The Downward Spiral

Pretty dope vibes, instruments were carefully used and effectively some great affects 4.2

Not an album for work, grindy and tough on the soul but powerful

Not my favorite of theirs but a classic.

Closer and March of The Pigs are my favorite songs. Album is very cohesive. 1st time listening to the whole album.

A classic NIN album, definitely deserving of its place on this list.

Great NIN, but just not my typical speed.

Dude can you imagine if Johnny Cash covered this whole thing

Inget större fan av NIN men ett extremt välgjort album.

Not my favorite NIN but really good. Hurt is a classic

See also Marilyn Manson Antichrist/era

Du bon métal indus

What happens when an American man listens to Einstürzende Neubauten and Depeche Mode. No wonder Bowie wanted to work with Reznor. This is a good (but not great) album. On another day this would climb into a four star rating but I'm settling on a very high three.

Not my fav NIN album, but this one’s still good and holds up.

Ok

I’ve probably listened to this about ten times before. I think I even wore ripped jeans for one of the listens, which is pretty hardcore. A very cool aspect of this project came to light tonight while I listened to this. I have now listened to a bunch of albums that represent the roots of industrial music. Many sometimes strange bands doing some pretty weird stuff.. Some actually pretty great albums. That new knowledge casts Downward Spiral in a very new light. Some parts I liked better than ever. But in some parts it felt like the tension was released in ways that were disappointing to me. I expected to give this a four or five, but I’m feeling the siren song of a very solid three.

Pode soar meio maluco, mas eu senti um pouco de "Black Celebration", do Depeche Mode, nesse álbum. Claro que o Reznor não faz a menor questão de buscar o mesmo nível de refinamento técnico e perfeccionismo do Depeche, mas isso não é uma crítica. Pelo contrário: o álbum é realmente muito bom, mas não consegui escuta-lo até o fim. Eu me senti angustiado do começo até metade do álbum, e isso só mostra que Reznor conseguiu atingir exatamente o efeito que queria.

분위기가 괜찮은 곡도 있고 평범한 느낌의 곡도 있어서 전체적으로 나쁘지는 않았던 것 같다. There were some tracks with a great atmosphere and others that felt rather ordinary, so overall, it wasn't bad.

I’d always been aware of NIN but had never listened to an album and so I was Not prepared for how industrial this was. Pretty cool. Really enjoyed it. Hurt is such a good song.

Solid industrial rock sound, couple of classics, overall a good listen.

Well this was a fun album at the time, and it really helped progress the music scene in a whole new direction, but to be honest NIN really didn’t age well.

I like the sound well enough and it has a couple bangers, but I think it's just a tad too long for me

Not really my bag but I can see why others might find it appealing. Also, sorry but I prefer Johnny Cash’s version of Hurt. 3

A lot of MEH with a few solid ones

Mid pero buena banda

This one has never worked for me as a record even though I love Pretty Hate Machine. Too much screeching groove and not quite enough moody piano stuff. The second half just mostly loses me until Hurt. Still I'm not negative on it.

Jos on hyvä fiilis niin levy antaa energiaa. Jos on rage fiilis nii rage kasvaa noin 500%. Hyvää musaa, muutamaa astetta rajumpi muse. Albumin loppupuooli ei säväyttänyt yhtä paljon. A man with a gun on hyvä, muut ei niinkän lemppareita. Pitkähkö albumi, 1h 5min.

3.5 - but mainly for closer and hurt.

Johnny Cash stolen the right music from this album.

I enjoyed the more industrial, but disliked the more mainstream aspects. Horny. Just Incredibly horny.

My friends will hate me for such a low score. This album challenged me when I wasn’t in the mood to be challenged. I can see myself returning to it a few weeks from now and giving it a 5. Maybe I’m just saying this because I know where Trent’s career went, but this sounds like a perfect soundtrack to a movie I didn’t want to watch.

An album I admired more than enjoyed.

Loved this album when it came out, and I had the angst to match. I've aged fairly well, I'd like to believe; this record has not. Still sounds really good, but I don't plan on re-revisiting it again any time soon.

I was aware of a lot more of the tracks than I thought I was - I think NIN were on a few mix tapes of mine. I did enjoy it but its not really my style of music anymore. You can see the early glimpses of Trent Reznor's soundtrack work - like the kind of lovely ending of Piggy and A Warm Place for example. However, it's all a bit 'look how tough and edgy I am', a bit embarrassing and dated but was a big deal at the time and quite groundbreaking. The fact he recorded it in the house where Sharon Tate was murdered means it lost half a star for me - what a twat.

I appreciate a lot about Trent Reznor's aesthetic approach to music i.e. make a horrible noise over and over again, but there's something so halloween costume/'why so serious' about all the misery and drama that means I just can't help but cringe throughout a lot of it. As ever with music, it's the voice that is my essential problem, that affected drawl that becomes an equally affected scream/shout thing. Still, lots going on musically to enjoy, all the snowfields of white noise, BANG BANG BANG industrial drums, and lovely synths bubbling away. I like that you can see the seeds of the sound evolving into Reznor's often fabulous soundtrack work with Atticus Ross throughout. I also have a real soft spot for this sort of early Pro Tools production (see also Eel's 'Electro Shock Blues') because this was essentially the sort of sound that had been just about democratised by the time I started making music, so with enough time and equipment you could kind of do a wonky version of most of the stuff they were doing, and how cool is that! It was very cool, trust me.

I know this is a masterpiece. I’ve never been able to get into NIN

Jeg måtte prøve denne to ganger. Det ble noe bedre ved andre gjennomhøring, men jeg merker at industrial er bedre som element enn frittstående sjanger. Er som om jeg bare venter på tunge metallriff.

First time actually listening to this record weirdly enough lol. I really liked it! I recognized nearly every song on this, which is funny. Really enjoy the intense industrial parts, the softer stuff not so much. Still very fun though.

