The Downward Spiral

There have been a few albums in this experience, such as Van Halen's "1984" and Blondie's "Parallel Lines," where I had higher hopes for an album and ended up liking it less than I thought I would. Unfortunately, "The Downward Spiral" has ended up on that list. I don't think its a bad album by any means. I just kept going back and forth on whether or not I liked it and the end result was my overall feeling not rising to far above a 3. 3.5 rounded down to a 3/5

Amazing industrial rock

Three stars for my goth friends in high school who listened to this.

Unlocked nostalgia

I like some of Trent Reznor's other projects, but this is just bullshit. You hate everyone and everything including yourself? This album is for you.

This is one of the best albums ever made. It’s a quintessential industrial metal album, one that cannot be surpassed. I love every single song on the album, but the standout to me is “Reptile.” It’s beautiful in its aggression and simplicity, while being layered, technical and complete. I cannot say anything bad about this album at all.

It feels very "of its time", but this remains a classic.

A bit too much noise for me

pretty cool industrial music but mixed pretty weirdly, and successors have done the genre more justice

My teenage years.

Inventive. Heavy. Rich sonic tapestry.

Meget godt stykke arbeid.

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

Not my favorite NIN, but serviceable.

It's Fucking noise

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.

Had this CD as a kid and was amazed by it due to how unique it sounded compared with everything else at the time. Today, it’s still a very unique sound and I appreciate it for what it is and the boundary that it pushed with respect to music. This one will always be fond to me.

wow this was just not up my alley at all. The only saving grace I can think of for this album was that it wasn’t any longer than hour

This is a masterclass in crashing out.

