The Downward Spiral

solid

One of the only rock albums that surpasses Yeezus at production. Maximalist perfection. A+

3 alright not big fan of industrial music

I wasn't expecting to like this damn thing anywhere near as much as I did. It's really really good, and I recommend it to anyone enthusiastically.

Boring

I only really like a couple of NIN songs from their entire discography...

A masterpiece.

Not my thing. I’ll give it a 3 since I recognize Trent Reznor is a whiz bang musically. But this album was a lot of noise for me and not much music.

There were some very good songs on this album! I knew a handful of them already Sadly a lot of filler though and it was a bit long. I was hoping all these songs would have the same energy as March Of The Pigs - rather than the slower sort of songs Overall still a good album, but I do prefer the Johnny Cash cover of Hurt! 4 ⭐️

I grew up listening to this album and I think it is near perfect. Trent's study of the downfall of this no named individual is nothing short of genius. It was a staple of the 90's with Trent being a legendary musician. Several major hit songs but the other tracks are great too and contribute to the overall story of the album. It's great and I'm sure that I will listen to this many more times.

This has been in my collection since the day it came out. I love the scope of it and emotion behind it. I still get transported when I play it.

S'alright.

Regarding the genre, this album is to some extent tolerable and has a distinct sound. I sometimes like Trent Reznor, but most times not as NiN.

Not what I was expecting. A very interesting listen 3/5

Crazy for 1994, yeezus-esque not really for me

I can definitely understand the cultural impact of this album, and think I may have enjoyed it more as an angsty teenager. Some of the songs found me waiting for the album to be over, but others like Piggy and The Becoming were really interesting and I enjoyed them quite a bit. Of course, Closer, being the single from the album, was one that I already knew and enjoyed.

That first song ("Mr. Self-Destruct") hits, and... DAMN. You know you are in for some serious s%&t. This is such a dark album, gives out a lot of energy. It took me a bit of time to process it, kind of like Floyd's "The Wall". I know that was one of Reznor's influences on this album, and it shows. Any one of the songs separately is "wow," but then listening to it as a whole, this is a definite statement. I liked the first album of NiN, but there was something about it that just made it sound like a teen railing against everything. "The Downward Spiral" really upped the game, and I am here for it. I'd play this one definitely more than the first album. Even with songs that were overplayed ("Closer," "Hurt") they still fit into the album well. ALthough I do not find myself listening to them (my fave is "Mr. Self Destruct," probably because of Adrian Belew's work on it). An album that I can see myself coming back to, although not listening to it twice in a row. (I'm not emo enough, lol). A definitive statement, and a solid album all throughout.

This is a heavy, heavy album. Both in terms of its sound (a new level of depth for industrial music) and its lyrics (grunge ain't got nothin on this dark, brooding material). Trent Reznor (mostly) and NiN are just pumping out abrasive tracks on this album. Some of them are thunderous - Mr. Self Destruct (not my favorite, but a bold opener that sets the tone for everything after), Heresy (my new favorite on this album - absolutely pumping), March of the Pigs, the back half of both I Do Not Want This and Eraser, and Big Man With a Gun (oozing with energy and satire). Some of them are more experimental - Reptile, Closer (can you believe this is NiN's most popular song? It shouldn't work but it does), Ruiner (such a mix of sound), and The Becoming (here the album officially descends into madness). Some of them are subdued and harrowing - Piggy, A Warm Place, the title track (yikes that second half), and Hurt (what a glorious triumph of pain). As far as being music to my ears, the album is a 4. Sometimes it is tough to listen to - either the experimentation or the lyrics. But as far as blazing a trail for others, this album is a 5. Not just the edgy industrial rock/metal sound but also Reznor's use of a computer to produce music. His/their sound is all over the rest of the 90's and 00's rock sound, and Hurt was so incredible that Johnny Cash had to cover it. Gotta give respect where respect is due.