A strong 3, but a 3 nonetheless

Very interesting, very loud, appreciated the quieter pieces, really liked Hurt ofc I really wonder how Johnny Cash figured out about this song lmao

Need to listen

A solid album, but I was expecting more.

Rah! I'm so angry with the world! Nah jk

it's good but it doesn't quite click for me... i liked "closer"... i wish i'd listened to this when i was 15 i think it would've stuck with me more

Decent album. A bit noisy and harsh at times, but cool sound and industrial vibe. They definitely would make great soundtracks as they have proven in actual films.

Middels, til tross for Hurt

Sexy, tortured, industrial. “Closer” is insane on many levels. “Hurt” sounds like a wounded animal. I was piqued by the album’s tending towards emo/metal vibes and vocals. All that said, is this for me? In some moods, yes. I’ll call this 3.5 down to 3.

Nice but didn't make me their fan.

Es álbum con sonidos bastante industrializados, sensuales, bastante fuerte

"The Downward Spiral" is an album I’ve always struggled to fully embrace. It features tracks I outright dislike, alongside others that deeply resonate with me. Even on songs like "I Do Not Want This" or "Big Man With a Gun," I often find myself enjoying specific sections rather than the track as a whole. That said, the album reaches some incredible highs: 'Closer' is a fantastic, fully electronic standout, 'A Warm Place' offers a welcome and charming moment of respite, and 'Hurt' is a masterpiece - eerie, dark, and genuinely menacing in this original form. Yet, as a complete experience, it is rarely an easy or relaxing listen. The production is defined by a harsh dissonance and an unnerving, abrasive quality. But of course, that might be the entire point. Tackling such heavy subject matter in this manner over a 65-minute runtime makes for an incredibly intense and exhausting journey. I admire its ambition, but it's not an album that I pull off the shelf very often. Three stars. 1 "Mr. Self Destruct" (2/5) 2 "Piggy" (3/5) 3 "Heresy" (4/5) 4 "March of the Pigs" (2/5) 5 "Closer" (5/5) 6 "Ruiner" (4/5) 7 "The Becoming" (2/5) 8 "I Do Not Want This" (2/5) 9 "Big Man with a Gun" (2/5) 10 "A Warm Place" (5/5) 11 "Eraser" (3/5) 12 "Reptile" (4/5) 13 "The Downward Spiral" (3/5) 14 "Hurt" (5/5) Total - 46 Average - 3.3 387/1001 206/387 albums reviewed were new to me.

Pretty Hate Machine was my god-album back in the day, but I'd moved on to other things by the time this album dropped. But naturally I still gave this one plenty of listens, and of course I heard Closer every time I went to the clubs. These days it sounds like PHM b-sides mixed in with some interesting early soundscape experiments that Trent would develop more fully later. My review is biased because I'm listening to this on my couch in 2026 and not having it blow my eardrums out while I'm dancing at First Avenue in 1995 with all my sweaty drunk friends. Closer is still horny as hell though, respect.

The album containing Hurt - the song that ressurected Johnny Cash's career at the end of his life and introduced him to a brand new generation. I was in the mood for something rambunctious today, but this didn't quite hit the spot. Often angular and obtuse for the sake of it, without serving the song.

Absolutely wild that the group was just allowed to record this album in the Tate murder house. The entire album is pretty transgressive and evokes graphic imagery in its lyrics, so I guess it was inspired in that sense. The production choices help that along too, with the distortion used on top of the electronic and industrial soundscapes featured here. A good chunk of these tracks just straight up did NOT age well, however. It's a shame because I find NIN sonically very interesting and the concept displayed here specifically works well too. It is intended to be an unsettling listen after all anyway.

на любителя. никогда их не слушал особо.

A bit harsh, but not entirely wrong. Three stars…

I can't say I dislike this album ... but I don't like it. NIN never grabbed me, and it's not just because it's "industrial." I can appreciate the artistry here, but I'll never listen to it again.

C'est pas l'album que j'écouterais de moi même Je comprends pas pk ils veulent pas qu'ont comprenne ce qu'ils disent

Favorite Track: Closer

Sí marilyn manson hiciera música de verdad sonaría a este disco Sigo sin entender cómo hay banda que fantasea tener sexo con esto de fondo xD. Decisión aparentemente edgy y alternativa pero no tanto lol

I once got a lap dance to Johnny Cash's cover of Hurt

NIN are one of those bands that I wish I enjoyed more.

Closer is obviously a banger. A Warm Place was a good instrumental track, and Hurt is also iconic even if draining my will to live slightly

Good for the most part, very good at times. I hadn’t listened to this since high school, which means last time I heard this I’d never seen Eraserhead

I still cannot believe this album was popular, not because it’s bad but because it’s so aggressively unwelcoming! Closer and Eraser were the first time I’ve loved a song on here and been scared to add it to my playlist because it’s so inappropriate to any situation but headphones. So then maybe I’m starting to understand the appeal — this is like, forbidden music.

Won’t return to it but can appreciate the technical complexity. Just not my thing. The layers and technical aspects could earn it a 3 even if my level of return to it would be a 1.5.

3/5 This was my first time ever listening to nine inch nails, and I liked listening to the album (but did not love it). I appreciate that this album has a lot of dynamic range, and it makes the loud moments of extreme anger and angst really hit hard. Closer was the most memorable song for me especially for the lyrics. I also liked Hersey and Reptile and saved them as liked songs. This album had too much distortion and whispery vocals for my taste and I wasn't always a fan about how the songs were mixed.

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

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

A bit too much noise for me

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

Not my favorite NIN, but serviceable.

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.

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

Not for me, challenging enough but a bit formless.

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.

More musical than I'd expected

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

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.

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

great 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

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.

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

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.

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

3.8

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.

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.

Help me

6/10

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.

i like aber fehlt was 3.25 sterne

“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.

Another disappointment

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.

Helt grei, noen kule sanger

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

El mero dolor

Not really my thing

Not bad. Not great. A few major hits.

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.

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

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.

