffnet mit polymetrischer Brutalität, „Closer" destilliert Begehren und Selbstekel zu einem der prägnantesten Clubtracks der Dekade, „Piggy" bietet unerwartete Stille, und „Hurt" beschließt das Album mit einer akustischen Nacktheit, die Johnny Cash später unsterblich gemacht hat. Reznor lässt kaum Luft, aber genau da, wo er Raum lässt, trifft er am härtesten. Was The Downward Spiral von seinen industriellen Vorläufern unterscheidet, ist die kompositorische Disziplin. Das Album klingt nicht nach Chaos, das ausgelebt wird, sondern nach Chaos, das architektonisch konstruiert wurde – jedes verzerrte Sample, jedes abrupte Tempo sitzt. Der Einfluss auf die Rockmusik der Neunziger und Nullerjahre ist kaum zu überschätzen; Bands und Produzenten von Rammstein bis Rick Rubin haben sich an dieser Blaupause abgearbeitet. Dreißig Jahre nach seiner Veröffentlichung hat das Album nichts von seiner abgründigen Sogwirkung verloren.

I know people love it but this has never been for me

Nah, no me gustó jijiji

too much voor mij

Unique—and a couple of quality stand-outs—but, otherwise, just … not very good?

4/10 Started ok - better than I expected. But then the song about fornicating like an animal indicated the wheels were coming off and it was a "Downward Spiral" from there!!!!! HAHAHAHAHA. This album gave me a headache and depressed me. It was quite horrible. Hurt is barely listenable - what the hell is going on with the production? Stereo degradation. Well done

very uncomfortable

2.5

No me gusta nada el heavy metal. No puedo apreciar nada si escucho todo tan fuerte y violento.

The sound is not bad, but the mood is just too dark and depressing. Clearly they had some issues going on.

It just didn’t sound right

Not for me. Reznor’s voice is annoying, the sounds are too over the top. There’s no space to breathe on this album.

This hurts my ears maybe heavy metal/punk rock/whatever genre this is isn't for me. Then again the target demographic is like mid 40s white guys and lesbian teenagers so... Solid 2 not for me

WHAM CLANK BANG I just made a NIN song

İ dont like it

3 edgy 4 u

An interesting enough listen but there’s nothing going on here that makes me want to listen again. In fact, it all feels weirdly oppressive and I was relieved when it finished. It sort of sounds like a migraine. Getting Johnny Cash to turn Hurt into a timeless masterpiece was a genius move.

I was quite looking forward to this. I wasn't a big fan of Nine Inch Nails at the time but was ready to give this a really good listen and perhaps be swayed. However it just seems to be a slicker verson of a load of much better "Industrial" music, see: Cop Shoot Cop, Ministry, Young Gods, Einsturzende Neubaten, taht is trying to be shocking. Disapppointed.

I dont like metal and this isn't an exception, however, I could see how someone could enjoy this

I'm not a NIN guy and this album didn't help. I can recognize the hits and appreciate their relevance but the dark industrial sound and graphic lyrics make for a not enjoyable listening experience.

Did not enjoy at all. Started louder and metal but had some quiet moments.

I only like one of his albums that I’m aware of.

It gives off an eerie vibe. Also beat is kind of sick in some songs. I'm pretty sure this is in the metal reign of music, although I do like alternative/alt music, metal isn't really my favorite. So overall a good album, I'll give it a 2/5

2edgy5me

I so want to love this but it’s not my bag…. Jonny Cash made the song Hirt what it had the potential to be….

I couldn't really follow most of the songs, maybe that was the point?

I think there were a couple tracks that were decent, it's just really not a style of music I enjoy. I can't tap into that angsty, aggressive, violent, fuck the world attitude that this album requires.

I used to listen to this a bit and have a bit of a soft spot for it, I haven’t listened for a long time so good to revisit but not something I’m likely to listen to often

C'était certainement du bruit.

While it's certainly dark and deprived, I can't help but feel that The Downward Spiral isn't as intense as its reputation suggests. It's full of grinding, industrial sounds, but there's also a lot of empty space and slower moments. The lyrics on tracks like "Heresy" and "Closer" really aren't that much more shocking than what the industrial underground had been doing for the last decade. Even adjusting for expectations, there aren't many riffs that I find compelling or sounds that I find exciting. The industrial tones almost sound flat compared to what Steve Albini cooked up in his various bands. The one track that I think works is "Hurt," as it's nicely layered and the creeping pace lets the lyrics sink into you; it also has some of the album's best vocals. The rest is a barrage of noise that rarely forms an interesting song.

what the hell is this stereo mixing

Lo escuché mientras caminaba y ahora mientras me levanto

Didn’t hate it, also didn’t like it

Didn’t feel cohesive.

I don't know how to feel about this album. I usually love chaotic and noisy albums, but this one didn't do it for me.

2- Stats (4/15)

Best Song: ?