Review I wrote a few months ago for this album: There’s nothing harder to watch than a person going insane. A song I’ve praised in the past, Sleep (MCR) revolves around this concept, and it’s one of, if not, THE harshest song I’ve ever heard. Past me wanted more of that. More of that apathy, that hatred, that emptiness. And perhaps exactly what I wanted was somewhere I’d checked before. Plenty of times actually. Heresy and Mr Self Destruct were in rotation pretty often. Closer would get some time in the light too. Then, it was Hurt. Little by little, this thing latched onto me like a leech. Like a tiger slowly stalking its prey. Then, I gave it another listen. It was good, but still not the best thing in the world. And then, I got drawn to it again, and again, and again. Like a moth to a light. Like a junkie to a pill. And soon, the pieces began to fall into place. Nine Inch Nails’ 1994 album is a rough journey. It’s a creak late at night, a monster under the bed. Something that demands to be silenced, yet still keeps your interest. It’s a devastating story about the fall (or the downward spiral?) of a man. It is deep, it is lonely, and it is absolutely disgusting. It’s something that resonates with you, leaving you alone with the skeletons in your closet. Here goes: The Downward Spiral. Mr. Self Destruct - Opening with the sound of BEATING, the album opens up like a book, crashing us into this angry, perverted character. This isn’t the narrator himself, but some compartment of his mind, the inner temptation, lust, desire. He compares himself to a lover in a bed, the first of many sexual lines, but it also pours syrup onto the pancakes: this dude is a weirdo. He’s scary, he’s intimidating, he’s yucky. The track reads as an introduction, and a FIRE one at that. It doesn’t ease you in, it shoves you right into the action, making the next song feel like the true “beginning” of the story. Another album with something like this is American Idiot, in case it’s not clear what I’m trying to get at. This song feels claustrophobic. It almost FEELS like you’re being seduced against your will to do something very bad. And it proves to be very bad indeed with the chorus. The chorus shows you what the album is capable of, what the palette will be like. It is insanely reliant on shock factor. When I spun this album for the first time, I was in complete awe. It is CHAOTIC. Chaotic, it’s loud, it’s insane. Trent’s screaming is a fucking fantastic crux here too, it feels like he himself is rising those distorted chords and then dropping them back. It feels like a roller coaster that’s constantly going up and down. The slingshot into the second verse is done great as well. It’s more shaky, more exposed. What’s the point of being quiet(er) again if you already know this shit isn’t gonna be quiet? Your seatbelt’s already on, your cash has been given away, your kid’s already crying: you’re going down this ride–this spiral–no matter if you want to or not. The second chorus doesn’t open up some secret trapdoor into a dark, quiet place. No no. It grabs wherever you were, and just presses delete. No transition, no special effects, no glitter and confetti. Just sweet, sweet silence. And a whisper. Two actually. One repeating “you let me do this to you” and the other saying “I am an exit.” Both are equally spine-chilling. “It,” AKA Mr. Self Destruct, compares itself to an injected drug. Self-destruction is a dictator upon a throne. Some may see past it and not chase it. Others bow down and worship. Eventually, the glass cracks, and Mr. Kill Yourself is screaming at you again. A nasty instrumental and harrowing vocals drag you towards the chorus just one more time. But he gets too carried away. He repeats it. This time, some strange noise, dissonance, fog, whatever it may be, is covering everything, flooding up like mud. Mr. Do It No Balls himself is caught up in this. Now, connect that to a man with suicidal tendencies. They take up everything. Each brain cell is walking around a mirror maze with a “Mr. Self Destruct” on every reflection there is. It takes over like a virus. It’s terrifying. Just to drop you into some strange noise that obviously represents something very very bad in nature but let’s be real, we’re just waiting for Piggy at this point. Piggy - This track somehow manages to feel like a break while also not being calm. Actually, it’s terrifying too. It’s very hard to dedicate an extensive deep dive to, but it drops us into the world of the ACTUAL narrator: some fucked up dude. He’s talking to some former friend, one who silently fucked him up without him realizing. He’s angrily looking back on everything, basically just saying “hey pig ya fucked me up.” While the… nickname(?) of this douche, Piggy, is very clearly referencing Richard Patrick, “piggy” is a great term here. It’s rude, it makes this dude seem yucky and below the narrator. And that’s the point. The narrator literally opens up with “Hey, pig, yeah, you” and goes on to repeat over and OVER again “nothing can stop me now ‘cause I don’t care anymore.” He’s trying to tell Piggy that he’s superior in every way now, the crashing drums (similar to Trinidad off of Getting Killed btw if you’re looking for not niche recs) implying something. Perhaps the opposite. Perhaps violence. It’s a very menacing song. End rant. Heresy - As much as we respect religion, us atheists need a little something that screams “you’re fucking stupid” every now and then. It feels like I’m being spoonfed fucking Wing Stop right now, everything I want being handed to me like some sort of trophy. “He dreamed a god up and called it Christianity” is a motherfucking bar if I’ve ever heard one, man. Slowly but surely, we’re going down an iceberg. First, you have hatred towards someone. Then, it snowballs to a lack of trust in everyone and everything: including religion. You lose your faith. This may show that the narrator was once a man of God. God being “dead” is strictly an internal battle: the IDEA of God has died to him. If the narrator rejects God’s existence, how can he believe that God is dead? The following line is very strange to me. “If there is a Hell, I’ll see you there.” Feels a little bit edgy, just saying “I suck and I’m going to Hell” but really think about it. What IS he trying to say here? He does not believe in God, and thus he does not believe in Hell. But also he’s saying “them,” AKA everyone, mainly Christians. Perhaps he’s saying the sole belief that there is a god is worthy of eternal suffering. Maybe he’s saying we all fall into this downward spiral, our “Hell.” Maybe “Hell” to him is a placeholder name for the place we go where we die. One dark, miserable. Mental torture. I digress. The instrumental section of the song does not feel like an instrumental section at all. The industrial instruments are going bananas, but it feels like they’re bouncing something off the walls: vocals? Like they’re being drowned by the instrumental, like people burning in the lavas of Hell. Or whatever the fuck Hell is. There is no break after this section. It just shoots you back into the chorus, which is basically the instrumental section with vocals. It feels like Trent being zoomed in on, as he’s burning in this lava. Repeating this sentiment as he drowns. That brings us to another fire line: “drowning in his own hypocrisy.” While, yes, it is related to God, I just thought it was kinda interesting that the narrator would soon follow suit. Following suit would then make him a hypocrite, which would contradict his ideas of hypocrisy, thus making him a… hypocrite. The egg and the chick. March of the Pigs - Yeah, you know how we called that one filthy motherfucker a pig? Well, now EVERYONE’S PIGS. EVERYONE SUCKS, EVERYONE’S GROSS, I HATE EVERYONE, FUCK YOU AND FUCK YOU TOO. Seriously, though, I’ve never seen anyone compare Piggy to March of the Pigs and it’s like HELLOO??? T H E A T R I C S, guys?? The fastest song on the album and in the band’s discography in general, coming in at a WILD 269 beats per minute. This is also another difficult one to touch on because it is meant to be pure and utter societal hell. There’s 3 main sections which I will call: the coocoo bananas section, the kick drum section, and the piano section. The coocoo bananas section has a lot of screaming, a lot of mocking. It’s basically the narrator saying “ooh boy look at me I’m a person and I suck,” very obviously sarcastically. EVERYONE is ruining the narrator. The kick drum section has the narrator actually retaliating, albeit sarcastic still. He’s “peeled his skin” to feed the pigs’ thirst for blood. The piano section, while being practically nothing, is interesting. The question “doesn’t it make you feel better?” really adds to this sense of repetition. The bottle is never full: nothing is good enough. The song repeats these parts before closing on an extended version of the piano section with added lyrics, namely: “The pigs have won tonight.” Battles are fought day after day between the narrator and the pigs. He’s lost time and time again. And truly, there’s no hope the narrator will EVER win. Just the acceptance that this is the way the night will go, try your best tomorrow. It’s harsh. Closer - WOOOO LETS GET DRUNK AND FUCK BABYYY TAKE YOUR MOTHERFUCKING BRAS OFF TAKEEE YOUR MOTHERFUCKING UNDERWEAR OFF CUZ WE ARE GOING TO TOWNNNNNNN The infamous sexual, explicit, and for lack of a better term: “fonky,” Closer. This song reads like your idea of sex growing up. When you’re young, it’s something dumb. Something for people to have fun with, but not something serious. Certainly not something for me. I’ll never have sex, I’ll never watch porn, I’ll never jerk off. Then, the buttons click. The wires spark. You can still have fun with it, but it’s also something that can be seriously over-abused. Something that feels like it HAS to be. There’s some form of sensation you chase with the idea of it. Ah shit. Now, I HAVE to have sex, watch porn, and jerk off. Constant horniness is a topic that doesn’t get brought up enough when it comes to going down some form of spiral. It’s actually something very prominent. Say you got broken up with. They ain’t there no more, but you got yo mind and yo willie. Go crazy. Bad day? Lay down and rub a lotta bit out. The repetition of “help me” is a bit of a double-entendre. The sex is helping him, yes, but it’s also a plea. “I want to stop, help me.” …But nobody came… Well I mean he did but besides that The vocal performance on literally every single “I want to fuck you like an animalllll 😛😛😛” is fucking PHENOMENAL. It almost sounds like he’s trying to censor the word “fuck.” Perhaps in a playful manner, but to me, it simply just fits. “You get me closer to God” is a bit funny here. First: what God? But also, it could mean two things. Getting closer to “God” like: omg sex is good I think I’m in Heaven. But also he’s literally gonna commit suicide at the end of the album. Foreshadowing. I also just wanted to point out: at this point now, he doesn’t like basically anyone. Whoever the “you” is doesn’t matter, the only thing that matters is that there IS a “you.” Sex > people. This ALSO could tie into a future line: “I want to fuck everyone in the world.” No matter who it is, it’s sex, therefore, it’s good. The closing lines to both of the pre-choruses also very clearly showcase that desire for distraction. “Help me get away from myself,” “help me become somebody else.” And when that GROOVY ass synth comes in at the end of the song, and it just builds and builds and builds and builds. It’s like you’re experiencing all of the orgasms people have had while listening to this. Seriously, throw yourself a bone and listen to it again. It’s phenomenal. Ruiner - The flip from Closer to Ruiner is great honestly. Smooth transition that helps the flow of the album immensely. I’m always waiting for that piano to finish just so I can hear the beat of this track start. Strange that Trent doesn’t feel like this song isn’t “right,” it feels like one of the more dense tracks here. The first verse here is very interesting because at first glance, it doesn’t seem to fit in. It’s something said to an audience of the “pigs,” not the Ruiner character(?). But yeah, that’s the point. The pigs and the Ruiner go hand-in-hand. Obviously the Ruiner isn’t a real person, it’s a thought process, and the pigs will very much add fuel to its fire. With that said, it’s still kind of a confusing verse. The first lines seem to address the Ruiner while the last ones are a bit more vague. Perhaps the lies are something like “I’m the goat” which the narrator is denying, key word: DENYING. The Ruiner is in fact the goat in this scenario. The pre-chorus is my favorite section, this garbled mess of screaming, singing, and distortion. The lyrics in this first one are pretty dark shit too. He calls the Ruiner people’s ONLY friend. Something meant to drag you down is your closest ally. He sticks to his title, ruining people’s happy mindsets: “the raping of the innocent.” Very dark imagery but works fantastic here. Trent states he’s “wearing (the Ruiner’s) disease.” Like symptoms. You show them. It’s saying the narrator is clearly not doing too hot. The second pre-chorus has my favorite lines of the song and maybe even the entire album? I dunno: “Maybe it's a part of me you took to a place I hoped it would never go And maybe that fucked me up much more than you'll ever know” Very clear lyrics, but they cut very deep because of that. The mantra chorus is obviously very sexual, but it feels almost astonished. The Ruiner’s got a big ass dick? Obviously it’s a metaphor, representation, whatever. Also ha, there’s a guitar solo in this song?? It’s hard to call it a solo, it feels like it’s not there. The entire section feels like a recording of a recording, it’s not very center-stage, especially with the panning. This transitions into a NASTY build with whispers saying “you didn’t hurt me, nothing can hurt me, nothing can stop me now.” Obviously it brings back the line from Piggy, #1. But it also feels like it can be told from both the narrator and the Ruiner? The narrator could just be in a stage of denial. The Ruiner could literally be saying the narrator’s protests, the whole song, meant obvious jack shit to him. Coin with very interesting sides. The Becoming - Besides the instrumentals, I admittedly visit this one the least. Perhaps I’m biased because of the time signature. Perhaps it just doesn’t leave me becumming as much as the other tracks. I dunno. How do I talk about this one? 