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

3.5 liked more than I thought

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

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

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

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

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).

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

listened to again not a fan

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.

Some jams. angry stuff

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

Pretty good but i feel like i listened too late into my life for this to mean anything to me

It was probably my first introduction to industrial rock. The lyrics are deliberately coarse, working sometimes and not others for me. High 3/low 4.

A high 3. Hugely influential industrial noise

The abrasive patchwork of distorted guitar loops, compressed drums and tortured, highly processed beats is unique and at times even ingenious. The most progressive and exciting instrumentals sit at the beginning of the album, but at no point does it sound disinteresting. The lyrics however range from being at best obscure enough to happily ignore, and at worst elaborately unpleasant, fake deep and emotionally stifling. Also, Trent Reznor has a distracting obsession with animals.

Very horny, very angry

I appreciate this more than I enjoy it. There is some great stuff on here but it leans a bit too metal for me — I prefer the more orchestral and industrial sections.

I can kind of understand the hype for Nine Inch Nails, but its not my thing.

Du très bon comme du pas ouf

This was the first time I listened to an entire Nine Inch Nails album. I understand the importance and influence of this album, but I would have liked it a lot more if I was 15 years old. The lyrics are definitely the worst part.

Oh. I kind of hated the lyrics for the most part. They make me never want to listen to this album again. But everything else makes me never want to stop.

Es muy alternativo para mis gustos, no me fue fácil escucharlo

exactly as expected

I was not in the right mindset to listen to this today. Giving it a 3 because I think I would appreciate it on a different day in a different week. maybe not all of it, though... :)

1994. Considered one of the most influential and emblematic works of the 1990s. This concept album chronicles the self-destructive descent of a misanthropic protagonist into madness, dehumanization, and suicide.

It was good, but I don't really want to listen to it again.

I like NIN well enough and this is the Closer album, so I thought it would at least be a 4, but it was just kinda background noise for me

Me pareció muy experimental y a nivel experiencia bastante bueno, pero no me gustó nada en particular

So sorry it’s giving music for COD… 3 stars for Closer :)))

abrasive, snarling, and angry

Had its moments for sure, but was a little inconsistent and repetitive.

Nine Inch NailsはOld Town Roadの人ということしか知らなかった。 このアルバムは80-90年代のEBMを色々と聞いていた時期を思い出すけど、ボーカルが好みじゃないし、ここ最近で聞いた音楽の中で一番つまらなくてダサい音だと思った。自分がメタル嫌いなだけか。

Aggressive and industrial. Punchy, punky angst. Nothing memorable or a pick, all just very shouty. And yet, not that bad. Probably unlikely to relisten, but I understand why people like NIN

I am quite shocked this is NIN's only album on here, it's abrasive and I think a testament to their powers but not my favourite thing to hear

This album successfully made me feel mad, upset and like I looked inside a deranged person's head. Personally, I can't stand it, but it does accomplish it's goal

Think I was kinda disappointed in the this album from the AM top 100 and it's still not really clicking for me now either. I still think cash's version of hurt is better. 3

Hurt is great, Closer is great...especially the way it ends, it's just an amazing beat and groove. I understand the rest of it, but if I ever came back to it, I'm probably listening to these two songs and that's it. I'd much rather listen to Pretty Hate Machine, that's an album I really do enjoy and come back to from time to time. And really, I'd rather listen to the Johnny Cash version of Hurt before listening to this one. Glad I listened to it, respect it a lot, probably wouldn't play it again.

i fucks with it lowkey

A couple great songs, but very dark and a little too dissonant at times.

I can definitely understand why this album's on the list. I see this album and it's songs everywhere, I guess it's the quintessential industrial metal album. I may not totally "get" it on the first listen, but this was interesting enough to make me think, this may just be one of those things I might be "converted" in favor of in future. No guarantees though. Tracks I enjoyed: Mr self destruct, piggy, ruiner, a warm place, that one song the name of which I forgot in which he was like your god is dead or something like that

Perfect title for this exhausting album. Enjoyed Piggy and a couple of others though.

I like weird 90s music

Feels like a 90s sci fi move and some shit is going down in an industrial warehouse.

Heresy and a warm place my likes other than closer. First version of hurt is good

Very unique album.

RIDICULOUSLY vulgar, and that's saying something considering some of what I've put up with on 1001. Was barely able to get through the majority of the album even if the few tolerable songs were great

Like some other albums so far, this one was too sexual and abrasive for something I'd listen to regularity. But unlike some others, I'd be interested in listening to this one again. The sound design was fantastic, with lots of interesting samples and clean sounds to balance out the distorted ones. I found myself enjoying the instrumental moments more than the ones with vocals, go figure. The last song was powerful as well. Strong 6 to light 7

Some really solid rock music. I expected to like this and I did! All in all I am pleased with this. Its not my favorite album of all time, I may not even re-visit it any time soon, but I am happy having listened to it. Everyone (myself included) loves to glaze Cash's cover of hurt, and it is very good, but his cover completely changes the meaning (if not the tone), such that its almost an entirely different song from Reznor's original, so I must say, no, Hurt does not "belong to Cash" I have changed my mind on this matter. 3.5/5

Vähän ehkä liian industrialia omaan makuun. Ei mitenkään täysin mahdoton kuunnella, tosi paljon hyviä juttuja. Ehkä vähän raflaava ja cringe paikoitellen. NIN on iso bändi tällä saralla, mutta en tän levyn ekalla kuuntelulla ainakaan faniks rupea.

like an italian wiseman said: "sometimes maybe good, sometimes maybe shit".

this album is like sickening to listen to, i'm just not a big industrial sound guy i guess there are a few good songs though so it gets a high 3

It was ok, I like his voice and theres some really good guitars, it was too long I got bored of the angst.

Hmm, this band has some bangers but seemingly not on this album. As an ex suicidal angry person, I expected to enjoy it a bit more than I actually did. Maybe I've outgrown this sort of thing. I dunno. I'll be controversial though: Johnny Cash didn't do it better. Disappointing.