Dark, industrial, powerful, disturbing, groundbreaking. A shame this is the only NIN album in the 1001. While this is NIN's breakthrough album, The Fragile is their (his, really) masterpiece. I'm also a big fan of Year Zero - I wouldn't say it needs to be on the 1001, but it's a great album. Guess the authors needed more room for additional Leonard Cohen albums (insert eye roll emoji). The production style was so new and unique and often imitated afterwards. A great album, but certainly not an easy listen with all of its disturbing imagery. Easy 5. Favorite tracks: Mr. Self Destruct (massive aggression right from track 1), Piggy (love the live version on And All That Could Have Been), Heresy, March of the Pigs, Closer (amazing track - amazing even moreso that it was a huge hit), Ruiner (hmm, I seem to be naming all the songs), The Becoming, Big Man with a Gun, A Warm Place (shades of the instrumentals on David Bowie's Low), Eraser (very dark), Reptile (dark and sludgy), Hurt (supplanted in greatness by Johnny Cash's version, but this one is still amazing, particularly how quiet it is compared to much of the album).

This is kind of the music I like to hear. Not so smooth first time listening but still...I love the industrial and noisy total atmosphere. fast fuzzy fabulous furious, yeah, of course I love this. And hey, maybe it's a bit far fetched but I think black midi also got a lot influence from this one. pioneer of dark industrial noise rock, you have my respect. I love it more and more as I continue listening, amazed! Around 4,5/5, let's give it another 5 because the album cover is so good.

3.5

I was not expecting to like this one. I'm not usually drawn to industrial sounds, but this melds it with acoustic and distinct melodies. Thematically this album is definitely one for a mood, and considering the day I had at work today, I needed this mood. It's quite cathartic (8.3) ★★★★

Really didn't like this kind of industrial noise, but "Hurt" is a good song. 2.5 stars

4.5/5

I like "Piggy", "March of the Pigs", "Closer", and "Hurt", but most of the rest of it just doesn't do it for me. It's too long and there's too many songs that are more soundscape that song. 3.5 stars.

4.5

Big fan of the synthpoppier Pretty Hate Machine and Closer on here is my kind of jam but even though it is considered something of NIN’s absolute masterpiece it is way too rackety and abrasive with very few tunes that I actually like. The remix album featuring Spyro The Dragon called The Downward Spyro is way better.

Not my cup of tea

It was alright. Of course for it's time, it was new, shiny, and edgy. But it definitely did not hold up.

My god it is so good

I saw them tour this album and it still holds up! 4.5

Objectively pretty interesting and I think groundbreaking in some respects, but really not my thing lyrically or musically. 2/10

I used to own this album and have listened to it a lot without even rel getting it, just for the asthetic lmao. But this was a challenge to come back to. Some how though, after pigs I suddenly loosened up and ended up liking ot more than ever did before.

This was cutting edge when it came out. Still holds up today.

Yes. So much yes. 5/5 Highlights: Heresy Ruiner The Becoming A Warm Place Eraser Reptile Hurt

Solid 5. It's only getting better with time.

I expected to like this more. The singles are great, but the rest of it didn't really hit me. Maybe I wasn't in the right frame of mind.

Fantastic album. March of the pigs, Mr self destruct. Hurt, Closer. 1001 album worthy: Yes- 3/4

Die Hits hitten, die Misses missen hart. Im Schnitt drei Sterne

Agressive and poetic

This was bleak, but excellent.

Bit too industrial for me, though closer is one of my favourites.

There was maybe 2 songs i would call music. "HURT" which is a cover anyways and "Closer". Other than thatbits just street noise with Lyrics you can hardly hear. Don't need to hear this again

Pretty Good

i heart trent reznor and that one song on this album that sounds like he recorded a garbage truck

The Good: Nine Inch Nails The Bad: Being stuck on a downward spiral The Ugly: Trying to get out of the spiral without any of the nails puncturing you and causing pain, and blood, and anguish, and mayhem, and… Like the music, don’t like the music, impossible to ignore the impact that this album had on putting Industrial music in the spotlight, or the soundtrack of the cult classic Se7en! The album has put me in a slight trance all day, my wife hating the music coming from my speakers, while I just kept on keeping on with whatever I was doing. And to think that during the ‘90s I did not listen to this album ever… A solid 4* for certain!