Muy heavy metal para mi en muchas partes, pero el contraste de melodias a lo largo del album es super bacán. Hay momentos en los que el piano se apodera de la canción antes de que empiece de nuevo la música mucho más abrasante y las partes mas locas de la canción. Todo el album tiene una atmósfera demasiado chilling, al escucharla con audífonos es como estar dentro de la cabeza de alguien, como narra la historia del espiral. Literalmente te está susurrando siempre una vocecita al fondo. No es mi choice of music del día a día, pero muy interesante. Me gustaría escuchar mas al cantante cantar algunas canciones tranquilas, tiene una linda voz cuando no se trata de metal.

Not my personal type, but i can see why people would like it

4/10 An album that's less about enjoyment and more about endurance. The production is deliberately abrasive, the subject matter relentlessly bleak, and the experience genuinely stressful. It almost invokes sympathy for its subject as they spiral lower and lower. Moments of relief are scattered sparingly: A Warm Place offers a brief ambient reprieve, Ruiner has the most adventurous production, and The Becoming's strummed guitar arrival is indescribably relieving after the chaos. The Queen-esque segues in March Of The Pigs are oddly comforting before the noise crashes back in. Then there's Hurt, the perfect resolution, unsettling and lyrically brilliant in a completely different way to Cash's cover. An adventure. Not sure it was a good one. Knowing the history of the studio it was recorded in adds weight that the album frankly didn't need. Best track: Hurt Will I revisit?: No

I can see why Christians thought rock was evil

I'm 13 and this is deep.

Trop métal pour moi

meh… I guess its really diferent and all but i only liked a couple of songs…

A little too hard for my liking. Didn’t make it past the first song.

I've never understood the love for NIN...

I wasn’t a fan of this album I felt it was rather like a Jekyll and Hyde album some songs I didn’t like and felt the album changes a lot but redeems itself a little with hurt

Nope - don't like the sonics and don't like the lyrics.

Har aldrig lige været min kop the desværre. Men en fair chance skal de da have. Synes ofte der er trættende meget støj på deres tracks. Dette kan være fedt, hvis det er gjort ordentligt, men synes tit det bare bliver irriterende hos NIN - især når det mixes med deres ofte lidende vokal. På mange måder et ubehageligt album med meget mareridt lyd. "Hurt" er et masterpiece og trækker derfor albummet op på 2 stjerner, men kønt har det ikke været at komme igennem. Det var lidt som at blive tatoveret på 12 ud af 14 sange på albummet.

Jeg kan godt se ideen, men jeg bliver nok aldrig den helt store Nine Inch Nails fan. Der er lidt for dårlig stemning til min smag

Jeg fik tinnitus efter første sang 👍 La Pasión: Bueno, det må man give dem. Men udviklingen i mit psykiske velvære samt lydniveauet i mit headset afspejler navnet på albummet utroligt præcist under seancen. Det er en utrolig kompetence at lave noget der er så fedt og så forfærdeligt på samme tid, kudos.

Didn't land for me. Lyrics were tiresome.

cant tolerate this type of music

Not for me

not my mambo

Definitely not my kind of music. There were a few songs I could tolerate but overall I am not a fan.

It was okay…

The background music was maybe a bit too much at times, and also there was too much silence at other times. Overall, not necessarily a great album, but it was okay leaving it in the background. I found it to be a bit too meh and intense.

Lite väl skrikig kanske

Seems like an important album but NIN have never really chimed with me. I didn't get on board with the abrasive industrial noise, sonically I found it a bit unpleasant. Also the lyrics are depressing. More than anything, there wasn't a single point where I thought "yeah I'm quite enjoying this right now".

My giving this album 2 stars is not meant to indicate a reasonable level of enjoyment for the album, as I wouldn’t listen to it again, or that I enjoyed it as much as other 2 star albums. However, many albums I give 2 stars to are mediocre, forgettable, and feel like a drag, and to describe this album like that would seem unfair. I skipped through several songs on the album as I wasn’t enjoying listening to them. But many I didn’t. Hurt is a genuinely great song and an unbelievable piece of songwriting, I also really enjoyed A Warm Place. To give this album 1 star like other metal albums I don’t have much time for would be reductive and unfair as it shows far more variety and generally talent than these albums. I wouldn’t listen to it again, but I can respect that as far as industrial metal goes, this is about as good as it gets.

Un poco shitero

2 1/2

I didn’t listen to the whole thing. While I appreciate this as a countercultural and conceptual work, it’s just not for me.

My generation apparently but I wasn't into it then, nor now. A couple of bangers I recognize, Hurt done way better by the Man in Black.

This is the first album in this list that I’ve thought, “Oh! No thank you.” I remember when it came out. I remember the singles. My brother is a fan. But there was no good time in my day to shift over to this album and, frankly, I didn’t want to. So it gets a lower rating reflecting: good for you, not for me. Onwards!

-nicht meins

Look, I appreciate the talent and how much of a trailblazer Trent Reznor is. I get that he tapped into some primal emotions of his own, and of his audience. But even as someone who was a teenage boy in the 90s, this is just noise that I do not want to choose to listen to.