I'm torn: as an audio experience, not great. But I do appreciate what Trent was going for and he executed his vision very well. At the same time, it feels very try hard, even if it is sincere. Like, it's hard to know what to make of "What if Hot Topic, but sincere?" The original is good, but the Hurt cover by Cash is a dark horse candidate for HOF of covers

Some are 5s but the majority are 3s and 2s!!! and it hurts to say

A throwback. I listened to it a lot back then. Doesn’t hold the same appeal now. But it is good, unique, and I still like a few of the songs.

Good

Not everything you'd label "experimental" is a success, but this has clear intent and well executed. As a concept album about a fall into despair you really feel it, but you'd probably have to be in a certain mood to want to listen to it

I bought this CD when it was released, but I never really got what he was doing. Haven’t listened to it again until now, and I regret that because this is pretty great (even moreso because of the ‘when’ not just the ‘what’). Crazy Tom Waits ‘Bone Machine’ vibes, mixed with Rage Against instrumentation, metal vocals, all mixed with crooner sensibility on one song, fourth wall breaks on another - and that Johnny Cash cover to end, genius (I know…). I’ll head back to the vault and check out more Reznor…but then I turned on my lyrics scroller and saw just how awful the lyrics were (I couldn’t really make them out otherwise) - I’m hoping they’re ironic and metaphorical, and I think they are, but Jesus! Down to a strong 2 if not…

Great listen overall—an experimental mix of electronic sounds, guitar, and edgy vocals. I was ready to give it 4 stars, but the track Closer really put me off. I don’t mind edgy vocals or provocative lyrics, but this one pushed it a bit too far. It started to feel reminiscent of those 2009 bowl-cut kids, and not in a good way. Still, a solid 7.5/10.

2.5/5 - Oisin luullu, et oisin tykänny täst enemmän. En ollu ennen kuullu mitää tält bändilt, kuullu vaan nimen, enkä kyl oottanu mitää tällast. Kun aloitin kuuntelee tätä, tein sen oppitunnilla sillee et mul oli vaan yks kuuloke, mikä ei kyl oikeuttanu tätä levyy yhtää. Täl levyl on tosi monii tasoja ja paljon erilaisia ääniä, mitkä kyl ansaitsee molemmat kuulokkeet. Tää on just sellane levy, mille pitää kiinnittää täysi huomio todella tarkas mielentilassa, että sitä pystyy arvostaa ja et sitä levyy jaksaa ees kuunnella. Mun mielestä tuntu et tää albumi oli enemmän joku tarina kuin pelkkää musiikkia, mikä oli ihailtavaa ja tosi siistiä. Tää kuitenki johti siihen et biisit oli välillä vähän korvia raastavia, varsinkin ne kohdat missä vaan legit karjuttiin. Myös tän albumin sellane 'metalli' (ei se genre vaan legit niiku tehtäis jotai metallist, hitsataan yms) soundi ei natsannu, vaikka arvostanki sitä. Tosi hienosti suunniteltu ja toteutettu levy, mut it wasn't for me.

Equal parts horny and angsty Favourite track: Mr. Self Destruct

Listened at my desk at work; industrial with moments of quiet vocals, definitely impactful but not an easy listen.

It's noisy and edgy but the sound is like contained in a chaotic atmosphere set to a rhythmic beat (3.5)

It was ok - lots of electronica. Lyrics were basic but had a darker meaning.

I think there is a period of one's life where Nine Inch Nails speaks to you, and I might have aged out of it. What I once thought was pop genius processing metal, industrial, sci-fi into a zeitgeist cyborg sounds a little pedestrian now, but perhaps we have finally caught up to Trent Reznor's dystopia leanings. Were I 17 just hearing this, I might blast it from my battle tank, but in my golden years, it didn't grab me from my Honda Civic.

I’ve never really known what to make of Trent Reznor and his whole tortured, angry persona. What’s he gotten so worked up about? He’s a talented arranger of electronic soundscapes, no question. But as a guy singing about wanting to penetrate and violate you, on an album about some guy’s toxic-masculine mental breakdown, yeah I dunno. It seems carefully curated for shock value (or alternately, the inspiration to would-be mass shooters). In the end, I guess he just wants to fuck everyone in the world, he wants to do something that matters. Who doesn’t?

Too long, but the singles hold up. NIN proved that you didnt have to be German (or European) to make it big in industrial music.

Top Songs: Heresy March of the Pigs Closer

Ok. Best so gar

I can't really explain why I found this album interesting. I do like the anger and the sound of it. In the end, it's an interesting listen, which is way more than some of the albums here.

I don't dislike industrial music but a whole album of it is maybe too much for me. However when a song or part of a song hits right it goes HARD.

The sound of tattoos and piercings for the 90s. Trent reznor was an original and this ‘industrial’ sound enraptured david Bowie who asked him to tour with him. ‘Hurt’ was immortalised by Johnny cash’s swansong acoustic cover version. A bit dismal but not boring.

Instrumentals and production is dope. Lyrics not so much.

Fine but not for me

I was really surprised how much I liked this recording. I liked the second cut a lot.

I fully recognize from an artistic standpoint what makes this a great album. It just doesn't really do anything for me. I'm quite sure 99% of that is having grown up in a world that came after this album, I've heard this kind of thing a million times and it's worn out. The shock value is gone. What once surely felt raw and real now feels cliche and overdone. Frankly, I think too many edgelords took cultural artifacts like this album and made it their whole personality and just ruined it. 3 stars to try and be fair.

Nice - was not a fan when I was younger, they have clearly grown on me

Thought I was gonna really like this album but it was a meh for me. Some good stand out tracks but don’t think I’d revisit. 5/10

I'm never sure how to feel about Nine Inch Nails. Maybe if I'd discovered them a few years prior to when I did I would have some kind of nostalgia for their music and enjoy it more. Now, however, it's just a bit too "aggressive" for me. I appreciate their art. I think the musicianship is great, and I liked the vocals a decent amount. This was just a miss for me today.