😭 The instrumental is very hellish, obviously. It’s literal screaming. There’s also slight builds in tension. After every little section, a little something is added. Sometimes, it’s taken back. Sometimes, it’s left to add to the texture. The lyricism seems to be about drug abuse and how it’s turning him into some form of zombie. He’s slowly but surely growing number and number. He’s “broken and sore,” but he’s not necessarily beaten. Physical scabs (possibly a metaphor too for track marks) lay about, but there’s no reaction to them anymore. The narrator can TRY to get away, but he’s already too deep and he really doesn’t care all too much. He doesn’t necessarily want it to happen, but it already is (“it’s all too clear”). The [WORD] AWAYYYYY part is just very memorable and I like it. I felt like saying that. Ok. Fuck off. An almost cute melody accompanies an acoustic guitar. It doesn’t feel cathartic anymore, but still intimate. And then, of course, you get faked out and now there’s distorted industrial instruments going haywire, literally sounding like they’re being burnt to death. The instruments are almost harmonizing with the screams from earlier (which are still around). The outro mantra is interesting. It could be the narrator fighting off his urges to STOP. He needs the drugs. He thinks no drugs could lead to his death. Perhaps it’s the narrator having a change of heart. The squeakier vocal that comes in could be mocking him. This theory also dips its toes into the next song, so it’s probably the one I’m gonna tag along with. The mocking sound makes sense too, because the next song has kinda two sections. Rough explanation before we get there: Section 1 - I Do Not Want This Section 2 - I Do Want This The “noise” inside his head makes him crave the drugs, the sex, the abuse. This theory is also IRONY, because if the squeaky vocal is the voice inside his head, it is the voice inside his head damning the voice inside his head. I Do Not Want This - Hmm. I have a conspiracy theory about this one. Am I wrong in saying the first half of this track feels cliché? Not the spoken words sections at all honestly. But everything else really really does. “Well, you know how this world can beat you down” “I fear I'm the only one who thinks this way” “You don’t know just how I feel” “There really isn't anything, now, is there?” My little theory is that that’s on purpose? Unlikely, I suppose, but it’s just interesting to me. Because the second half flips the entire concept on its back. This first half is literally him saying “I do not want this pain” and the second half is him saying “I need it.” Four lines. Repeating. Over. And over. And over. And over. He wants to be omniscient. Almost god-like. Also, interestingly enough, he wants to “fuck everyone in the world.” It seems edgy at first but that line’s always stuck with me. He doesn’t say every GIRL, he doesn’t even say every ADULT. He wants to fuck EVERYONE in the world. That is DISGUSTING. And that’s the BEAUTY of it. All of these requests, aimed at no one, begging just to feel something. Anything. To feel like a being, an existing, living, breathing being. To do something that matters. It’s yucky, yes. But the song feels like a necessary pivot. To show how deep the narrator is. Now, he WANTS to stop, but also doesn’t. A contradiction in his mind. Very, very human. Which makes it sadder, of course. Big Man With a Gun - ME AND MY FUCKING GUNNNNN ME AND MY FUCKING GUNNNNN ME AND MY FUCKING GUNNNNN ME AND MY FUCKING GUNNNNN We needed a bit of a party break honestly. And it’s a greatly executed one as well, because this (and I suppose the latter half of the last track) is where the narrator’s mind snaps in half. The ugliest part of a downward spiral. Pure, genuine insanity. He wants to fuck people and kill people. “Just for the fuck of it.” It’s psychotic behavior. The screaming of “shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot” doubles as not only literal shooting, but an ejaculation metaphor. I feel like I’m getting lazy but what the fuck do you want me to add lmao? The outro is definitely my favorite part, it’s just so fucking catchy, no matter how deranged it is. I’ll never not jam out to that shit. Uh End segment I suppose? A Warm Place - “The best thing about life is knowing you put it together” I am not lying when I say that this was my first time ever touching this album. I was listening to some playlist on shuffle with the ENTIRE album on it, and this song popped up. I loved it. It left me looking forward to listening to the full thing. Imagine my surprise. And you know what, it is very pretty. The melody(?) building up just feels so calming, almost hopeful. But at the same time it feels like it’s holding some despair underneath. I could see it being played after a bad dude is defeated by the good dudes, the dust has settled, and the victims are being laid to rest. It also makes me think of that one game. What was it called? The daylight portion of the game No, I'm Not Human. Fantastic game by the way. I’ve only watched it, but I’d recommend playing it. It’s gut-wrenching honestly. Okay enough one-to-one. Let’s get back to the bangers. Eraser - It’s honestly kinda strange this song was put BEFORE Reptile. I don’t think it was a BAD decision, but the song literally ends with the line KILL MEEEEEEEEEEEE repeated and The Downward Spiral is him literally shooting himself. I think Eraser still works with the flow, the beat reeling us in works well, but Reptile conceptually makes more sense to me. This song is insanely underrated honestly. I get it’s mostly instrumental, and sometimes there just isn’t much to talk about with an instrumental. And I’m stuck in that same baby swing, believe me. As much detail as there is in this instrumental section, I don’t exactly know how to put those thoughts into words. It’s mostly just “this part sounds cool.” Okay? Which part? When? I don’t know. How would I pinpoint that with just words? I get it. But that part with the vocals is absolutely mind-blowing. The build beforehand isn’t much, but it drops anyway. There’s ticking sounds on both ears, almost like a bomb about to detonate (worth ittt). He’s talking to a “you,” possibly a girl he’s using for sex. Ok. LOSEEEE MEEEEEE HOLY FUCK This section is insane. It is just genuine terror. It is one of the biggest examples (to me) in music where it feels like they are living this experience while singing the song. The screaming just sounds so fucking troubled, helpless. And the “KILL ME” part doubles down on this. I am not kidding when I say I feel genuine sympathy towards that fucking narrator. That shit is actually terrifying. The screams, once again, just sound so SO tortured. It’s like watching the dude being lifted by a rope in Hell, dragged to a ceiling of lava. The screaming slowly gets drowned out by the instrumental, the man is slowly getting eaten by the liquids. It’s honestly devastating and nearly hard to listen to. With that said, of course I listen to this shit EXTREMELY often, it’s like an addiction. But take my word. Reptile - While Closer was the album dipping its toes into the concept of constant need for sexual gratification, Reptile is the album painting itself in it. There is no more fun, funky instrumental. There is no cheeky lyricism, no facade. This song puts every disgusting bit of sex onto a pedestal. The opening line here is fantastic at setting the mood: “She spreads herself wide open to let the insects in” So many emotions and ideas drip from that line: dominance, sperm, self-destruction, a corpse. The insects feast on her “trail of honey,” female ejaculate. This song is also the narrator getting what he wanted in Closer. In Closer, he wanted to “fuck her like an animal.” Now, she’s calling this girl a reptile, obviously a type of animal. He’s not the only fucked up person in this sex. The girl (referred to as a liar, a whore later) has had sex with countless other people. Maybe she’s a prostitute, maybe she’s just a swinger. Really, who knows? The chorus is near terrifying; it’s something you wouldn’t play for something you’re trying to arouse. It’s TOO inviting, TOO horny to the point where you know something bad is around the corner. The interlude adds a reverb-drowned almost regal sound. It adds to this layer of dominance and territory: do NOT come over here for anything. This song is just a birthday cake of dominance, layer after layer. It is purebred insanity. The second verse claims that their sex is so out of control that spiritual beings–devils and angels–are afraid of it. Angels literally bleed from it, devils highly praise it. It also adds this nasty guitar riff, similar to Rx Queen’s (Deftones) bassline, which I love that bassline so obviously I love this riff. The verse takes a bit of a turn in the latter half, however. “Need to contaminate to alleviate this loneliness” He’s claiming that he now needs this to feel better. There is nothing he can do that will make him feel better than being a grotesque amalgamation of his past-selves. He claims he’s aware the “depths he reaches are limitless,” but he almost can’t change that anymore. He can’t break the cycle, he can’t beat the machine. He is–to him–trapped here, trapped inside of his own lust. Ouch. Another interlude walks in as the second chorus drives home, and this one is definitely the strangest of the two. A sample from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre plays where two characters (one of them is definitely Kirk, the other one comes up as Pam but I don’t know how to fucking fact check without watching the movie) are walking down a tiny hill, and one of them falls down. Very normal scene. It was also a very fitting choice though? Replay the clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bkBXMjrQ_0 with no video and for the most part it sounds like sex. I always thought the audio was of sex, maybe not ACTUAL sex, but an orgasmic act. Side note, one of the people in the comments said: “always thought it is sample from some porn,” which would have been insane. Honestly, a good idea too. One day, I’ll make a hit and sample a porn video I’ve been obsessed with and force people to find it. Hopefully, they don’t go down a pornified downward spiral or anything. What was I talking about? Right. That interlude definitely reads as orgasmic. Could also be some form of pain, considering the narrator doesn’t seem to be sure of the difference anymore. But as the interlude goes on, and adds this weirdly calming instrumental, invoking the same feelings as A Warm Place. Honestly, Reptile and A Warm Place feel a little similar to me. It’s hard to pinpoint why. Maybe that means my warm place is somewhere it shouldn’t be and I need to seek therapy or something. A Warm Place is considered by some to be a moment of reflection. Perhaps this part is another one? The tone switch gives you a false sense of hope. I dunno. I don’t really read A Warm Place like that, but to the people that do, is that what y’all think? The third chorus repeats once, moving up a bit higher for two lines and moving back down, adding to the insanity of it all. But there’s also a backing vocal added. I’ve tried tying it into an orgasmic, but really, it is very clear to me he’s rejecting insanity here. He doesn’t want to go, he’s reflecting on everything, he wants to change, but he’s literally a tree stuck in the ground at this point. Nowhere to go. Stuck here, until eventual death. The Downward Spiral - After so, so long, of continuous pain. One single decision. One single moment is the end all, be all. An acoustic guitar takes over the Closer piano leitmotif. While Closer’s wasn’t exactly full either, the rest of the song was. The rest of the song felt fun, so at least the piano section was in the same ballpark. Ruiner is literally Closer if you scraped out all the fun from it like a pumpkin. Ruiner was empty, and now this song is too. There’s one sound on this song that sounds like an eraser, it’s right before the switch. Fitting, but also disturbing. Feels like the end of Communist Daughter (NMH), just the sounds that were hiding in the background without you even registering it. Then, the switch builds to screaming and storytelling. The screaming represents the narrator’s entire life, perhaps flashing before his eyes. The storytelling I feel is obvious: the narrator killed himself. It’s insanely distorted, it feels like a black and white video of every stupid thing the narrator’s done on display for the world to see. The narrator of this song, likely the Ruiner, literally says “bang!” to say that they shot themselves. It’s nihilistic, it’s apathetic. Such a big decision for one person is such a small decision for the rest of the world. You’re really just another number. The Ruiner here almost praises the death, calling it a solution. “A lifetime of fucking things up fixed in one determined flash.” Then, things switch to the narrator of the album. Again, the Ruiner is really just another part of the narrator’s mind. It reads as a bit of a reminder. It also tells us that the narrator regrets nothing he’s done. He doesn’t try to cope, to get out of it. He simply acknowledges: “Everything's blue Everything's blue in this world The deepest shade of mushroom blue All fuzzy, spilling out of my head” Hurt - My favorite cover of Johnny Cash’s “Hurt.” Seriously though, the amount of times I have to tell people Johnny Cash didn’t make this song is almost irritating because he’s always credited for it simply for making a cover. Plenty of people make covers of songs. Is it a good cover? Yes. But why is he being attributed to it? Opening with the lyrics “I hurt myself today to see if I still feel,” this is immediately 100% the saddest track on the album. Most people, including me, view this as a form of suicide note. There is a garbled sound in the background, mixed with a guitar that varies in dynamics, making it feel more real. The guitar works really well with the vocals, it’s almost a call-and-response type of thing. “I focus on the pain, the only thing that’s real” When you hurt yourself, everything is in your head. The catharsis. The anger. The only thing that truly exists is that you hurt yourself. A cut, a mark. It’s almost existential and extremely nihilistic. In the narrator’s last moments, he wants to forget his past, the drug abuse, but he can’t. No matter what he does, it already happened, and he can’t get that out of his head. The pre-chorus simply asks “what have I become?” It’s one of those rhetorical devices in songs that just works. Through everything, he ruined his own life. He made himself into this addictive monster. It is entirely his fault. And that shit hurts. The second type this line is said is performed really uncomfortably, which always hits me like a brick. The narrator is accusing himself of everything. No one wants to be with him because he hurts everyone. His life, what once started as a bright grassland, has turned into simply an “empire of dirt.” He’s nothing now. Worthless. Dirt could also be a metaphor for heroin but I personally don’t want to associate this song with drugs too much. Even the needle line, while obviously a drug line on the surface, could be a representation of self-harm. The song chorus adds these pounding instruments. Drums that make this feel like something important. A slight sliver of hope. No one was there with the narrator, but YOU. The listener. YOU stuck with this man this entire time, YOU got to watch him change into this mess. Don’t you feel bad? Don’t you feel emotional? YOU cared for this person, so the album will impact YOU. It’s like someone you know actually committed suicide. The way the album puts this into music? Light years beyond me. The thumping continues, but the vocals hush, reading out what are usually considered THE lines from the album. It’s the centerpiece of the whole thing. The crux, the thesis. Misery and hope shoved into just four lines: “If I could start again A million miles away I would keep myself I would find a way” If there was any way to break time’s back, he would take that chance. It’s a really honest sentiment and feels really personal. Everyone has a time in their life where things begin to fall apart. Where everything falls out of your hands. Perhaps some form of spiral, albeit usually not this hard. But that’s the point of the album: you don’t need to go clinically insane to relate. It shows how people cope and tells a story of the darkest examples of it. That’s what connects to the listener. That’s what makes it feel so deep. The album closes on distorted power chords, simply wiping everything else away. At the end of the day, reading the note aloud doesn’t bring the narrator back. He’s already gone. Emotionally, another story could build off of this. "When one door closes, another opens,” if you must. But at the end of the day, the narrator’s story is just over, and that is it. The Downward Spiral is a tragic album, one that sits in the back of your mind constantly. It serves as a reminder of how easy it is to snap. A protest towards influences such as egocentric people and drugs. And really just a warning. It’s an extremely grand statement, and insane that the band was able to pull it off as well as they did. With that, this review is coming to a close. Thank you for reading mi loves <3 Favs: Mr. Self Destruct, Ruiner, Reptile Least fav: A Warm Place