Wasn't terrible. Not my type of music whatsoever so probably wouldn't listen again. Relies on quite a few shock lyrics that are a bit cringey and that's coming from a rap fan...

Not really my cup of tea. Music for angry teenagers? But I wasn't a particularly angry teenager. And I wasn't a teenager for long. I'll give him a 2nd star for . . . commitment to his aesthetic? And maybe helping angry (or alienated or disillusioned) teenagers. I guess this (album a day) practice upon which we're embarked is maybe good for . . . exercising our music-listening muscles? Although I think (if I do say so myself) that the 3 of us were already doing pretty well in that regard, and have earned our right to have opinions and preferences. ;) So, yeah, 2 stars . . . and I won't be coming back. But, worth checking out: right near the end of his life, Johnny Cash did a cover of the last song on the album, "Hurt," which is worth listening to.

Not my type

I really wanted to enjoy this, and for sure there are songs that I recognized and enjoyed in a nostalgic fashion… But mostly this was mere noise and a slog to get through.

Yleisesti kamalaa melusaastetta, liikaa säröä. Hyviäkin hetkiä oli kun ääni tuli puhtaasti. Ei kuitenkaan jatkoon.

i've never been a big nine inch nails fan. really not the kind of thing i usually listen to. this is abrasive, discordant at time, and not always easy to listen to. but clearly, based on how universally it is praised, there is something special here. the writing is pretty fantastic and i appreciate the experimentation. "closer" and "piggy" are probably my favorites. the drum pattern on "ruiner" is pretty neat. of course i love the closer "hurt," although i must reluctantly admit that i prefer the johnny cash version. sue me. not sure i'll come back to this one very much, but it was a fun listening adventure. also, shout out to the album cover. that shit is cool.

No thanks

Had low expectations going in and sad to say they were met. I generally like dirty/ industrial/noise - but it needs to be paired with a good tune/ some joy / great vocals. Unfortunately Trent's lyrics are pretty dumb (but not in fun way) and too low in the mix. Don't care for the drum machine and more more noise noise sonic overload. JC's version of Hurt far superior - although that song does show that Trent can write decent lyrics.

I appreciate it's place on the list, but not my cup of tea. Best song on the album is done better by Johnny Cash.

Too noisy for me. :/

ммм так себе. Интересная идея, но на середине уже слишком заебывает, запоминающегося ничего нет помимо одного трека из тик тока. СКУЧНО 5/10 за интересные идеи. НЕДОСЛУШАНО

Contains quite a lot of bits and ideas that I really enjoy, along with with some fairly adolescent gesturing, all smooshed together to make something quite annoying.

The only reason this isn’t getting a 1 is because Hurt is a good song and I guess because I get the vision here? I guess that’s two reasons, but the majority of this is unlistenable to me. Just go to therapy

Obviously Trent Reznor is crazy talented, but I don’t enjoy this music. I find it really stressful to listen to. I also find the difference between the loud and quiet parts to be too big- if I had the volume at a good level for the loud parts, I couldn’t hear the quiet parts- it’s set up to make sure you blast it basically… maybe I’m just too old for this.

Brings me back. I have heard this album before, not my cup of tea for the most part with a few bright spots here and there. But I can appreciate the passion.

This is not an album to sew by. Nor is it my thing.

I have never listened to an entire NIN album. I probably will never listen to an entire NIN album again. I have to be in a certain mood to even enjoy Closer. This is harsh and angry music. The kind of music couples listen to when a safe word is required.

First time listening to NIN and a bit disappointed Stand out: Heresy and closer

No. 362/1001 Mr. Self Destruct 2/5 Piggy 3/5 Heresy 3/5 March Of The Pigs 2/5 Closer 2/5 (2x) Ruiner 2/5 The Becoming 2/5 I Do Not Want This 2/5 Big Man With A Gun 2/5 A Warm Place 3/5 Eraser 2/5 Reptile (2x) 2/5 The Downward Spiral 2/5 Hurt (2x) 4/5 Average: 2,41 Didn’t really enjoy that. For me this is more noise than it is music. The Hurt cover was pretty awesome though.

Too wild

I have a lot of thoughts about this album, and I also did a deep before and during listening to this record. I was reticent to listen to this album due the dark subject matter. How do I rate an album like this? First off, I think that the concept is very interesting. The album was intentionally designed and sequenced in a quasi linear story (this is up for debate online it seems). It is evident that this is well written and is meant to be listened as a cohesive body of work - I like that! Secondly, I didn't mind the sound that Trent Reznor created. It is abrasive, hard to listen to, and wholly unpredictable. I don't think that I have listened to anything quite like it before. Not an easy listen, but definitely a unique listen. For the interesting and potentially 'redeeming' qualities this record possesses, I need to talk about my issues with the lyrics. It is possible to write a dark, brooding, and complex album without using misogynistic language. 'But it tells us how the narrator feels' is a weak excuse - the lyrics are bad in a lot of places. "Closer" is an easy candidate that does not need explanation, and "Reptile" is awful as well. And "Big Man With A Gun", could Reznor have tried any harder to make it sound like he was talking about his penis? I digress, I have given this album enough of my time as it is. My standout track is "Hurt". Final rating, 2/5 stars.

i had hopes for this cause closer is such a banger but it's lowkenuinely ahh

it’s alright just not super for me with the electronic element

Not a album I would listen to again

Not really a rock fan tbh

i realize i think i only liked closer

Musically, Hieronymus Bosch as postindustrial atheist; lyrically, Transformers as kiddie porn -Robert Christgau

Noise. But hurt is a banger.