I've never really listened to NIN despite them being in the genre of music and generation I listen to. This album was my first real introduction to them despite having heard "Closer" several times. The cold industrial sound is amazing, so unique and creatively done while also being rock at the same time. Dare I say it's like a prototype Sleep Token, or perhaps Sleep Token pulled inspiration for their sound from NIN? It's definitely an album that I need to be in a specific mood for, but it is good. 7/10

Very interesting industrial sound, but not something I'm interested in

Un poco intenso todo esto, ¿no? Qué ganas de sonar como una radial, joder... Creo que las canciones no están mal, pero este sonido me satura al segundo. Con todo, me parecen sinceros, hay algo más auténtico aquí que en toda la mierda actual.

That was not an easy listen. I'm not angry enough to properly appreciate it. I do find it amazing how well emotions are conveyed through songs that are often more noise than music. It's impressive, but not anything I'd want to return to, I think, other than Hurt, which is a great song (even if Johnny Cash ended up doing it better). 3.5

I guess I came of age to this one; I still have the CD. I found most of it to be easier to listen to than I expected, but... It's all so "on the nose" as they say. My favorites, as always, are the prettier ones. I'd give 4 stars to three or four of these songs, but as a 65 minute album (blame it on the times--they put too much music on CDs) it just doesn't hold up very well for me.

Fun anger. It sounded less dated than I thought it might, and a lot of it still holds up well.

This being my only real reference of industrial rock, it’s fantastic. I can’t say this is my cup of tea but it certainly rocks. Closer and hurt are def their best songs off this album (and any album?) 3.2

Going from Steely Dan to this was interesting. Assuredly grufty & up front. Beautifully unpleasant. Bit long. Coulda got rid of a couple I wouldnt eat your poached on toast with it. Give you indigestion.

Was gonna give this album a very low rating. At first was just noise and shouting but thought I was being a bit harsh. So went back gave it a 2nd listen and got to say I enjoyed it more. Maybe this albums a grower Some of his vocals reminded me of Kurt Cobain a bit

Quite difficult to rate this one. Enjoyed the more electronic parts, but the some of the lyrics were quite embarrassing.

Trent Reznor is an artist, no doubt. This album as a concept makes sense. Old murder home studio, dark twisted story of demise, music dark enough to make you feel twisted; the art is there. Problem is, this isn't exactly the art I look to.

A lot more noise-rock than I was expecting. Had some good hits as well. Will listen to select songs again

Dude "closer" is such a banger (before even listening because I know this one) it was pretty good honestly closer is still the best song on the album , but it was enjoyable

Have heard a couple of songs off this album before and like them (Hurt, Closer, March of the Pigs, Piggy) Some of the heavier stuff isn't for me but I can see why this would be considered a great album. Feels like it was using a lot of sounds and effects that very few albums and bands of it's time were. NOT GOOD for trying to study lol

Quite a varied selection (not just relentless hardcore) in a fairly structured set of songs. I can see why this was considered breaking new ground and a must listen. That doesn’t equate into a must like for me

I think that we've entering a period of time where if you didn't live during it, or get inspired by it this albums relevancy is starting to slip away. Before Reznor and the Nu Metal era, industrial music remained underground. This album and the era infused it into popular rock music. This album and NiN are inconic and deeply influential. But, the subgenres and music they gave birth to would go on to be what inspired my generation of musicians and music fans. This album lost a bit of its appeal to me. My ears are not tuned for tinny, panning of electronic feedback combined with a dull migraine vocal melody. Which is why I say the relevancy is tapering off for now. NiN and Trent get there dues for changing the soundscapes of metal, rock, alternative and pop music. This version of Hurt is incredible.

I prefer Johnny Cash.

Album was fine for what it was. I didn’t love all of it but some songs like Hurt and Closet were good. I liked that some felt like it blended together but other parts of the album felt like just noise

No existe estado de ánimo posible durante el cual escuchar este álbum sea una experiencia agradable. Podemos estar de acuerdo en que Trent Reznor es el Pope del rock industrial moderno, pero no me vais a convencer de que tragarse un disco entero de NIN no se parezca a una bajada a los infiernos. Sí, el álbum contiene la espléndida “Hurt” y la notable “Closer”, pero fuera de ahí se me atraganta fulminantemente.

Bättre än väntat

some nice soft ones that i enjoyed more because the intense ones are just not very me rn but maybe me as a teen

Some very good songs on this but it's far too long and with too much filler

A bit aggressive, good if you are angry or mad.

The nostalgia had me convinced this album would be a four or maybe even a five. Reality is it’s a 3. So much rage though, gotta appreciate it.

3/5 - This shit was all over the place, and I kinda dig it? This album reminds me SO much of Bjork. Eccentric, rhythmically challenged, yet inadvertently cool. Making dog shit sound like gold is an art form I can appreciate. Took 2 listens and I am still not 100% there, but I want to return to this one because I feel like I need more time with it.

gud shi

Must have been pretty groundbreaking at the time. The industrial beats get a little grating.

Dosyć surowe ale i kosmiczne wydzieranie się. Nie do końca wiem o co chodzi i czy to mi się podoba. To takie trochę zanurzanie się w szaleństwie ale wolę zwykła wersję od deluxe

Recording an album at the Manson murder house is proper Trent Reznor insanity. This is an extremely industrial album and fits into that mega 90s corner of music with The Prodigy, Marilyn Manson, etc. I don't know how much replay this has for me, I don't really vibe with industrial music that much but I can imagine the tour was incredible. Neat, but not really my style. I'll give it a 3/5 based on that.

Aught

Interesting sounds not what i had expected from them.

I loved Pretty Hate Machine, I admire Trent Reznor. This is just not my kind of music.