Hurt alone could make this 5 stars for me, but it even fits well within the story of the album. Still don't fully get into the industrial metal parts

The conventional stuff was fine, but there was some disturbing lyrics in places, overall fine - better than some of the other stuff I’ve had generated.

C’est bien ! C’est moderne Petit bémol sur les paroles un peu ridicule par moments, un peu trop emo Il y a des phases vraiment intéressantes sur certaines, avec des rifs bien bas (ex : ruiner). J’aurais envie d’avoir certaines musiques dans DOOM L’écoute m’étonne quand même, j’aurais imaginé quelque chose de plus industriel et moins… électronique ? Ça me fait un peu penser à badflower par moment Aucun banger non plus 7/10

This is a massive album for me. Taught me the idea of a concept album (in the most horrifying way possible) and honestly helped me a lot out in life haha. I love that music has no limits, and the musicians job is to push the limits we're given by past generations. This is a very very harsh example of that. Really good encapsulation of how life can be sometimes. Saw NIN in concert last year and its amazing that Trent still has the exact same energy levels at age.. 60??????

Not for me, challenging enough but a bit formless.

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

Not for me. There were moments, but overall, not my jam

Nah, no me gustó jijiji

cheverisimo, no soi un tipo metal pero este me atrapo sera reescuchado solido 9de10 lo escucharia en el auto

Best Industrial album of all time

Here's the thing... I know this is an excellent album. I know Trent Reznor is a great creative. I know how it's lauded and loved. It feels too abrasive to me. To harsh, too uncomfortable. It's great that it can do that, and that it does it so well, but it's just too hard for me.

I just can't get into this album as a whole but it deserves to be here. I just feel like the concept could be accomplished in less time and with less bullshit. March of the Pigs, the bridge and outro of Closer (not even really the rest of the song), A Warm Place, and Hurt are all incredible.

Surprisingly for me I enjoyed this. Not as heavy in sound as I expected. Might come back to this, but I fear I'm too gay and well-adjusted to truly get into it. The one chill instrumental track (A Warm Place?) was so lovely. (my second NIN album after the Tron Ares ost lmao).

Ground breaking album. Trent starting to really cook

Experimental, unexpected and just super interesting

Intense. Insane. Crazy sounds und extrem eindrucksvoll drückende Stimmung. Als alltägliches Hörerlebnis für mich aber zu krass auch weil ziemlich starke Lautstärke Dynamik. Eig müsste man fast 5/5 allein für Hurt geben... 3.5-4/5

Meh

too much voor mij

More musical than I'd expected

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

I love this album. I came to listen to it way later in life. I was pretty young when it came out. Later on I saw the footage of them doing 'Reptile' at Woodstock '94 and those kinds of drums were something I had been wanting more off since I heard early Swans. This album has just fantastic drums just somewhere between Swans and Big Black. I think one thing that sets it apart from those other acts is there's some real composition that goes on here and the ability to blend some heavy industrial sounds with synthesizers and be interesting for an hour playtime is really something special. I may not be a morose teenager anymore but I don't have to be to put this on and enjoy it.

Surprised me - really liked it

Most intense Nintendo switch sports session I’ve ever had

р е з н о р саундтрек для похода на зовод

A brilliant concept album. Even though it sounds like peak 90s edgelord music (the first couple of tracks feel like entering an underground club full of leather-clad cyberpunks, coked-out hackers and sexy vampires dancing in slow motion), it has aged well in my opinion. It introduced industrial metal to mainstream music, paving the way for many late 90s trends. Trent Reznor may have relied on some gimmicks, but he was also a true experimenter. The Downward Spiral is often richer and more complex than it appears, with numerous sonic layers, a wall-of-sound approach, unexpected beat changes or weird instrumentals suddenly dropping in the middle of a song. I loved it back then and I still love it today, even though it doesn't blow my mind as hard as the first time. It's harsh, dissonant, sometimes disturbing, but also incredibly varied with a vast array of moods and styles. ''Hurt'' brings perfect closure to the album. It's not something I can listen to everyday - it's so abrasive and noisy that it can indeed feel exhausting. But it's a true classic nonetheless, can't give less than a 5*. 9/10

Je me suis infligé cette écoute mais au secours !! Je crois que mes oreilles ont saigné et je n'ai en rien saisi la beauté de cet album

Ministry had been carrying the industrial flag long before this album. Still, despite a vocal style that’s sometimes a bit too smooth for my taste, this record hits harder. The story of a man’s descent into hell is compelling, the songwriting is more subtle, and there’s a gothic atmosphere that felt unusual at the time… well, until you remember Killing Joke already existed. Still, it’s dark, sexy, twisted, and it’s the album that really blew the doors open for the genre. Honestly, it hasn’t aged badly at all. I still love Ruiner and Closer or March of the pigs still hit hard.

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

Forever one of my favorite albums and a genuine lifeline at 14 and 15. One of those records that I'm going to carry with me through my life and whose meaning is going to continuously evolve and shift into new and beautiful things.

Favorite songs: Piggy, Closer, The Becoming, A Warm Place, Eraser, Reptile, The Downward Spiral, Hurt

How does one review a masterpiece of this caliber. I wont do it the misjustice. Simply put an EASY top 100 album of all time. A top 5 record from '94 and thats saying something since 94 is a top 5 year.

very uncomfortable

The most illustrative album of the last 30 years of American rage, misery, fear, sexual frustration, and lack of belonging. AKA the sentiments which made school shootings normal, two Trump terms possible, and David Bowie scream "I'm afraid of Americans."

A good example of the sum of the album is worth more than any particular song. The rumor is that if you listen to this album three times in a row, black eyeliner magically appears in your pocket.

Great experimental album, i kinda dig it

Thank god for Johnny cash

I've listened to this album a lot over the years, but I sometimes wonder why. It certainly does a good job of drawing visceral emotions out, but it's nothing like what anyone could call a pleasurable (or even rewarding) experience. It's an album that seems like it HAS to exist in the world, but I can't decide whether to rate it on that musical and social importance or on the deliberate unpleasantness it seems designed to evoke.

2.5

Supreme!

Essential NIN. Aggressive and raw.

Rockers, sublime

“Got any Nine Inch Nails?” “No…” “Wicked! Got any carrots?”

Žinau, kad patinka. Įdomu, kaip mano gyvenimas dabar atrodytų, jeigu tik dabar būtų pirmas kartas, kai šitą albumą girdžiu.

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

great album

Not sure I wanna give it a 5 because, at its most abrasive, it's really abrasive. It sounds a little dated, too, but the whole thing is just this nice total work with enough lightening up from the grinding industrial to let you know that Trent's in full control. I don't love it, but I respect it.

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.

Meh-understand how they bridge a lot of techno/rock….this is just too long. Need to go shake off all the angst & dispair

I listen to this again and again and still enjoy it. Its good in the foreground... and good in the background (mostly)... but most of all it tells a story and has substance.

Hell yea

Well that’s rough. I’ve been going through a tough block in my life and unfortunately I don’t want to add the sounds of screaming emos from the 90s into my ongoing struggle. No hate though, I must listen to this another day so I can feel like I’m a cultured person.

Just an incredibly dark, angry and intense experience that feels even more powerful than it once did.

Dross

Awesome. Still sounding 20 years ahead of its time. Goes down nice with a cup of tea and a slice of cake.