Innovative noise

Please put Nine Inch Nails straight into my ears. And by that I mean deafen me.

I like Closer, but NOT MY VIBE AT ALL

Not my cup of tea but.. I was productive while listening to it.. maybe people are on to something… but probably not.

The first sound of the album is either a boxer hitting a bag, gunshots, or some sort of workers marching? Pretty intense. I never got into NIN, and whats weird is I always thought of them as a sort of anachronistic, forgotten 90s rage band for Woodstock 99 attendees, only to discover in the late 2000s that Trent Reznor is celebrated in music circles as some sort of canonical genius like Kurt Cobain. His talent and vision are undeniable, it has cool moments, but overall as a listening experience, its pretty abrasive and unenjoyable....not a lot of melody, more like a moody sound collage, which is not my thing....and I think the mix is kind of odd. Vocals are too soft, and as much as I appreciate dynamic range in music, the loud parts feel TOO loud and the quiet parts feel TOO quiet. Also to be honest I find Trent Reznor a pretty grating singer, not very charismatic or dynamic; I dont mind the yelling but he kind of has like a karaoke voice or something, and a better singer (like his big influence and collaborator David Bowie) might be able to elevate such aggressive music to a more interesting place. Also, while I'm out here hatin', I'm just gonna say it: "Hurt" is an overrated song. To the contrary, "Piggy" is a cool song with a cool splashy snare sound. I'm going 2.5 rounded down because it mostly held my attention and has some cool moments, but I cant exactly picture throwing it on in the car.

Not my cup of tea.

Kjent band som jeg sjekker ut for første gang. Industrielle og elektroniske elementer møtes i en kraftpakke av et rock/metal. Et konseptalbum om en mann som virkelig sliter mentalt, og til slutt møter sin skaper. Jeg liker nok konseptet (med tekstene som står til) bedre enn lydene som strømmer inn i øregangene mine. Lite som fester seg til hippocampusen av auditive inntrykk. Følelsene er derimot til å ta og føle på. Trenger flere lytt for å forme et fullverdig inntrykk, men akkurat nå holder det dessverre ikke til mer enn to stjerner. Top 3: Heresy, Closer, March Of The Pigs

Nine Inch Nails have never really done anything for me. 1 star seems harsh as Closer is decent and Hurt is really good but other than that, pretty poor.

Just no

Niet mijn ding, kan me voorstellen dat dit heel veel influenceert, maar zou dan liever naar Tool of andere rock luisteren

A bit to experimental for me except for those 2 songs Song I like: Piggy, Hurt

Who cares?

This one did not pass the three songs smell test. Annoying production, screamy vocals.

I can appreciate the production but I might have enjoyed this more as a teenager. Other than Hurt, the only tracks I enjoyed were the mellow ones like A Warm Place.

pas ma tasse de thé 😬😬

Highlight so far is “Heresy”, sound wise at the beginning at least, I don’t necessarily like the lyrics as much “March of the Pigs” has a nice intro, but I don’t like the screaming that comes next “closer” has my favorite singing so far “Reptile” is both good singing wise and music wise

Loved a couple of the songs, really disliked the others. Too abrasive for my tastes.

favorites: track five: closer

I understand that Trent Reznor is a musical genius but I just cannot get into NIN. This album especially is just too abrasive and experimental. I know it’s the theme and the point of the album but I still don't get why you would want to intentionally make something sound so grating to the ears. Some songs are good but there is too much shit. Whatever 'industrial music' is I do not like it. I have heard that it takes a few listens to really get into but I dont want to put myself through that, maybe some songs could be for the gym. Fav songs: Hurt and Mr. Self Destruct I agree but to a lesser extent. I don’t think it was grating, it just wasn’t for me. I can see why people do like this band tho! I liked Hurt and Big Man With A Gun

very powerful and strong, but the songs give me anxiety

Utter ear noise, not my cup of tea. I understand there's a listener for this type of music but it isn't me.

:/ helt ok

didn't love

I was not angry enough to listen to this today

My personal preference is not for albums that are this loud and edgy. :(

I think Trent Reznor is a fascinating person. His film scores are incredible. I just...can't do NIN

:/

Wasn't for me. Too dissonant

not my thing

Different and loud but most songs werent for me but i do appreciate the uniqueness

Not for me

A few tracks (The Becoming, Hurt, Reptile) pulled this from a 1 to a 2 for me, but overall it's just a little too noisy. The first track made me think my headphones might be on the fritz, but the rest of the album got a little more cohesive.