Didn't hate it, probably need to listen to it again to decide if it's something i'd listen to regularly

I Wanna Hug You Like An Animal 1001 Albums Generator 199 (1/6/2025) The Downward Spiral is an album that I probably should like a lot more than I do. I love big conceptual rock albums, metal in general, and some industrial music, AND I tend to enjoy albums that come as highly acclaimed as this one. However, I just found that a large portion of the tracklist, particularly in the second half, fell flat for me. However, with that negativity out of the way, the first half of this album is pretty inspired. Mr. Self Destruct, featuring King Crimson guitarist Adrian Belew, is one of the noisiest and most metallic songs on the tracklist, and provides a great bit of character building for the antagonist of The Downward Spiral before the song is consumed by noise. Piggies is our first instance of this album's softer side (which is really exemplified in the ambience of A Warm Place and the obviously beautiful closer Hurt). Heresy is good instrumentally, but this is a song where I feel like the line is really blurred between Trent Reznor and his character. Like it sounds like the misinterpretation of Nietzsche is just the character's nihilism, but then Reznor says stuff that implies that these are his thoughts about religion as well. I don't know. March Of The Pigs and Closer are two songs I had heard before, and I think that March Of The Pigs is amazing, while I have always found Closer a little cringe, but it's a classic nonetheless. Now we start to reach the part of the album where I start to lose interest, and it really becomes clear that this is a long fuckin album. I Do Not Want This and Big Man With A Gun feel pretty unnecessary, but I do enjoy the softness of A Warm Place as a break from the aggressiveness of the rest of the album. Eraser is very well produced and interesting, and Hurt is a perfect closer to the album. We just had Johnny Cash's cover of this song like a week ago, and the comparison of the two is so interesting. The same lyrics can mean completely different things in different contexts. It's a beautiful song. So, overall, The Downward Spiral is a bloated album with strong theming and some real classic tunes, but I don't see myself coming back to relisten to the whole thing anytime soon. 3.5/5, rounded down to a 3. Favs: Mr. Self Destruct March Of The Pigs Hurt Least Fav: I Do Not Want This

Embarrassing to listen to “I want to fuck you like an animal” on the first day back to work

no es mi estilo per sé, me gustaron algunos ritmos y las letras me resultaron interesantes. es todo muy crudo y transmite esa desesperación/enojo closer tiene buen ritmo más que nada hacia el final, me hace acordar un poco a gorillaz ?? ok Damon la letra de ruiner es increíble y el solo de guitarra desp de los 4 minutos > me costó terminarlo porque las melodías no son mi onda pero las letras me gustaron mucho i guess

I liked the first 1/2 much better than the second

kinda disappointing? didn’t enjoy as much as beastie boys, only added 2 songs to playlist.

I never got into this when it was released all those years ago. Now however it resonates with me. Johnny Cash's cover of "Hurt" outshines the original

Used to listen to this album when I was in junior high. I haven't listened to it in years amd forgot how much I liked some of the songs. Maybe not the entire album, but definitely some worth adding to a Playlist here.

Tirando o excesso de ruido e barulho, tem momentos interessantes.

Need to come back to

Seminal 90's album, hugely popular at the time. Industrial noise, hard rock, anger, pissed off guitars, all blended together for an experience that's not for everyone. This ushered in a new sound that was often copied but never quite duplicated. Impressive listener counts with "Closer" leading the way with 372M listens, but no track has fewer than 5.6M. "Closer" is just a great song, and you can still hear it on the radio regularly today. "Piggy" (15M) is another song you heard a lot in 1994. "March Of The Pigs" (42M) & "Hurt" (114M, Johnny Cash covered it and made it an even bigger hit. Listen to the 'Quiet' version on the Spiral Deluxe album too) rounds out the radio hits. Songs like "Mr. Self Destruct", "Heresy" and "The Becoming" are a bit much for me, too much rage, repetitive sounds and relentlessness for me to really enjoy. It can be a barrage on your ears at times, a wall of sound that drips with anger. On the flip side I enjoyed "Ruiner" and "Reptile" which I hadn't heard in years. Too much of this album was un-enjoyable for me to rate it any higher than 3 stars. Part of that is for influence and impact on music (then and now).

Favorite Song: Piggy Least Favorite Song: Mr. Self Destruct Closer’s impact on the anime editing community needs to be studied.

Lots of variation between songs. Piggy!!!

Trent Reznor is a genius at creating menacing soundscapes. Even though this album was released in 1994, it sounds like music for a new frightening century. It's no wonder he's become the go-to guy for a certain kind of movie soundtrack. The problem I have is his lyrics. They speak perfectly to the rage of a 13-year-old boy. But I'm listening to this record now, and I'm no longer 13. "Your God is dead and no one cares...Don't you tell me how I feel...He couldn't believe how easy it was, he put the gun in his face..." The discrepancy between the wideness of the sonic palate and the narrowness of the lyrical one is just a bummer (for me). I don't mind dark, but there's so little contrast here that he makes Johnny Rotten sound like an unrepentant hedonist. The best song is, of course, "Hurt," made even more famous by the Johnny Cash cover. But hearing it in this context makes it even clearer that like a great old actor, Cash (and his producer Rick Rubin) gave the material a gravitas that the original recording just doesn't have. Also, I'm afraid Reznor is not a very expressive vocalist, which drops the record a star for me. I'd be interested to hear if he has other things to see now that he's getting closer to Johnny Cash's age.

It's dark. It's moody. It's brooding. The percussion often sounds like trash cans and power tools, and I'm kind of into it, but it gets a bit samey. Going in, I knew I liked the singles (Closer and Hurt). I can't say I remember any of the other songs (for good or bad reasons). Strong 3.

Not my thing but the production was great!

172/1001 Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ❓ I appreciate what this album is doing sonically and it taps into the 90s angst. Hurt is an exceptional track. However, it probably wasn't the right time to listen to this for the first time and probably impacts my rating.