Love <3

One of the best albums of the 90s, in any genre.

8.5/10 album, highlits are warm, closer, hurt

I like industrial rock, I like angry music. I like Trent Reznors music. Instrumental and metal alike. 5/5 no notes.

I didn't like the album very much but I know that most of the music I liked and listened to growing up was influenced by it. Giving it 3 stars doesn't mean the album is boring, it means I am.

This album absolutely held up for me, god damn. Funny to hear this right after The Bends, which came out at about the same time. But I would rather listen to this any day, though obv not everyone's cup of tea. Having Closer, Hurt, March of the Pigs all on one album.. This is almost a 5 for me but I guess I'll hold back a bit. 4.3/5 Listening notes: This came at a good time, I have been recently remembering how freaking good NIN is. Been on a Pretty Hate Machine kick lately so excited to revisit this one. Mr Self Destruct - he really was doing crazy strange innovative sounds hey piggy pig pig pig pig GOD IS DEAD AND NO ONE CARES dude... March of the Pigs gets me SO AMPED. I have loved this song since I was a little kid lol. hell yeah. STEP RIGHT UPPPPP MARCH PUSH Yeah we're replaying that one. omg and it goes into Closer, jesus. how many goth couples have banged to this song, I mean it's gotta be in the millions. i mean this song is creepy but it is sexxyyy Into Ruiner. awesome. love that record scratch riff ... A Warm Place - such a calm interlude ... Closing out with Hurt... oof. you could have it all!! my empire of dirt!

Just not my style of music

Ei toiminut itselleni lainkaan tämä, kumma kyllä.

Amazing and educational

I loved this album in 9th grade, when I was an angsty teenager; I associate this album with the dark days of my teenage-dom (not a time I really want to revisit, though some of the music I listened to then I still listen to now). Returning to this album feels like returning to a time I don't want to revisit: full of seeming edginess, depression, anger, and darkness. (This, I believe, is the path to the Dark Side). The lyrics have not aged well at all, and make me cringe with their edgelord vibes. The music itself holds up well, albeit as a relic of this 1990s industrial sound; the sound itself is impressive, even if I can't really bring myself to revisit this album again after this re-listen for this project.

The Sgt Pepper of the 1990s

It's fine. Not for me. Hurt rips though

Really good.

A tour de force masterpiece of industrial music, The Downward Spiral, is dark, depressing, and emotional. The album would be a classic if only for Closer and much covered Hurt. That, however, is not what makes a great album. It is a master class in production and the whole atmosphere, not the bits and pieces, are what is special. Certainly not for every mood or every person, The Downward Spiral, sits at the inflection point of 90s music, as it was transitioning from generally happy techno 80s music to the darkness of grunge and much of the alt music landscape.

NIN is more beat driven “industrial” than I prefer- but this is a damn good album. The anger feels real.

Recorded at 10050 Cielo Drive—the Manson murder house—which seems fitting for how brutal and strangely accessible this is. There’s some undeniably cool stuff here, but I just don’t go to this level of psychological collapse, nor do I really want to.

Masterpiece of angst and destruction. Nothing has ever or will ever feel like NIN.

He's an angry elf.

There’s a lot of gross context here and it’s pretty explorative. Besides that the album is deep and cohesive but in the way where the worst person you know will not stop talking about it. And the beats are good and sound is very strong throughout.

Hatte ich schon

Okay, I get it but I don't really like it or need it. 90's sound and right for the era but not for me in 2024

Not really my thing but I appreciated trying it. Love the raw energy.

Really like nine inch nails early albums...saw this tour live and DVD release is one of the best sounding live shows recorded..

Nine Inch Nails is one of my favorite bands ever and while The Downward Spiral is a classic, I fear that this may be the only NIN album on this list. That would be a bummer, because The Fragile and Year Zero are my top favorite NIN albums with The Downward Spiral coming in at third. Enough about those other albums though, this one is a total banger from front to back. My favorite songs are Piggy, Closer and Reptile. Hurt, famously covered by the late great Johnny Cash, is a great song to close out the album.