It was different but i didnt find the instrumentals to be that unique or nice and the vocals werent crazy or even appeared often. 1.8/5

Sent me in a downward spiral

not my style

There’s moments where I almost connected with this album.

This album made me feel on edge and dark…not my cup of tea, but grateful for this app making me listen to albums id never choose myself. I do see what they’re trying to do and they definitely create the emotions they’re intending for the listener to feel

meh

not my jam

i don't rememebr, so giving 2

I didn’t love the album but I really love the song Hurt.

I never understood why people like NIN, and I still don’t get it

Not my kind of music

Not angry enough for this album while sitting in the lobby at Jiffy Lube. Closer and Reptile were good.

I had listened to Hurt before. The rest I did not enjoy very much. Did not listen a second time.

Sånn ræva gothisk sex elektronika rock, som typ Marilyn Manson, digger null

I respect the fact they have their own sound throughout this album, I just don’t like the fact it only works for 2 songs max

Not for me

I somehow missed this band growing up. Later on I have listened to a few songs but none from this album. Its very interesting music with layering and lyrics that certainly fit the bands style through and through. Most of the songs have to much noise for me to really get in to them though, what ever it is they are doing with the guitars in those parts of the songs it would make me click next as soon as could If I heard it in another context.

I recognize it's super influential and famous, but it's not so much my vibe.

This is like a kid on his first day of secondary school. He’s walking around at lunchtime, trying to figure out which group of friends suits him best. He sees a group of boys sitting on the edge of the field, sneakily smoking cigarettes while scribbling in notebooks. “Might give those guys a miss”, he thinks to himself.

A little heavy metal for me, fav song on the album is probably a lot of people’s fav; Hurt. Don’t know if I’d listen to this through again.

I didn’t like it. Too much dissonance and too long.

A little too intense for me.

Not a nine inch nails fan. Didn’t click with me.

There were some songs i could get down with but a lot just felt too edgy for me to enjoy

It felt so close to being good, but ultimately I was effectively just sitting inside of a washing machine for most of the album.

Not for me. I find it plodding and boring.

My teenage years!

heard the tiniest bit of screaming and knew it wasnt for me

There isn’t much that appeals to me here. Trent Reznor is a smart and creative guy, but I don’t want to spend time in his world.

I actually really enjoyed parts of this. But I still think I can only give it the two. Had it been later in the day, I may have been able to give it a three 😂

maybe revisit later but probably not 2

I see the vision but it's really not for me. I understand that it's not supposed to be a 'pleasant' listen, and as a concept album about the life of a tortured man it's excellently executed.... but to me the music itself was thoroughly unenjoyable the whole way through. Standouts: March of the Pigs • A Warm Place • Eraser

I liked the slow songs. In a different world I could see liking this bad if it wall like that. The lyrics were so self-pitying

Very disturbed songwriter.

ah mano foge completamente do que eu gosto, mas entendo quem goste tb esse gênero todo representou uma geração de gente bem chata xd

A bit much

Both better and worse than I expected

The lyrics are too corny when I hear them now.

Never been a NiN fan, and listening to it was like listening to a horror movie soundtrack. Some bits in here were entertaining, so I'll go with a 2 star.

Not my thing

I love Closer but this was hard for me

Not a great band, unusual concept of only having 1 permanent member and touring with special guests.

Musical terrorism

je pense très honnêtement que c'est le premier album de la liste pour lequel je ne sais pas vraiment trop quoi penser. d'un côté les paroles ont très très mal vieillies (Big man with a gun? Reptile?), d'un autre côté le projet est intéressant (même si certains sons ont été conçus et produits dans la maison où Sharon Tate a été tuée, un peu sombre comme ambiance). closer faisait déjà partie (étonnamment) d'une des mes playlists btw. A Warm Place et Eraser étaient franchement de belles surprises (i.e. pauses) dans l'album, mais hors contexte il faut admettre que j'ai eu du mal à accrocher au projet. 2.1 pour cette première écoute entière de l'album malheureusement.

Well-produced and original. But I'm just much more into music for sad young boys rather than angry young boys.

Little too loud for me - lot of growling and screaming vocals… deep fast bass… very angry

Was excited for this one and it was just too much/heavy for me. Hurt is a great song but it’s all about the Johnny cash version

It was okay but the sound is a bit too abbraisive. Some lyrics are a tad cringe

I’m sure this was really cool and edgy when it came out, but its boring now. Closer and Hurt are good, but I already knew that.

I enjoy a wall of sound. Perhaps sounds a bit like a movie soundtrack - or maybe the other way around.

A mixed bag. Why is the music so much louder than the lyrics 80% of the time? Some of the tracks are before their time with the electronic beats. I like those. Some of them are 90s whiney. I do not like those. I like the music, the lyrics are full of sexual violence. Johnny Cash does a better Hurt.