This is an iconic album with notable storytelling. It's just simply not my sound. Really interesting, but not enjoyable. Somehow I do see myself revisiting this album. Favorite track: I Do Not Want This Least favorite track: Eraser

6.5/10 Best songs: Heresy, I Do Not Want This, Piggy, Mr. Self Destruct The kind of album you'd want from this project - so clearly experimental and creative that it transcends time. That being said, it isn't as good as some of Reznor's later albums, and it's lyrically a bit dull/obvious (at least by modern ears). Starts great but fades in strength by the end. It's very much an album for a very specific type of person, and at some points I find that I am that person. On that note, the lyric "I wanna know everything I wanna be everywhere I wanna fuck everyone in the world I wanna do something that matters" speaks to me (sigh). And, for the record, the original version of Hurt is superior to Johnny Cash's version. Sorry.

It’s okay.

3.0 / 5 Ngl the first song is anything but good, no matter what you consider to be 'good music'. What comes after isn't all too bad, but you can hear that this album is stuck in the industrial niche of the 90s. I bet it had a lot of fans back then, but now it sounds dated. To be more precise, it sounds like a soundtrack for Blade or Triple X movies. Musically, there's obv. a lot to uncover if you're open to this style of Rock music. The band sounds like they went all out with their creativity to form something pretty special. But I still have to say that if we stay in this genre, I'd rather listen to Rammstein, Marylin Manson or Static-X. And this goes for the entire album. Yes, there's different vibes mixed into it, e.g. "Ruiner" sounds very well thought out. Overall 3 / 5 is fair ig, simply because you can't deny the influence this album had, but neither that there's way better Industrial albums out there.

omg sooooo loud. but sometimes when it wasn’t i was like this is a serve

The concept of the album is fascinating, following the downward spiral of presumably the writer. I very rarely listen to metal, so this was a bit heavy to taste.

Objectively good, but not for me

Interesting

good production, but didn't really hook me

Favs: Piggy, Eraser, Closer

Better than I thought it would be.

I bought Pretty Hate Machine when it came out but never listened to this album until today. It's fantastic for what it is, and obviously goes deeper than PHM. I’m just not sure what I - in 2025 - get from this. Not sure if I’d ever even return to it. It’s not NIN, it’s me.

Best Song: Closer. Musically compelling, lyrically interesting. A sexy industrial song if I've ever heard one. Worst Song: The Downward Spiral. Starts with what sounds like a cloud of mosquitoes buzzing and ends in a forced, edgy skit. Overall: An album that is equal parts noisy in a fun way and noisy in an unfun way. Sometimes they hit on a great groove that agitates and scratches that noise rock itch, but other times it feels emotionless: a flat wall of mechanical noise without any heart or purpose. Maybe that's what they're going for, but it's not for me.

This is much better than i remember. I find this kind of music monotonous but this is more varied than i remembered and "Hurt" is a fantastic song.

It was okay - not massively my thing but some bangers in there.

The smack-addled offspring of Pretty Hate Machine and Broken, this record feels like the moment Trent Reznor finally stopped trying to make “songs” and instead made a world—claustrophobic, grimy, and relentlessly interior. It’s a genuinely unsettling listen that lands harder as a front-to-back descent than as a playlist of individual tracks. Hearing it now, it’s no surprise Reznor eventually drifted into film scoring; the album is basically a psychological thriller disguised as industrial rock. “Piggy” slithers in with an almost jazz-like looseness, its drums and bass setting an ominous pulse instead of a groove. “March of the Pigs” reminds you Reznor could’ve crushed it in advertising—those sugary little breaks in the chaos are practically accidental jingles. And “Hurt” remains one of the most distilled transmissions of depression and self-loathing ever put to tape. Then there’s “Closer,” the unlikely hit. Whether Reznor was actually angling for crossover success with that now-infamous chorus is debatable—but he got it anyway. The shock, the sleaze, the hook: irresistible. The whole album, though, is the real statement, a blueprint for the shadowy labyrinth Reznor would keep mapping for decades.

- koko levyn mitalta nin on ollut ittelle aina ehkä vähän liian raskas pala purtavaksi, mutta kyllähän tällä paikkansa on musiikin kaanonissa

Standouts Piggy Closer Hurt

I don't think I have ever been angry enough to relate to this. Hurt is a great song and saved the score even if Johnny did it better

I have no problem with heavier music, but as someone who likes emo, this music stressed me tf out. Emo is cathartic, this made me panic a little bit

Interesting listen I do like closer. Hurt is also good 3 out of 5

Industrial is definitely not my kind of music. Hurt stands out, especially because I only knew Johnny Cash's cover version, not realizing that the original was by NIN.

Clang! Industrial, reminds me of Tool with a punk flair.

Hmm, just missing a little. And actually I think that little is a bit more guitar and a little less synth. I really admire the effort to create something super-dense and harsh without relying on thrashy guitars, but it might have gone a bit far from my perspective. One thing I will say though is that NIN have a very cool logo, and not a lot of bands ever really nail that.

Alright, not really my cup of tea but I can see the appeal.

*Don't love industrial music but it's interesting to listen to. I just would never choose to listen to this on my own. Not bad, just not for me.

I love NIN but I really have to be in the mood for them otherwise they're quite irritating. Closer is incredible though.. 3.5 stars.

Have listened to most of this before, but not all the way through. The Becoming and Reptile stood out. Not a huge fan of this industrial music, but it had it's moments. 3/5

Sounds like an industrial orgy, full metal and oil all around. Hard power to your ears, gets you pumped for a race. 6,5/10

Laadne Industrial Rock pole päris minu teema. Aga põnev kuulamine on ta ikka. Palju originaalseid mõtteid ja minu jaoks täitsa uut kõla. Terve plaat on suht hedonistlik ja kirglik. "Closer" on kuidagi eriti isiklik. Ma saan tunnistada, et plaat on uskumatu kunstiteos ja lähedane eneseväljendus, aga saan sama lausega ka öelda, et mulle see muusika väga peale ei lähe. 3/5

Its an interesting collection of songs. Hard to hear and not make a.comparrison to the Cash version. Ruined was a good tracks. But some others were just noise for noise.