As one half of iconic industrial rock duo Houmous & Chutney I know a thing or two about production and I just can’t quite get on board with the production here. I can really appreciate what they are trying to do but it’s largely just missing enough depth and power for me. Hurt is a banger though! Didn’t see our song writing credits though? I’ll have to take that up with the legal team. 3.1

Two classics (Hurt, Closer), everything else feels a bit incidental but it’s a cool sound and genre I don’t hear often 3.5 rounded up

01) Mr. Self Destruct - 8,5 02) Piggy - 8,5 03) Heresy - 8,0 04) March of the Pigs - 8,5 05) Closer - 9,5 06) Ruiner - 8,5 07) The Becoming - 8,0 08) I Do Not Want This - 8,0 09) Big Man with a Gun - 8,0 10) A Warm Place - 9,0 11) Eraser - 8,0 12) Reptile - 8,0 13) The Downward Spiral - 8,5 14) Hurt - 10,0 TOTAL: 8,50 (85/100) Current ranking: 71/360 I don't know why I didn't listen to NIN as a teenager, this just seems like something I would really like. I like the sound of industrial rock, it sounds so disturbing but in a good way. It doesn't make me want to kill anyone, if you're worried. Speaking of killings, I find the album link with two famous American crimes very interesting. The album was recorded in the house where Charles Manson, allegedly inspired by the Beatles and their "The white album", killed Sharon Tate and her companions. On the other hand, this album allegedly inspired the perpetrator of the Columbine High School massacre. It seems to be very easy to inspire idiots with guns...

good

Pretty samey, the dog DID NOT like it and said (in words) ALL DONE.

It didn't resonate with me all that well. The beginning of it was pretty rough although some of the songs throughout the album were at least decent. The underlying themes of darkness, brutalism, and all the sort I didn't care for. On top of that you add the harsh (hard liquor without a chaser) vocals and the industrial production you basically get what is expected in this type of genre. I'll at least acknowledge that there were definitely some aspects of the production that separate it from the rest but I mean other than that this album was just not my cup of tea.

Has some good songs, but mostly just an angry soul yelling at me. Not what ya want to hear first thing in the morning! 'A warm Place' was a pleasant surprise!

Sounds like angry incel music

It's alright

Arguably one of the most incredible and interesting albums ever made, but there's a LOT to unpack here. It's maybe best to start with the controversial, angsty, and often misunderstood lyrics. Here I'll be honest and admit that some of them appealed to me much more as a teenager than an adult. 'Heresy' is the kind of song that I feel self conscious listening to, even if I'm listening on headphones. 'Closer' is interpreted by many as an obsession with sex, rather than a piece of self loathing, as intended. But this confusion isn't surprising given the intense sexual imagery of the chorus and outro. 'Big Man With a Gun' has been alternately described as a satire of toxic masculinity, or a description of total loss of control. Despite the intention, it comes across as cringeworthy by today's standards. It's the song I'm most likely to skip. But setting that unfortunate misstep, the lyrics paint a vivid and disturbing picture of depression, sexual frustration, suicidal tendencies, and loss of humanity. People are likely to be either shocked and offended, or to feel seen. While parent groups would worry that it might have driven children to kill themselves, I actually wonder how many lives might have been saved by teenagers receiving a strong feeling of validation. Depression doesn't just go away because you ignore it, but it can get better if you don't feel alone. Now there's a very strong element of macabre in 'The Downward Spiral'. Famously, the album was recorded in the house where Sharon Tate was murdered in 1969. Reports vary on whether or not Reznor knew this when he bought the house but he certainly didn't shy away from that imagery until much later (after being confronted by Tate's sister). Reznor himself was in a very dark place at this period in his career. It's hard to think of many albums that have such difficult and personal images in their lyrics. The rumored song 'Just Do It' was believed to have been about the act of suicide. Producer Flood talked Reznor out of including it and it remains unheard to this day. What requires special attention here is the music and sound design, which were heavily influenced by David Bowie's 'Low'. The sounds defy conventional palates of rock bands, drawing on synthesizers, extreme manipulations of sound, and industrial effects. It's little wonder that Trent Reznor and (his eventual bandmate) Atticus Ross have become so celebrated for their film scores in recent years. The music has a cinematic quality to it, resembling elements of a horror film mixed with a drama of personal traumatic events and depression. Love the content or hate it, you really have to admire the craft that went into the sound. 30 years later it still sounds incredible. For me, the peak of Nine Inch Nails was their third album 'The Fragile', which takes the exploration of depression into stranger, more varied, more ambitious, and more experimental spaces. But 'The Downward Spiral' remains an absolute classic. Some will loathe this one, others will love it. But like any great art, you're likely to feel something.