Can see why he moved into soundtracks.

Nope

Didn’t age well.

My brain registered this mostly as noise, and I just wasn’t angry enough to push through it. It’s an intense listen...

Too angry for me to enjoy it.

This is a compassionate 2/5. I get how people like it. It's an essential '90s album, and pioneered industrial rock and industrial metal as genres. It's completely valid. I just, personally, don't like it. I'm not a huge fan of albums that cause migraines. It's constantly loud, thrashing, with few moments of reprieve over the hour. The lyrics come off as hackneyed and juvenile. I recognize that this album and Trent Reznor/Nine Inch Nails are massive influences. I just won't listen to the album ever again. Painful, long, and eventually gets on your nerves.

Rating: 1.8 This guy never could hang he has good songs but likes to sperg all over the place and make a lot of bad ones in the middle. He’s either at 0 or 100 all the time.

Nine inch Nails. More like Nine notes in every song

Never liked NIN……still dont. Hurt is the nearest we get to a highlight but unfortunately it serves to demonstrate the amazing vision of Rick Rubin and performance of Johnny Cash to elevate a good NIN song to something truly great

NIN are just not my thing, and the Cash take on “Hurt” absolutely wipes the floor with this original.

I only knew Closer (which has the unfortunate problem of my brain wanting to turn it into the Weird Al Alternative Polka version) and Hurt going into this. Hated the first track. Found the second track kinda interesting. By the third track, when Trent started yelling "God is dead and no one cares" and playing a very satisfying guitar riff, I came to the conclusion this was going to be a wild ride. I think I would need to listen to this album again to really form a proper opinion on it, but that's juxtaposed with the issue that I'm not sure I really want to do either. It's one of those occasions where I think the artist is talented but it's not enjoyable for me to listen to a good chunk of the time. Trent Reznor's later career has genuinely been fascinating though - who would have expected that the man who wrote the lyric "I wanna fuck you like an animal" would later go on to win multiple Academy Awards for his soundtrack work, one of which was for a kids film about a jazz musician in a coma. 2/5

This was a chore to go through, unfortunately. This album suffers from all the the tropes of the industrial rock genre. The distorted vocals, the needless electronica and sometimes too ambient forays to sound "serious". I don't like it. Shame... 2/5

stressig

lots of clashing in not much skazza fashion. saved one song to headbangaz tho so... thats a pleasant surprise

2,3/5

Not my jam. Couldn't even finish.

Some moments of brilliance, surrounded by what feel like unfinished ideas and baffling choices. (2.5)

Every song on this album is about killing someone or/and fucking/raping someone. Oh yes, and there will be a guy whispering in your ear during some random noise.

Weak.

I don't hate myself enough or in the right way to really get it. I really do like noisy music, I swear! And descriptions of this album from fans make it sound like it should sound really cool, but it ends up sounding kind of formless and smashed together, and overall I'd probably rather listen to Pretty Hate Machine.

Never managed to like this band. Some songs are fine but for most of them I just hear noise and disturbing melodies

As a concept album, I’m sure this is a work of genius. The downward spiral leading to the final track, Hurt, is certainly represented here. Unfortunately, apart from Hurt, the album is basically just noise. I could not bring myself to finish a single track before the last one. Two stars, only because of the narrative.

Too violent and dark for my taste.

Did not love this.

Not my cup of tea. A few tolerable songs, the rest is just noise and all very similar. I dont mind loud music but this lacks melody

Good music, but sometimes you just don't jive with a voice. Love Marilyn Manson, don't jive with NIN.

This guy should make movie sound tracks

Industrial is not my style of music and it was a struggle to get though this album. It's too aggressive and violent for me. But after the first half there were a few songs that were more interesting, even abstract and I admit this must've been pretty forwars thinking in 1994. Still, I can't give more than two stars for this album.

I think I only really liked 'Hurt'

I struggled with this. I don't enjoy the abrasive, industrial sound and nihilistic lyrics. I like hard rock, I like some nihilistic lyrics, just not an entire album of it.

abrasive

Not my sort of music, got a little better after a few tracks, but first impressions didn't really change

Took me a while to get through but I still enjoy a decent concept album

Couple songs are great

First song impression: Definitely not my thing.

It’s not for me. I hadn’t heard the original version of Hurt before, so that was fun and I did enjoy it. However, I felt like that song, as well as some others, had issues with the volume. Parts would be really quiet and others would get super loud, I had to keep making adjustments.

Gonna be honest, heard this before, and heard this now. Never was a big fan of Nine Inch Nails minus some songs. This still solidified it. Not sure why I can't like them? They scream, get intense, and such. Maybe just the day today that's causing it? 2/5.

Sound quality on Spotify is horrible.

Nope

Very angry album with a lot of heavy emotions. Not my personal go-to style of music, but I can appreciate it. Some iconic songs on here. After reading some more history about the album, it’s clearly a controversial album (not atypical of Trent Reznor). It raises the question “if art inspires individuals to commit acts of violence, should the art be made?”