Highlights were Closer, Reptiles, Hurt. Love this album although Pretty Hate Machine still beats it to favourite NIN album

While I can get into this musically I don't have the level of self loathing required to engage with the lyrics

Nunca entendí que le ven a esta banda de re mierda, inescuchable, prefiero empalarme antes que volver a escuchar esta garchita

When the first track started I thought this could be a challenge but actually I really liked it. The lyrics are very dark but I honestly wasn't taking them too seriously, they were just there to generally match the music's vibe. Definitely more metal (?) and darker than my usual music taste but ike other well made albums, it was structured rather than just a load of songs thrown together and it had rhythm and oomph, it moved forwards, it knew what it was trying to do and did it well. Reminded me of Muse but leaning way more angry. Maybe I liked it because it worked in contrast with the birdsong and countryside as I was walking.

1 trop hard rock que j'aime pas

I've listened to this one for years, and it was never something I'd recommend. I was probably 13 years old sharing music with strangers online and people started mentioning Reznor when talking about electronic metal or angst-driven rock. I think the first song I really heard was Starfuckers, Inc. which set me up pretty well when I got around to hearing The Downward Spiral, the go-to recommendation for NIN fans. It's not too heavy on the riffs, it's slow enough to display textures and create a mood, and that's the genius. That's the reason why, despite having an "ugly" sound, teenage me would come back to the project every few months or years. There are moments of emotional turmoil that sound like this record, how close it gets is incredible. As far as art goes, keep it coming. But that ugly, the mood it sets, it's still not something I'd recommend frequently. It's a depressing project that's raw and pretty well made at the same time. I'll be listening for years to come, only when it hurts the right way. 4.2/5

Heard Before? Many times when it came out, but not in the last 25 years. Notes: - many tricks are employed to make the best use of very limited vocal ability. i can relate. - maybe the most dynamic mainstream album of the 90s. - unlike most industrial acts, these songs are structured like rock songs, rather than dance music, and are so much the better for it. not only that but the songs mutate constantly, with no two verses ever sounding the same, and choruses that stretch and grow. lots of other cool sections, too, without ever sounding proggy or overcomposed. - production production production. he's the best sound designer of the whole industrial scene. synth patches and drum sounds are different on every song, there is shockingly creative use of samples, and a gear list that would make Hans Zimmer blush. the mix is deep, wide and wonderfully varied. wow. - the only production mistake is the use of shitty electric guitar tones, but all the great industrial acts made the same mistake around this time. - the biggest flaw by far, and it can't be overstated, is the lyrics. i get that he's playing an unsympathetic character, but i have zero interest in anything this character has to say. yuck. we just don't need another portrayal of permanent adolescent toxic masculinity, no matter how accurate. Verdict: I don't like this album at all, yet my admiration for it is boundless. Best leave it to the incel audio engineers. Listen Again? Maybe as a production study piece. It did remind me that I should give The Fragile another chance.

An industrial masterpiece. So much variety, so well sequenced... So depressing. 5/5

i actually enjoyed that a lot and appreciate the industrial aspect of more than i expected (i usually am not into that sort of thing). a lot of the lyrics are really stupid and feel meant for teenagers to feel edgy but clearly they are good songwriters (which i of course already know from the social network soundtrack...stream Hand Covers Bruise for clear skin...)

They nailed it!

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

Is anyone surprised that music this angry and depressing came from a man from Cleveland, Ohio? I kid, I kid...I'm a poor Cleveland sports fan myself. As for Nine Inch Nails, I can't say I love the music but I did grow up with it. In hindsight, I can't believe my parents let me listen to this in middle school. Did they know? It's dark, violent, deeply anti-Christian. A lot of reviews will immediately dismiss it for the content, but art is art, so let's approach it as such. When I listened to this at 14 or whatever, I tended to skip around to the tracks I liked. This was true of all three NiN albums from the 90s including Pretty Hate Machine and the double album The Fragile. I liked them all, and sort of enjoyed industrial music as a genre (though ashamedly I was more of a rap-rock teen), but I tended to appreciate them "part and parcel" rather than as a cohesive whole. After listening to the whole thing (which, I was familiar with every song so maybe I was kidding myself a bit on how little I listened to certain tracks as a kid), I appreciate how it all kind of fits together. This album can be hard to listen to in places whether due to the abrasive industrial sound, the disturbing ambience, the offensive lyrics, or all of those simultaneously, but that doesn't take away that it's insanely good at what it's trying to do. Not only that but for such an inaccessible sound, it sure had a lot of hits on it. Overall a solid 4, close to perfection if more of the tracks were less abstract.

Just could not make myself like this. Too screamy.

all the songs sound the same

WHAM CLANK BANG I just made a NIN song

Kan hier niet objectief zijn.

Obvs a best ever album for us genXers

This album is a vibe that was 1994. Combat boots, fishnets, baby doll dress, rum raisin lipstick, black eye liner, cigarette dangling, slinking around dark clubs with NIN wall of sound filling up the atmosphere

Objectively really good. Subjectively not my favorite.

not my style

I’ve heard a lot about NIИ, but I’ve never actually listened to them, let alone their albums. Honestly, it’s just trash. It’s unlistenable, it’s literally torture for the ears that gives you a headache. It’s as if Depeche Mode started doing butyrate. Once again, I’m convinced that when a band claims to have a multi-instrumentalist, the music is always awful.

Story is impeccable, very concept heavy (which I love!) and the songs flow nicely from one to another. Hard to complain about this album because... how are you going to?

NIN might have been my introduction to industrial. This was a step beyond the distortion and ennui of grunge to almost self rage. This isn't an everyday listen. But it really does find a way to connect - either through nostalgia, or memory - to that teenage self doubt and anger and aggressive need to accept the hurt and express it if for no other reason than to feel alive. Heresy March Of The Pigs Closer Hurt

good good good, 10 inches

The barrage of noise and audible violence is perfectly balanced by a couple of atmospheric instrumentals and ballads. I enjoyed this more than I expected, really. Faves: March Of The Pigs, Closer, Hurt

Nothing like starting my Saturday by listening to an entire NIN album while playing the New York Times games and eating my oatmeal. This seems like a cool and well-done version of what it is, but I still couldn't wait for it to be over because I don't think I would ever be in the mood to listen to something like this (at least I hope not). I actually did enjoy Hurt though. That song is a bit more traditionally musical than the rest of the album.

Loved this album. Never really a die hard fan of NIN but I’ve always enjoyed their sound. I don’t think I’ve listened to more than a few songs. Johnny Cash’s version of Hurt will always be the best imo. I thought initially that NIN covered Hurt when I was younger. But it was cool to learn it was the other way around. Trent Reznor apparently was a but miffed that Johnny Cash “took” his song. But Trent learned to accept that it is now Johnny Cash’s song since he did such a great job with it recreating it.

Pure angst, with a side of noise, drizzled with hate and sprinkled with anti-religion. I liked it, and loved the parts that were a bit tamer. The noise got to me at times, but I could still appreciate it. Especially listening to this as a whole. Definitely an album worth listening to front to back vs listening to individual songs. Definitely an album worth being on this list. 8/10

Not listened to this in ages. It's quite an album, definitely not background music. It's very good but needs your full attention and to be loud.

A couple songs I really liked, a lot of stuff I didn't get. No clue what to rate it

Main objects of my nightmares: - The pigs winning tonight - Getting penetrated by a nine-inch……nail

Nine Inch Nails on a chalkboard. Put Nine Inch Nails in my ears before making me listen to this again

3.8

Mostly good. 4/5

Makes me feel like I’m living in a grounded dystopian future

İ dont like it

As a non-native, it's really hard for me to keep track of the lyrics. Also the vocal is unnecessarily shouting? Like, it is nice experimental stuff for 1994 but why it is in this 1001 website is way beyond me.

so angsty as a longtime fan of QOTSA its cool to hear what I assume were influences on that genre from this

NIN

Such a strong debut is a tough act to follow. I love Closer. Hurt is also good but also a rare instance where I like the cover better. 2.5/5

So much angst and aggression…and all before the age of 30. Ha. But, I guess that’s what happens when you rent the house where Sharon Tate was murdered for inspiration and recording. I prefer NIN’s debut over this, but interestingly it’s the softer songs like Closer, Hurt or even A Warm Place that offer some light in this overall barrage. The production and mixing are some of the real standouts here too.

Closer was such a massive song. And I probably needed a 20+ year break hearing it given how much it was played. But hearing it now appreciate how great it is. The different builds and parts. Pretty awesome. Also pretty cool he covered a Johnny Cash song. 3.5 and rounding up

Love Closer. March of the Pigs and Hurt are also pretty solid. But the rest of the album is rough to get through. Want to round up but just can’t. 3.5/5

Temporary rating until I relisten with the lyrics in front of me.

Great

Help me

6/10

Urgh

Des qualités techniques évidentes et une production soignée. Un style indus et agressif auquel je n'ai pas accroché. Une déception personnelle malgré le respect pour l'œuvre.

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.

Closer - favorite songs indeed

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.

Incredible album. It's like being smashed in the face constantly, but in a really intriguing fun sorta way.