Not bad but I wasn’t into NIN in the 90s-2000s for a reason.

Honestly this made me appreciate how good Ross Bryant’s impression of Nine Inch Nails was. Very raw and painful but for every track I enjoyed there was one that was overindulgent.

Closer

3 stars

I really liked this back in the day, and I do still think it's a big step forward from pretty hate machine in a lot of ways, but it's just so dark, angry, and jagged that I have trouble sticking with it now. There are a couple true masterpieces on here but overall I just don't see myself coming back to this very much.

En general los albumes que trato de escuchar 3 veces y no puedo me los salto (este challenge no esta para sufrir) pero por la fama de este le puse un poco mas de onda y let me say: Este album es para un mood y gusto muy especifico, por mas que me puede llegar a gustar el rock industrial y me encantan los albumes conceptuales este no es mi cup of tea. De igual manera, yo tengo una visión objetiva con la musica porque se que mis gustos no son los mas abiertos del mundo, asi que reconozco que es un buen album y cumple con lo que se propone. Se me hizo eterno y un poco repetitivo, por lo que se lleva mi 3.5. Mi única fav son Closer y la intro (soy una normie de mierda ya se)

At the very least this album was interesting. Very angry but in a well-produced kinda way. I don’t think I will seek this out again but I can appreciate it.

This is a good album but I wish it had a little more variety. Ruiner, Closer, Hurt and A Warm Place are such standouts that I would've liked to see more of that stuff. This album is a lot of Trent Reznor screaming over heavy distortion, and while he is the only one I could take seriously while doing that, this album is hard on my mind and body.

This was raw and hard to listen to. I found myself unable to accept a lot of it? Like, if I did, I was embracing nihilistic tendencies. But something about the first song "I drag you down I use you up" reminded me of alcohol/person addiction. Like, it's easy to get hooked on drugs/alcohol/people when they are not really the best for us. I found it uncomfortable, but also appreciated that it made me feel that way? It's confusing, but interesting. I'm glad I listened, but I would not listen again. I found it raw and sharped edged, like a badly honed knife.

Overall enjoyable. It reminded me of the band Refused (who I'm now sure were inspired by NIN). I sometimes get a bit bored with metal, but this album had enough interesting melodies and instrumentation to keep me interested. Overall; not my thing, but I can definitely appreciate the album and see why people like it. 3/5 (but I could see that rating improving on relistens)

música de jovem deprimido raivoso noventista. eh até que bem agressivo, né. umas pegada de synthpop e pa. algumas músicas até envelheceram ok, mas outras não... bem percursor dum metal industrial, hein. bacaninha, mas não curto mto industrial não. pelo menos eh bem produzido e barulhento. e tem aquela música que só é famosa por conta do johnny cash

I don't really get industrial music. It sounds cool sometimes, but it feels emotionally flat. I had so many friends try to get me into Nine Inch Nails from middle school through college, I'm pretty familiar with this album. And I still find it to be "meh"

Nine Inch Nails have been creating their particular brand of music for over 35 years But I have always preferred listening to individual tracks rather than a whole album at one time Same with this collection Tasty, but best in small bites!

It was certainly different. There’s some cool elements to this but it just didn’t click with me. It’s probably a bit longer than I’d have liked as well. The original version of hurt is an interesting listen after being so familiar with Johnny Cash’s version. They’re both great in their own unique ways

Häftig ljuddesign, ok platta

Inte min stil men har definitivt något.

good exercise album has a nice beat

I love this album, the weird time signatures, the distorted electronics and guitars. It’s chaotic, poetic and intense, but some parts still manage to feel surprisingly gentle, capturing Trent's inner torment and self-destruction in a really powerful way Trent Reznor is just a unique figure in music. His work stands completely on its own, you can’t compare it to anything else, because nothing else is like it.

This one is to be commended for making me think. What makes a good musical capture of depression and hopelessness? I still don't think I can answer that. The arrangement and sound I'd sum up as artistically and intentionally ugly. Noises collide with distorted guitar, drum machines pounding away and samples of people in agony. The lyrics are at times too sexually violent to connect to personally. I just can't shake the connection to Inceldom: nihilism, the desire for violence, the only motivation an insatiable and directionless libido, the sheer anger of it expressed at anyone in range. A malignant moan. Normally I am a sucker for vintage sad but this is a darkness that surpasses what I can allow myself to seriously indulge in. If you come across those who ascribe to this philosophy: offer help, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on. Anger is often sadness transformed by lack of release. With the mixed feelings comes a mixed rating.

This album has some great songs, notably Closer and Hurt, but overall it's just not my taste

Zwischen Korn und Manson. Irgendwie passiert aber zu wenig

Solide, aber wird nicht hängen bleiben

J'ai trouvé l'album très quali, avec des orchestrations intéressantes, et de belles textures vocales sur les passages murmurées / chantées. Piggy m'a vraiment plu rythmiquement, et sur l'accord entre la partition de batterie et la voix qui était posée doucement. J'ai retrouvé ça aussi sur Closer, avec des rifs de guitare qui m'ont bien plu, et une belle atmosphère, même si les sonorités m'ont sensoriellement un peu moins parlé (tout comme la fin qui s'étire bcp en longueur). Impressionnée par la variété stylistique et les recherches instrumentales, et l'originalité de certaines mélodies qui me plaisent bien, mais l'ensemble est un peu trop saturé à mon goût (l'esthétique hard core me parle ici pas trop, que ce soit dans les tons hurlés aussi bien que dans les tons rock-suaves, comme dans Ruiner qui fait alterner les deux). Un album qui me renverse pas mais qui retient techniquement mon attention et où je prends plaisir à cherry pick quelques sons.

I like NIN. They remind me of the low hum I would hear coming out of my sisters red and black bedroom when I was young. This album was ok, but too long. I think I like the more classical stuff they do. I could only really stomach a listen once.