Realmente é um rock industrial.

Meio barulhento demais pra mim e as músicas acabavam soando iguais ???? tirando "Closer", que é massa, nenhuma outra eu consigo diferenciar.... segue em frente

hate it

Not for me. The guy screaming Kill Me over and over isn’t the music I want to start my day. Or really ever.

I can’t get into it

Liked it more than I expected

Not great for the anxiety

Not for me. Some of the atmospheric stuff works at times, but mostly it's just too sonically ugly.

Feels like music they’d listen to in the matrix. This kind of hurt my ears but that’s the point?

4.5 rounded down could be a bit overhyped, or could be that i just need to give it a few more listens highlights: mr. self destruct, march of the pigs, closer (aug 21 2024)

Cot. I've never listened to a whole NIN album. It's a bit of a journey. Closer is a filth ridden banger. Dirt and grime is a constant companion throughout. I'll be back for more.

This both totally appropriate for where I'm at right now and the last thing I should be listening to...but a great album nonetheless...5

Hell yes!

goeie nummers, maar iets te repititief voor mij..3.5 sterren

track after track of How The Fuck Did Trent Reznor Do This. he's one of those sound designers that just knows what Emotions sound like, so much so that u dont even need the lyrics most of the time. but thru their addition they transform these internal landscapes into anthems, burning rage directed at god and the self which are often the same thing. this whole exercise grants a comforting tactility and comprehensibility to feelings that, when felt on their own, can be too overwhelming to parse, which is p much one of The Reasons to make art...a desire to map some order onto the world even briefly, even if the direction of that order is straight to the bottom. a warm place/eraser/reptile/title track/hurt is pretty much the best five song stretch on any album...maybe others are As Good but im not confident theres anything better. unless i roll another old megafavorite soon, this will be on the v top of my ranking for this project for a long while

Music that makes me feel young... I got to see NIN in September 1995 open for David Bowie. A lot of music from this album was played that night. I was 15 and had my mind melted. Music is magic. Memories attach and like a time machine take you back when you hear it.

Great album.

PERFECTION

#384. Not their best album, I suppose, but still a pretty great album 5/5: delicious. *this is the thirty sixth album I purchased from this list Song added to playlist: Closer I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link

It's got an anger which maybe I don't appreciate, but this is an archetype for all the imitators that came later. Still one of the best 4.5*

Nope

Such a dark great comprehensive album. I never realized how nuanced how he delivered his vocals. It's like the album exists inside his head, yet feels so expensive too.

So this is industrial rock. They actually sample table saw sounds (“I Do Not Want This”) Questions that entered my mind when listening: Who listens to this shit? Is this guy gay? (see lyrics to “Ruiner”, one of the better songs actually) Is this music? What are these lyrics breh? (interesting… lyrics in “Closer” -also one of the better songs, Gorillaz’ Plastic Beach vibes) Did this guy listen to Deftones, or did Deftones listen to this guy? (Shoutout Chino) I don’t hate all of it, but the singer is so winy, and the music is so discordant and harsh, if they put an audio clip of forks scraping a plate in one of the songs, it would fit right in. I at least don’t hate some of the non-grating moments, though, “Reptile” didn’t make my ears bleed, I may even have enjoyed a song or two (“A Warm Place”, “Eraser” -minus the last minute). Not my genre though. Johnny Cash didn’t write “Hurt”?! I actually like the NIN original better. Also it was in Rick and Morty. Best song on the album. (I’m so glad this album is over)

Deprimente, bueno.