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

i like aber fehlt was 3.25 sterne

Perfect 4.5. But I'll round down to 4 because I wouldn't choose to listen to this album often

A noisy masterpiece

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

Alright, industrial rock is not supposed to be pleasing to the ear, isn't it? As least if you compare this to E. Neugebauten's 'Kollaps' which I heard before on the list. But this album has a lot of melodic stuff. Moreover, it is overall well done and even has moments where you could say it's ambient. That was too unexpected. Now, usually there are a few minutes on a track that are very repetitive. But they keep on changing at a certain point and offer something worth listening and even rewarding stuff. I think the opener is the most technically impressive track. There are quite many that I really liked, like "Heresy", "Ruiner", and "Reptile". For a long album, it was surprisingly diverse. So given its genre, the record is worthwhile not only by the genre's standard, but is worth listening even you usually won't express interest for this kind of music. Which makes it a decent inclusion on the 1001 list. Great industrial rock album, with great overall quality and nice details in music

In my humble opinion, simply one of the best albums ever made. Have heard this album a million times, will not miss any reason to listen again.

Awesome soundscape Probably the best unintentional cyberpunk album Vocals often take more of an intrument focus than solo focus

Var ekki viss hvert þessi plata væri að fara í fyrsta lagi, en hún náði mér síðan vel.

I wasn’t all that familiar with Nine Inch Nails but damn this was a good listen. I was very entertained and I think every part of my body at some point was feeling something.

iconic and peak. not for everyone and i can definitely see why many people don't like it, but it's really consistent. only thing is, there's a few songs i'm just not a huge fan of, which kinda drags the great songs down.

I've never known what to think of Nine Inch Nails. I do chuckle a bit when their fans try to convince me that Johnny Cash didn't do "Hurt" better than them. However, I enjoyed this melancholy album much more than I thought I would. Favorite Track: "Closer".

“Closer” and “Ruiner” are both iconically good. The sound is raw and makes you uncomfortable, in a nice way. I liked “A Warm Place” and “Reptile” too.

I don't even know what to say about this album. So many intense, dark feelings. By far one of the best albums in recent history. From Mr Self-Destruct to Hurt, almost every track is better than the last.

Another disappointment

There's better NIN (esp. Nine Inch Noize from 2026 Coachella), but there's some good ones here, and this is carving out it's own distinctive niche in the grunge genre.

Good stuff.

Closer Bangs

Never listened. Expectations: High - Verdict: Very Good - I like but don't love NIN's first album but have higher expectations for this one based on the countless rave reviews I have heard over the years. Mr. Self Destruct is alright but I prefer the plodding groove of Piggy. I like Heresy a lot as well, this is a very strong start. Closer is very danceable but I find March Of The Pigs and Ruiner slightly boring. The second half of the album doesn't have the standout songs like the first half but is still a great listen. A Warm Place and Hurt are exceptions, both are phenomenal tracks.

Из-за этого альбома я перестал слушать музыку месяц. О как завернул, да? Прям кликбейт на месте состряпал. На самом деле, перестал слушать месяц именно альбомы челленджа, а не музыку, само собой. Так что, частично это верно. Почему так ? Трент Резнор крутой чувак и я его уважаю. Образ, концепции альбомов, имидж и всё такое. Но я знаю что такое The Downward Spiral и слушал его ранее, а теперь мне предстояло переслушать его. И я понимал что я просто не могу и не хочу этого делать, потому как подобно обложке альбома, для меня этот релиз полнится вот этой вот токсичной, ржавой, тяжелой энергетикой с этими электронными индастриал приколами и гиперсексуальностью какой-то что-ли. А это очень специфическая хуйня конкретно для меня, у меня не так часто возникает настроение на подобное, а обижать Трента не хотелось. Вот и ждал. Ждал день, неделю, две, месяц, а настроения всё "не наступало". "В пизду" подумал я. Хотелось уже приступить к новым альбомам, и вот я переслушиваю это и понимаю... Блэт, ну не мое это, ёпсиль мопсиль. Всё звучит клёво, модно-молодёжно, тяжеленько, эджово, но ляяя... я не знаю. мэйби либо NIN все же не моя группа, либо именно этот альбомчик. Из уважения ставлю 4.

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

Helt grei, noen kule sanger

2edgy5me

I don't think it's bad but it's just to heavy for me atm

Too angry

Masterpiece

This album is for a certain public, sadly it was not for me.

El mero dolor

This was a trip indeed. Those guys invented boss music for future games it seems

i swear i've listened to this before.... no idea when tho. i don't remember it being so pig-themed?? i think with teeth is still my favourite nin album but this ones great too. i'm surprised how much of it i'd forgotten..? especially "a warm place", which is such a good track. i love ambient.... but i also love the super aggressive industrial sound that most of the rest of the album is constructed from too. i especially like the moments where everything is turned up so much the vocals get totally lost, like in "big man with a gun" where reznor's singing is crushed out between the instruments, or the end of "mr. self destruct" where the distortion is cranked to the point of his becoming completely unintelligible noise. he really went balls out on this shit and its awesome. great album. oh, and "march of the pigs" is shadow the hedgehog music, so this was always gonna get a 5.

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….

This is just a concrete 5. Outstandingly unique all while being incredibly layered and varied.

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

Abrasive, depressing, and exhilarating. One of the best albums of its era. 4.75/5.

Wednesday, 6 May, 226 Brian Eno does industrial. Some intense emotions that I might have felt from the ages of 15-22. The second half is much stronger.

This album was awesome! My first introduction to NIN that I’m aware of was the Challengers movie soundtrack (which is incredible). I know this album is closer to rock rather than electronic, but there’s a real through-line between the two. 4/5.

No. Imposible. Definitivamente no es para mí, le diría a Netflix. Yo sé que tienen cosas que en perspectiva están buenas, pero lo sufrí.

Yeah I don’t think I’m gonna make it thru this one. Chalk it up. Just not me.

Not really my thing

I’m actually kind of surprised by the fact that I find this so awesome but…

Such rich beautiful soundscapes. Love the atmosphere. Despite it feeling really heavy, there are hooks everywhere! I thought prince would be far and away the horniest records on this list but I forgot how filthy this is. Awesome stuff though

Not bad. Not great. A few major hits.

The absolute peak of industrial music.

I bought the record when it came out. I listened to it all the way through once or twice as it's such a heavily dark album and that's where its brilliance lies.

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.

Good

Grindy. I mean, at times it just sounds like machines grinding. Now, later in the album, you get a hint or two of the work Reznor would do much later in life - the scoring, the soundtracks, the instrumentals, and those glimpses are beautiful. But you know, otherwise...okay.

Najs. V najstniških letih so me nekak zgrešil ampak zadnjih par let se pa počas poglabljam v albume. Tega sm do zdaj, mislim da, enkrat prej. "Heresy" je super. "March of the Pigs" ma insane ritem. Po pa seveda "Closer". Ah. Pa "Ruiner". V glavnem, banger after banger, if you're into this kinda music. "A Warm Place" je dejansko k nek počitek od tematik albuma. Dons mam na žalost dan, k mi ne omogoča, da bi še enkrat takoj poslušala, ampak this is going on my regular roster. O, ja, prelivanje iz enega komada v drugega. <3 Pa na splošno, tud če mogoče nisi najbol pozoren, dojameš, da se kaka melodija ponovno pojavi. Men ljubši primer concept albuma, kot pa rock opere. Za zaključek pa "Hurt". Amazing. (Zj k poslušam originalen komad, si ne morm pomagat, da se ne spomnim na Johnny Cash verzijo & v spominu mam, k da je v njegovi verziji spremenjeno besedilo, da ne reče 'crown of shit' - kar me zdaj preseneča, k na live albumu k smo ga mel od Casha, ni imel nobenga problema večkrat preklinjat - grem preverit- jap, 'crown of thorns'. Why no more swearing, Johnny?)

Super important album for, the most listened one and clearly 5 stars, and despite all of that I forgot to write a damn review!

Not my sort of thing

A masterpiece and one of my favorite albums of all time. This guy was going through some shit when he recorded this.

Enjoyed relistening to this, though it seemed a lot more transgressive when I was a teenager

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

Very much not my usual choice but I thought this was good. Having watched a short documentary about the song Hurt, it makes a lot of sense in the context of the album. Glad that Trent Reznor is in a better place these days.

I had not heard this previously and happy to say it exceeded my expectations by proving to be not quite the very worst among the unlistenable albums we have been subjected to so far - one star. Tom.

1. "Piggy" 2. "Hurt" 3. "Heresy"

3.5 liked more than I thought

C'était certainement du bruit.

This album’s so tuff, despite the screaming. I like the sound effects. Fav tracks: “Piggy” and “Hurt”, though I do prefer Johnny Cash’s version.

It had so much promise. Verbal meme Garfield in all black, black nails, “all I think about is death” Shane Gillis voice. Three.

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.

Better than Coldplay

Totally took me by surprise how much I enjoyed this album. I have always respected NIN and Trent Reznor as an icon of the genre, but never really described the band as one I liked. This album really pushes some boundaries of genres that I like, but as a whole I felt like the whole thing was really well done. To me it sounded like equal parts David Byrne and Marilyn Manson which blend into a genre completely their own. Also surprised at how current and well done the production sounded like considering how long ago it came out.

This is the album that started me down the path towards industrial and more abrasive music in general. It manages to be aggressive, depressing, and ugly, yet still remains beautiful at the same time. I relate to some of their later anti-government themes, like on Year Zero, more than I do the themes of self-destruction on this album, but I still absolutely love it.