Really rough to listen to this. I only gave this a 2 because of Hurt which I only care for thanks to Johnny Cash

I really hate the whispery, quiet vocals. Drives me nuts. But some of the songs were okay.

I'm not gonna lie, I've never really understood the hype behind Nine Inch Nails. I don't mind them, but they're one of those bands where I hear their music and think "That was certainly one of the songs of all time." The Downward Spiral just sort of came and went for me, like I listened to it and it honestly just went in one and ear and out the other. I think Trent Reznor's music just simply isn't for me.

I can tell it took some talent to make this but I can’t tell why someone actually would

2/5

Marb gold 100s

Not really a fan of anything except "Hurt" as Industrial Rock isn't my thing. 2/5

Closer is a formidable track but apart from it I'm not hooked.

Mixed emotions musically, great lyrically. Not sure if this is my kind of music. I like Trent Reznor's voice, though.

Zitten wel wat leuke nummers tussen maar overal iets te hard voor mijn smaak

Not my thing

Some of these songs are fine as background music - I like the strong beats and synths. But the overall vibe is a huge downer, there are many songs that are basically just screaming and/or noise, and the album is way, way too long.

Bit different but ok

Ohhhh. I think 'Hurt' is on this album? Slay. Haven't listened to them very much so should be good. edit: Okay, I had no idea what I was getting myself in with this. I just don't think this genre is for me. I was right though -- 'Hurt' was on here. Banger.

I’m sorry.. like yes NIN woo n such, but nah I don’t want to listen anymore please I just feel dark for no reason

This sounded like nine inch nails on a chalk board.

'Hurt' is good (The Johnny Cash cover)

I like closer, and that's about it.

I’ll give it credit for ambition. But I found this to be a pretty unemployable listen. Maybe in 1994 this would have been considered edgy, but I found most of it to be pretty juvenile. By “Heresy” I was actively rolling my eyes. Maybe if Trent Reznor had been, like, 16 when this came out I could understand the praise. But the lyrics were pretty lame for the most part. Seems like he is trying a bit too hard to piss off the social conservatives. I am far from socially conservative, and I found a lot of this album to be pretty cringy. And the Sharon Tate connection is honestly pretty gross and in really bad taste. Knowing the backstory of the album’s recording made the listening experience even more uncomfortable. If that is what Mr. Reznor was attempting with this album, I would say he has succeeded.

Ciekawe ale trochę bezjajeczne

Good album to get while my speakers are busted cause I can’t even tell. I thought with all the hype around them this band would be better. I didn’t like the Hurt cover so that was disappointing.

My brother was big into NIN. I haven’t heard this thing in decades…and now I remember why. The hits are good. March of Pigs is great, but the rest of the album is some noisy ass dork shit.

I can respect what Trent Reznor has done with this, but Nine Inch Nails has never been a favorite of mine. I kept an open mind going in, and the album does have a few highlights, but for the most part it just sat there. Faves: "March of the Pigs", "Hurt" Worst: Nine Inch Nails fans. My god, they are insufferable.

Yet Another Nineties Album Chapter 22 Are NIN overrated? Absolutey! Current 90s Album Spawn Ratio: 27%

Had low expectations going in and sad to say they were met. I generally like dirty/ industrial/noise - but it needs to be paired with a good tune/ some joy / great vocals. Unfortunately Trent's lyrics are pretty dumb (but not in fun way) and too low in the mix. Don't care for the drum machine and more more noise noise sonic overload. JC's version of Hurt far superior - although that song does show that Trent can write decent lyrics.

The Downward Spiral In the plus column: - The keyboards, synths, electro beats and hints of glam are more interesting than other bands in this genre, there’s slight textural difference, which is nice. - Closer, despite the cringe lyrics, is a very catchy bit of electro-alt rock - A Warm Place has a nice, elegeic sense to it - And of course Hurt is a great song (although the JC version is preferable) In the minus column - It’s quite boring - It’s too long - The edge-lord-ness of it all, even if it is done with genuine sincerity, makes it all feel quite hollow - when the rage and harshness becomes the point if it kind of loses its power - I’ve no real interest in the narrative and the protagonist’s descent into hell, he sounds like a bit of a pain actually. So while there are aspects of it I appreciate, and I found it nowhere near as execrable as much of the music in this genre, I really struggled to connect with it, and ultimately it's a bit of a slog, in huge contrast to Nevermind yesterday. Despite there being positives and certain aspects I can appreciate, I shan’t be listening again, making it a high 2. 💅💅 Playlist submission: Hurt

The 'woe is me' manifestation of baseless victimhood renders much of this album feeble. Indeed Reznor himself sounds like an anaemic bedridden teenager. In that way it's very much an antecedent to Linkin Park. Instead of turntable wankery though, here Trent has just turned on a load of hoovers in the background to give an industrial feel. In amongst all that are vague melodies. You just have to concentrate. Or it takes Johnny Cash to show you. Even 'Hurt' takes ultra-concentration given he's turned all the vacuums up. 'Heresy' has a Depeche Mode electro-beat, into a grungey chorus - a good track. Depeche seem a recurring influence (prominently 'Ruiner'). 'Closer' is a decent beat but the lyrics are highly incel. 'Hurt' does make me wonder if I'm missing something. The lyrics are quite profound when Johnny sang them, although slightly altered. But I can't really imagine Johnny singing 'fuck me like and animal' or 'shove it up inside', so it must be an outlier. An album with some draining lyrics; some annoying white noise; some narcissistic, whining attitude; and a touch of melody.