Oh the college flashbacks. I really liked everything without vocals. There’s a reason Trent got real big in movie soundtracks recently.

I've given this a few listens and although there are some aspects of this that I like, overall it doesn't really do it for me. Not one that's going on my list.

I told you it wasn’t just a phase 😉

Can't get enough Trent Reznor or NIN. Love these guys' sound.

A banger from start to finish. Quintessential 90s album.

I’ve never really listened to NIN before and my first impression is that this is a pretty impressive album. It’s not exactly an easy listen and I’m not sure what is happening 80% of the time but I think if I listened to it a few times over I might appreciate it more. 3 for me, but I could see it higher for a lot of people

3.6 Sounded pretty harsh at first but as it went along I got more into it. Lots of interesting layers to everything. Not everyday listening for me, but I sure its its a jewel of industrial music

otro clásico de lo 90. Rock industrial que marcó una época. Incluye Hurt antes de que Johnny Cash hiciera la versión definitiva. No es un estilo que me guste ahora, ni me haya gustado nunca, pero no quita para indicar que es un gran disco. Otros discos de 1994: BLUR: Parklife, PORTISHEAD: Dummy, MANO NEGRA: Casa Babylon, SUEDE: Dog Man Star, NAS: Illmatic, PAVEMENT: Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, OASIS: Definitely Maybe, NEIL YOUNG: Sleeps With Angels, AMERICAN MUSIC CLUB: San Francisco, R.E.M.: Monster, HOLE: Live Through This, JEFF BUCKLEY: Grace, MASSIVE ATTACK: Protection, THE AUTERS: Now I’m A Cowboy, NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS: Let Love In, JOHNNY CASH: American Recordings, SEBADOH: Bakesale, UNDERWORLD: Dubnobasswithmyheadman, STONE ROSES: Second Coming, BECK: Mellow Gold, MARK LANEGAN: Whiskey For The Holy Ghost, TOM PETTY: Wildflowers, THE BEASTIE BOYS: Ill Comunication, KRISTIN HERSH: Hips And Makers, SABRES OF PARADISE: Haunted Dancehall, JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION: Orange, NIRVANA: Unplugged In New York, ALI FARKA TOURE & RY COODER: Talking Timbuktu, PULP: His’n’Hers, THE PRODIGY: Music For The Gilted Generation, VERUCA SALT: American Thighs, THE WALKABOUTS: Satisfied Ma, MANIC STREET PREACHERS: The Holy bible, Elvis Costello: Brutal Youth, Smash de The Offspring

A hit or two is all ya need.

March of the Pigs! Take me to the mosh pit immediately (where I would surely die, haha). Some good bits: liked the synthy vibe meets hard rock. But a lot of this is just a bit of a wall of noise. I did turn it down because it was getting a bit headache inducing. Monty was not impressed!

An odd one this. He writes, plays & produces everything and he's done film soundtracks so he's obviously talented. But the disaffected youth thing all seems a bit contrived, not genuine, overblown. It aims to shock and strays into Marylin Manson territory :( And the drum sound is dramatic but all too engineered for me. 'Piggy' is a cool sounding track but I hate the lyrics. 'Hurt' is obviously a great song. I like both versions but right near the end he goes OTT, he can't resist. My favourite track is 'A Warm Place', for me the most powerful track here, maybe because it stands out from all the noise all around it. I like noise, but not this noise! Maybe when I was young and alone I'd have been more into this, but I doubt it, whenever I wanted to drown in the depths of despair I had The Cure and The Smiths :)

A bit rough around the edges, shall we say.

Blimey

I think this was my first experience with nine inch nails and, pretty solid

Pretty long album! And pretty catchy!