I knew a couple of tracks but that was basically all the NIN I knew. This is pretty cool - occasionally hard to listen to, but some great songs.

Clearly an important album. Again, not my favoured style but I appreciate it for what it is. Shows the importance of listening to the whole album as the instrumental piece gives a extra dimension and meaning.

Maybe a hot take but I think Pretty Hate Machine is a better album

what the hell is this stereo mixing

Another blast from the past, I was never a huge NIN fan

Yeah dawg

4/5

Glorious

Lo escuché mientras caminaba y ahora mientras me levanto

P. Deep, like 9inches

this is getting a 3 even though most the songs I wasn't too into because Hurt is an allllll time favorite

Very intense vibe Favorite song: closer

excellent album. great deep tracks

ever downward until rock bottom (hurt)

I used to love this album back in high school! While I don't think it holds up perfectly, it is still a generally well put together record. While the rage and angst are definitely a bit excessive at times, Trent still manages to create some incredible sounds on this album, and the industrial instrumentation is absolutely filled with emotion. Still, I feel The Fragile was an all-around better execution of this type of album.

2 - TERRIBLE

Yummy sexy nouses

What surprised me the most is that this album is more than 30 years old but the music still sounds so fresh. Never listened to them before but still enjoyed most of their songs in this album.

Didn’t hate it, also didn’t like it

Didn’t feel cohesive.

Holds up well

I have no idea how the current me would objectively rate this if I were hearing it for the first time (or if such objectivity is even possible with something like this). I'm only able to hear this through my angry, angsty teenage ears. And there, you'll find nothing but complete resonance. Or perhaps I should say, complete Reznorance. An aside: it's positively obtuse that 'Pretty Hate Machine' didn't make this list, but we have seven Bob Dylan albums and six each from Elvis Costello and Radiohead. It is what it is, I guess, but what it is is wrong.

This was a bit moody for my taste. Does someone need a hug?

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.

Classic, engaging every step of the way

No wonder Trent got into film composition; Nine Inch Nails are so cinematic. Such a flow to this album that almost matches Save The Cat and each song takes you on its own little journey. but also I listened with shitty headphones which doesn’t do it justice so I gotta revisit this one. One last word on NIN. No one sounds like them. Before or after. And that’s a rare feat in music. 8 / 10 Best track/s: Closer, Heresy, Hurt

Not For Me 1 Just Noise

Muy malo no entiendo como pueden poner esto entre los álbumes que hay que escuchar antes de morir. 1/10

This project hits a bit close to home for a lot of people, myself included, as it dives very deep into the psychological spiral that is depression. It deals with these repressing feelings in a whole spectrum of ways that may feel extremely foreign or all too relatable depending on the listener. Whether it is through the heavily misunderstood Closer or the absolutely soul crushing somberness of Hurt, The Downward Spiral depicts what it feels like going off the deep end mentally and then that final "leap of faith" in a beautifully haunting fashion. I won't ever be able to replicate my first time hearing this project, but I remember going in and having no idea what was happening until the picture became crystal clear at the end of the Reptile going into the title track. This project was maybe not the best thing for me to hear 3 years ago as I was going in and out of some pretty heavy depressive episodes that were honestly pretty crippling. Journaling was my sort of escape from all the awful thoughts and it gave me a purpose, something to do and feel accomplished of. Even still to this very day I try and listen to at least one new project a day so I have something to write about, something to do to keep me motivated. Much like the subject matter of this project, it is hard to stay motivated through the thick and the thin and in the case of the lyrics here, once you start the downward slope it can send you into a total freefall. You go through everything to try and replenish the small slice of happiness you used to have; hobbies, sex, drugs, friends and family, and finally your own psyche. It is insane how in touch with his emotions and truly perfect lyricism Trent Reznor is here as this album is able to spawn some demonic behaviors and thoughts for those not prepared enough. You can feel the intensity ramping up the further into this album you go, even with it being already louder than your typical Rock project. The usage of electronics on Ruiner, light hearted breaks on March of the Pigs, and isolated tones on the title track all feel so weird when writing it out, but in the context of this project fit perfectly in their own unorthodox ways. This album has such a grasp over its' listeners that once you start this cycle of an album, you can't stop looking away until it finally comes to a fiery conclusion. I wouldn't ever call this album sinister, but it does feel evil and unruly even down to how the notes of Trent's synthesizer or how Trent's drumming styles feel like a stomping march towards death itself. Everything here feels so calculated, akin to a ticking time bomb that is aware of its' intentions and end goal. It knows it is going to explode, but just doesn't know when, so it treats everything with little to no respect as it doesn't value itself anymore. When the bomb does finally go off, the first glimmer of light finally hits your eardrums as you know the suffering and chaos is over. The end is somewhat ambiguous depending on who you ask, but my personal take is that the final glimpses of static on Hurt are the finally pieces of life being drained out after the unnamed protagonist takes their own life. For such an energetic project, it is very fitting that this giant burst of energy goes out in a very telling simmer. All in all this is one of the best albums ever made and I don't think there will ever be any denial of that fact. This project is still stunning on just about every level you can think of and it is an honest to god miracle it was even made and put out. This is an album that is next to impossible to want to put on again to start the cycle over, and yet once you get the gears rolling you don't seem to get off the train until you hear the silence of the project ending.

2- Stats (4/15)

Sonically massive. Has a way of making you feel sad but with some sweet industrial rock backing! Trent is a magician that doesn’t click for everyone, but there’s no denying the gravity of this album. Melodic and complex, noisy and chaotic.

I was the perfect age when this album came out. I was not ready for it. I knew Closer and Hurt but didn’t appreciate its beauty…yes beauty. Reznor is a genius and I don’t use that word lightly. Here we are 30 something years later and he blew the younger acts away at Coachella and is making fresh musical and scoring soundtracks for Hollywood. Not an easy listen, but an essential one.

Best Song: ?

1.5

I really like a number of tracks on this album (Piggy, Closer, Hurt) but dislike others quite a bit (The Becoming, Big Man With a Gun).

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.

It's very different, and for that reason I commend it.

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

What a fucking tune Closer is. This album full of hangers, love how punchy n energetic it feels. Thought the length doesn’t do it any favours, each song is just a bit too long which makes listening to the album as a whole start to drag towards the end.

It became a big hit and popularized them for a reason... it's catchy and dark and relatable. This is easily their best record and has the strongest songs that Reznor will probably ever make.

Reznor began his career as an electronic artist of dark self-loathing and anger. There is still plenty of that here, but he further refines it in places, distilling it from raw to concentrated and honed, reducing the early tendencies toward cringe. At the time, it seemed to be his magnum opus - over an hour of both fast, industrial-electronic-goth-dance sounds with metal-leanings and slower more contemplative laments. But he would continue to prolifically make long form records in similar fashion in future outings and then branch out into writing movie scores as well. Standout songs: Closer, Hurt, March of the Pigs, Piggy

I fully get why this is marmite, but for those who like this sort of stuff, this really is an incredible record, groundbreaking stuff. Reznor is the man.

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

RATING: 10/10 HIGHLIGHT: The Becoming LOWLIGHT: Ruiner

noise. just noise. creo que conocía closer. Pero no pude terminar el album.

I'm sure it's a good album, but I just didn't like listening to it

Cannot believe how timely this is (literally just finished listening to Nine Inch Noize album)

I can see why Christians thought rock was evil

I'm 13 and this is deep.

Aggressively not my cup of tea.

Such an intense listen. This certainly has a place for being listened to. I remember listening quite a bit to their album 'With Teeth' but never had a copy of this somehow. It does tell a very dark story and does it so effectively. Whilst it was a hard listen at times, sometimes it was very engaging and beautiful. I enjoyed the slower more tuneful singing, Trent's voice is great when in this mode.

Just went to the concert in February and relistened then, what a killer album end to end man

One of the most absorbing and bruising rock records ever made. Blistering and wounded and beautiful.

just astonishingly forward thinking and even such a refreshing delight to listen to now. viscerally exciting

seminal. closer might be the song of all time

Это тот тип альбомов, которые вволюдят меня в ступор на неделю. Поначалу сложно, в середине я уже сам начал распадаться, а ближе к концу втянулся. Звук в начале Eraser такой странный, мерзкий, но хочется слушать его снова и снова. В The Downward Spiral гитара так кричит, что становится жутко. Странный и неудобный, но интересный альбом.

Trop métal pour moi

Horrible awful lyrics. I feel sorry for people who relate to this.

michi hats auch empfohlen, habs nit ganz verstanden. muss mir wrsl das konzept durchlesen

queeeee, solo conozco un tema y todo el álbum habla de lo mismo (sexo) pero se fueron al joraca con el hard metal que onda

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...

This sounds sonically overwhelming at times, which I think is kind of the point. It’s both funny and cool that Trent Reznor has two Academy Awards, especially because one of them is for a Pixar movie

I want to like this more than I do. There is definitely brilliance here. It is full of a lot of things I like but it has too much extra noise that takes away from the sound. Many of the songs sound like a layer of TV static or just random high pitch nonsense was added over top of what could otherwise be a masterpiece.