Varmaan ihan kuunneltavaa meteliä jonkun mielestä mutta ei sopinut yhtään tunnelmaan.

not my thing but i did like the challengers soundtrack

This is the first album where I remember liking it as a teenager but didn't care for it now.

Just not my genre unfortunately. Not as bad as the last album of this style I listened to

Got 5 songs in - not my cup of tea 2/10

I had heard “Hurt” before but never listened to this album in full. It was definitely a bit too angry and discordant for where I was at when listening which felt jarring. However, after reading that this is a concept album and looking into the background to the album (ie its recording location and the story its trying to tell) I viewed it from a slightly different perspective. Highlights for me were “A Warm Place” and “Hurt”. I think “Closer” has not aged well and the lyrics felt questionable, however, I acknowledge that this may be the ‘point’. I can hear the influences from David Bowie, especially in “Heresy”. Ultimately, I am not the target audience for this album and I am listening to it more than 30 years after its release and its societal context has shifted since then. I will always return to “Hurt”, although my preference is the Johnny Cash version. I’d say the highlight from this album is the production and the concept rather than the lyricism and the musicality. It’s also clearly very influential in its genre. I can understand why it has made this list, but I cannot give it a high rating as I frankly didn’t enjoy it as a whole.

inascoltable

me gustaron algunas canciones. me gustaría volver a escucharlo en otro momento para ver si me gusta más

I did not like this. On the rare occasion, a cover is better than the original. This is one of those cases. Johnny Cash’s Hurt is better then Trent’s

“Closer” is about it other than a bunch of noises

not my cup of tea

Never listened to NIN because I didn’t think I would like them, and I was right. Was interested in more of the slower, musical parts but there weren’t too many of those.

Boring - I couldn't stand to listen to the end

Never really warmed up to NIN

Not my jam

Mwah iets te heftig

Techno-adjacent Slipknot without the light relief of some actual musicality in more acoustic/vocals driven songs.

While I liked the sound, the lyrics are too much for me.

Odd blend. Its like grundge metal meets techno or something. First, I heard this band was at university as my house mate liked it. At that time, I didn't connect with it. I guess the same this time with the difference I critically listened to it. If I was to perform the part of a music critic I would give it a 3 as it is an interesting blend of music styles but for myself personally the music doesn't resonate with me and find it hard to connect with the rhythm of it.

Grindy noisy delightful. Didn't actually miss this one back in the day, the industrial stuff just isn't my thing.

I said the last one wasnt for me, this was absolutely not for me either. I can see the appeal just doesnt appeal to me.

Maybe not one to listen to just before bed!

I never thought I liked industrial music and this confirms it. It’s got some classics though. I don’t hate it but I don’t think I’ll ever reach for it again.

The abrasive nature of The Downward Spiral is what makes it unique. It’s unapologetically all up in your face and personal space for most of its one hour and five minute runtime. And, unfortunately, it’s the same reason I have a hard time listening to it. It’s not that I can’t enjoy some aggressive music because I can and do, but The Downward Spiral just couldn’t do it for me. This also came out during my college years and you couldn’t go out to any club without hearing Closer. That song was everywhere all the time. It honestly started getting on my nerves. Still, to this day, I will skip Closer if it comes on. To some degree, Hurt was the same way. Not as bad but it’s right there. I respect what Reznor was trying to do with The Downward Spiral but if I’m going to listen to some Nine Inch Nails, there are other albums I would chose over this one easily. There are a few songs I can pluck off here when necessary but to get through the whole thing is not something that will happen. This is a 2 rating for me. 2/5

Didn't get it. First listen, it sounded like noise. Couldn't relate to the music, which may be a good thing. Perhaps I need to listen to it again.

blimey. I admire anyone who can openly and willingly listen to NIN because this is.... Not everyday listening in my book. I also admire Trent's ambition to fuck everyone in the world but even that couldn't make me give this more then 2 stars

Their 2nd album. Recorded at the house where Sharon Tate was murdered by the Manson Family. A concept album, the downward spiral of a man into suicide. Techno, punk, heavy metal. Nihilistic, incel, dark, deliberately abrasive music. 90s rage, school shooter vibes. The concept is fine, the darkness and the journey etc but the delivery is average.

I had this album when it came out. Not something I want to listen to often. Pretty incredible album though.

Ugh this is actually quite shit