# Album Name: The Downward Spiral # Artist: NIN # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: When i listened to this the first time, i thought, what the actual fuck is this mess. Theres a ton of .....just noise. It did not make any sense if im honest. Some of it completely random or unsettling samples being used throughout. The vocals also drove me crazy. My hearing isnt the best so its annoying when i cant hear lyrics. I did come back to this album though and it is a grower. There's a lot of hurt, anger and energy in this album. Its definitely not for everyone. The first 6 tracks were the better part of the album. Hurt is a fantastic song, although i do prefer the johnny cash version. # Top Tunes: Mr Self Destruct / piggy / Closer / Ruiner / Hurt # Would I listen to it again? Mainly the first half of the album.

Trent Reznor, o lo que es lo mismo Nine Inch Nails, es el productor, creador e intérprete más prestigioso de la música industrial desde los años 90. Su capacidad para crear texturas sonoras a través de capas superpuestas alcanza uno de sus puntos culminantes en éste su segundo disco. Contiene un éxito que lo catapultó a la fama, "Closer", un profundo drama sobre la necesidad de un hombre por obtener sexo a cualquier precio para poder superar su angustia vital, un objetivo que le obsesiona y le hunde si no puede alcanzarlo. De todas formas el álbum se encuentra plagado de grandes temas como "March f The Pigs", aparentemente una crítica al consumismo, o el extraordinario tema final sobre el suicidio, el conmovedor "Hurt".

To be honest, it's not really my thing. Too electronic. There are some bits that I like - very small bits and I recognised one song. I can see why people like it but I can't really force myself to. It's clearly a concept album which is cool. I think that the sound is cool just not my style.

Hasn't aged well and it gave me a headache

flashbacks to when I was a “deep” teenager - you wouldn’t understand 🙄 … fantastic album though.

The good songs (especially the hits) bang. Heresy is definitely getting added to my playlist. I am also a firm believer that the Nine Inch Nails version of Hurt is superior. But some of the more garbled songs dragged, so I can’t give this album a 5.

Ok, but a whole album again is too much NIN.

I've heard songs by NIN that I've enjoyed but, unfortunately, there weren't many on this album. Hurt was ok, although Johnny Cash's version was far superior (which isn't unusual). Besides that, there wasn't much. I think I prefer NIN when they're slightly more poppy and melodic.

Started shaky but definitely cohesive as a whole. Not my cup of tea but good art

I like some of Nine Inch Nails’ stuff, and I actually think the concept behind this album is pretty interesting. It’s dark, gritty, and clearly meant to push boundaries. You can tell Trent Reznor put a lot of thought into the storyline and atmosphere. But man, the music just didn’t land for me. It felt like noise for the sake of being edgy. I wanted to like it, especially with all the hype around it, but most of it was borderline unlistenable. Cool idea, rough execution.

Ein paar Songs die ich mag aber generell nicht sehr angenehm zum anhören

At times a journey through my inner thoughts. 10/10 for sound and lyrics.

Me and charlotte listened to it in the car. I think charlotte liked it a bit more, some cool parts we both agreed things sounded quite good at times but not reallylyyyy our vibe. Charlotte guessed one of the songs 'CLoser', she said ahhh they remind me of that 'i wanna fuck youuu and feel ur insides' song, and turns out it was on there! we only got upto closer though. Kathryn said shed listen to it while running, which CHarlotte didnt rlly understand but overall made us feel like stomping around being sassy.

Musically decent, I personally don’t like the vocal style and I despise the lyrics

best NIN album. outstanding.

Making the edgelords feel validated and mainstream, doing lord's work.

Would not argue with someone saying NIN is the best band of all time quite honestly. This probably isn’t even in my top 3 of theirs…

I've always massively enjoyed NIN but I find it hard to listen to them frequently because I find their music so emotionally affecting. I love the darkness as much as the next guy but I don't always want to embrace that. Anyway, this slaps but it's also too sad. 5 stars.

came to these guys as an adult and used to be a certified hater, sometimes you just gotta ask yourself... what am i accomplishing by hating something this epic and badass?

I thought this would be better than it was. In the end it was a lot of noise. Liked Songs Added: March Of The Pigs

A classic, one of my favs.

I might hate NIN…

Love Closer. Not a huge fan of the rest. Not into screaming and chaotic noises

luv listening to an album and being able to point it as a reference to other albums

Abrasive masterpiece. Not recommended for long solo drives.