4 - I was kinda meh about NIN for a while, but I like them more and more each time I listen to them.

A lot of thoughts here. First, I probably haven't listened to this album front to back since I was in college over thirty years ago and I was surprised how much of side 2 (much of which I would imagine I skipped back in the day) came back to me. But listening today brought back vivid (though fuzzy) memories of playing Sega Genesis with my roommates. Second, this album is clearly more sophisticated and better-made than Pretty Hate Machine, but I still think I like PHM more than this one. It had less of what I consider filler. Third, I don't remember ever knowing this was a concept album until reading the Wikipedia entry this morning. Which seems insane to me, but this album just BARELY predated my first exposure to the internet. And by the time I got really active on the internet, obsessively researching the bands I loved, I had largely moved on from NIN. Chalk it up to weird timing, I guess. Fourth, I remember telling those same roommates while watching the video for "Closer" that there should be a channel that shows that video 24/7. So that's kind of the headspace I was in at the time, lol. Teenagers are hilariously sad and sadly hilarious. And NIN is the perfect soundtrack for it.

Best Song: Hurt Here's another album I bought on CD when it was released. It is really good, and I will give it a 5/5 but, in my opinion, it doesn't hold a candle to Pretty Hate Machine. Don't get me wrong, it's still a great album. It's like having New York and Detroit pizza, is it good - hell yeah, is it Chicago pizza, nope. 5/5.

Not my favourite NIN and as always with them not the easiest listen but there is something in there to admire.

First off its a very conceptual album, leaning heavily on suicide, alienation, blasphemy, sex and seeing the world as a misanthropist. The lyrics have various metaphors and are deeply disturbing. Aside from all that the slow pacing of the album, the melancholic tone and the guitar riffs really set the tone of this album and they do sound great. The vocalist does a great job showcasing emotions in different tracks. So overall a 4 star because i need to listen to it again to understand the theme a bit more but it's a pretty solid alt rock album.

Closer, Vasoline, and Black Hole Sun dominated radio and Mtv in my summer of '94. NIN's self-destruct tour was my first real concert and I buzzed for days afterwards. I based an rpg campaign on this artist and album tour, and played A Warm Place on a loop during the intense parts. Formative for sure, making me a bit biased, but I still go back to this album these days, and it holds all the power and emotion for me now as it did then.

This is a hard listen, but so, so good. Nine Inch Nails' greatest album, and Trent Reznor's magnum opus. Hurt may be a top 10 song of all time. Some of the sound engineering things on this album are revolutionary. E.g., that hollow sound playing under Hurt is from a machine that measures silence. However the hell that works. We have some hits and some great songs. And while the lyrical subject matter is bleak, it makes you feel it. This is art, it is really good, and there is a ton of innovation. Great album Influence 5. Hits 4. Quality 5. Intangibles 5. So, so good 4.

listened to again not a fan

Couldnt even finish the first song

Que barulheira, to muito velho pra isso. Mais um daqueles shows aleatórios que o Gus iria. Não gostei muito do álbum, mas o som deles é de qualidade. Não me imagino ouvindo de novo, mas vai 3 pra não ser tão malvado também.

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

Amo lindo te amo trent reznor

A grimy, lived in, and bleak record that continues to connect because it was written about a real place by a real person.

Don’t know how people liked this, this was honestly one of the worst things I’ve heard on this list.

As a high school senior, I remember seeing an underclassmen girl with the lyrics to Closer written on her backpack in pink puffy paint. It was official -- alternative music was now the mainstream. This was my first time listening to this album. I almost didn't make it through the first song. But I persevered. After all, this is a critically acclaimed album beloved by millions... right? After finishing, I openly admit I don't get it. Is there something there mixed in with all the white noise and screaming that I just don't understand? I'm certainly open to that possibility. I could hear some interesting things in some of the chords used in some places -- Trent Reznor clearly understands the nuts and bolts of music. But I just couldn't find anything on here that sticks with me -- A Warm Place... yeah that was kinda cool... how does it go again? I understand that this is supposed to be a concept album of an individual's downward spiral toward suicide. But I just found the lyrics dark and REALLY repetitive. If this album did anything to help change attitudes toward depression and mental health, then I applaud it. But musically I just couldn't find anything here. I'm going to go listen to some Radiohead.

Pleased to see a challenging and experimental project like this one show up here. There are so many different ideas sonically that it is difficult to fully digest at first for me, but with a concept like this that feels necessary to Reznor’s purpose with this project. It feels impossible to come to a conclusion after a day as the lyrics and concept of something like this needs time and examination to see if it clicks. I could sit on the fence with this one, but overall I enjoy more here then I don’t and much of it rocks. 1 listen Favorite Tracks: Mr. Self Destruct, Closer

Expectation: -> I still remember getting this CD and listening to it often. Still remember the feel of that paper CD case. This album elicits memories for sure. After listening: -> An album unlike any other both then and now. Seems fair to call it groundbreaking. Some difficult/uncomfortable moments listening to some of these songs/sounds. That is surely by intent. The best parts of this album are truly extraordinary. Beautiful yet ugly. Haunting. Was wavering 4-5 here but a full listen pushed this to 5…acknowledging that it is an imperfect album. Track ranking: Closer Reptile Piggy Ruiner Hurt Becoming Do not want March Heresy Mr Eraser Gun Warm Spiral

I think this is my favorite album we have done so far. Banger after banger

Surprisingly, I actually kind of liked this one. It was fairly textured and varied. It exceeded my expectations and was a fairly interesting concept album

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

Some jams. angry stuff

Sinister, loud, in your face, a wall of noise that makes you want to go smash something. I like Pretty Hate Machine a bit more than this album, but still, some of the best music to play when you're just pissed off.

Muy pesado, escuche 2/3 temas y no pude entrar. No es mi onda

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 er med på at det er konceptalbum med et kunstnerisk budskab, men der var simpelthen ikke et eneste øjeblik, hvor jeg bare tilnærmelsesvis nød noget som helst af det. Ikke et eneste sekund. Jeg har nok faktisk haft præcis den oplevelse, som var intentionen, så måske den burde have fået en 5'er.

*86 Trent Reznors near-master stroke. Vi er på en rigtig stor 4'er. Det kræver stadig et bestemt mindset at kunne æde hele LP'en i en sitting, fordi det er next level raw dogging, og derfor kan vi ikke lande på en 5'er. Det ærgrer mig hver gange, man hører "Hurt", at en aldrende Johnny Cash skulle gå med kreditten for dette fantastiske nummer, når originalen alle dage har været 10x så god. Lille sidebemærkning hertil er, at Rick and Morty bruger den korrekte version i sæsonfinalen i S2.

Rigtig råt, rigtig fedt. 4***

Nine Inch Nails er et klokkeklart eksempel på den gode gamle "det er ikke dig, det er mig". Jeg har endnu ikke fundet pladsen til NIN i mit liv, og det er ellers blevet prøvet et par gange - seneste gode forsøg var med kyndig vejledning fra Lasse V i en Renault Clio efter en omgang digitalisering i Kolding. Der er glimt af noget, jeg rigtig godt kan lide, og som jeg sagtens kan forstå, men det er som om, det overskygges af noget andet, jeg ikke er lige så vild med. Det er hverken det tunge, det teatralske eller det fjollede, der er noget galt med - det er mig. Det er et album, og et band, der fortjener mere, end hvad de får af mig. 2.8

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

Ulideligt at høre på det her i mere end 10 minutter

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.

Et støjrock/industrialism mesterværk. Men også et mesterværk - der i hvert fald for mig - kræver et ret stort tilløb. Ligger umiddelbart og roder rundt omkring de 4 stykker ud fra et personligt synspunkt, men mere objektivt set kommer den op på 4,5 og så runder vi op

Probably the best NIN album. Its iconic. Its dark. Its sexy. Its intense. So industrial.

Do yourself a favor and sync this up to watch the movie krull

Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: Piggy, Closer, Ruiner, Hurt I've been waiting for a NIN album to come up, and I am glad it's one I have less experience with. I'm very familiar with With Teeth and Year Zero, both of which are excellent and have similar themes as The Downward Spiral. I have listened to this album before, several times actually over as many years, but it hasn't ever quite clicked in the same way. This album is more raw and unrefined. Its hyper-aggressive, violent and unforgiving. It pulls no punches in the message its trying to deliver and oh boy does it deliver. The industrial rock-style is in full view here; weird sounds abound, from the heartbeat in Closer, to I-don't-know-what-to-call-it-sound in Ruiner, to the distorted statics on Hurt. This isn't my favorite NIN album, the latter half of the album, besides Hurt drags a bit, but its still incredibly good. A seminal piece for the Industrial Rock genre. This album is mandatory listening and 100% deserving of being on the List.

One of my favorite albums

:) qué es eso al final de la primera canción. la verdad ni le presté atención

once i was driving some friends around and playing Nina Simone (Feeling Good) in my car. We got out and my friend said "i listen to artists who can actually sing." i replied, "ethan, you listen to fucking nine inch nails." this is the fastest i have ever invoked The Rule. one track in and i want to vomit; no way am i listening to 1hr5 of this shit.

lwk ass