More hardcore than what I choose to listen to usually. But I can appreciate this musically. It is emotional, which I think good music should always be. Goes for an emotion I usually try to avoid, but I can appreciate people feeling seen by this one and getting some release from it. I can put my personal taste aside and give this the full recognition it deserves.

Heard more than a thousand albums but this one still remains as the darkest of them all. Deeply carnal, unapologetically heavy, and lacking any sugarcoat, this album is a disturbing masterpiece and perhaps the epitome of industrial music. Overwhelmingly machine yet very human.

shoulda been an instrumental album

Includes the infamous Hurt. Overall a pretty mellow album for NIN, I enjoyed it though.

On the surface, maybe shock factor for the sake of it, but the use of motif and level of detail for each song should give pause. Interesting, too, is the level of noise which is done in a unique way. For instance, the drums and beats are not just rhythm but rather another voice. By albums end, it leaves an emotional and uncomfortable mark. Good rule of thumb...if you know anyone who is listening to this on heavy rotation, you should check on their emotional state.

Wow, this was a tough listen for me. Incredibly angry, dark and abrasive. Just a culmination of self-loathing and self-destruction. There’s so much distortion it made me feel like my headphones were broken. Really disliked the drum machines used throughout the album, it’s a dated sound at this point. I’ll give points for creativity, as it’s a very experimental piece of art, but I’d be shocked if I ever gave this another spin.

Point off for recording at the scene of the murders? though I guess he repented. There are some pretty great songs on this, and very cool innovations in sound. Hurt and closer, march of the pigs all time bangers

Starts out with a cacophony of sounds, and keeps that tone going for the 1st half of the album. To be honest, I almost stopped listening and was ready to write it off. But the latter half of the album was more coherent and calmer, and I felt like I was able to get a better sense of the lyricality and instrumental talent of the group. Overall- still not my favorite. I can see how people would enjoy it, but not for me

This is a classic album. I could only listen to half of up. And I listened to Hurt. Johnny Cash really did it justice

This is absolutely awful. I’m sure many people enjoy this, but then there are also people who slam their genitals in doors for kicks. Each to their own.

I really wanted to like this more than I did

Fantastic.

"Now here are some of your no-name bands. Sonic Youth? Nine Inch Nails?" - Homer Simpson If hating this makes me uncool, then consider me a big ol' square.

Objectively awesome but not something I could listen to every day

Angry, filthy and noisy. I might have liked this at 15 but it’s too negative and lame to entertain me at this stage of the game. 3 stars for writing Hurt

It wasn't for me. I had to stop after a few minutes, just not to my tastes.

Ridiculously intense. Most songs didn't have enough of a hook, and the verses were messy for me. There is definitely some great flowing across the album from loud and crazy to soft and quiet.

No

Just not my cup of tea. I don't enjoy the industrial sound very much, and the artistic decision to make the lyrics almost indecipherable didn't land with me. I'm sure it's an important album, and well loved by people who enjoy this genre, but I found it hard work.

I don't get Nine Inch Nails. Their music is abrasive, noisy, angry, industrial rock, built on layers of noise and textured sounds that feels both violent and dark, yet Trent Reznor played in a couple synth-pop bands before forming NIN.. Because of this list, I've been exposed to NIN more than I would have have, as the band is both fascinating and highly overrated. Some of the slower songs are accessible and shows that the band has some range and variety and maybe they mask over any sensitivity with the loud sounds to be more angsty. To me, The Downward Spiral is crass, boring "music" and challenging to wade through, it's not edgy is irritating.

I have never been a big NiN fan. There are a few of these that I like a bit, but it’s just darker than I prefer. I understand the draw, it’s just not for me.

It's a great album!

Trent was in an angry dark place when he made this album. But man, did he make some fabulous rock ‘n roll.

This is an awesome album for the industrial genre. This is something that influence a lot of other musicians and is very unique. 4.25/5.

Podoba mi się!

Sorry, gillar inte nine inch nails. Shoot me

When I am grateful for pauses of silence, that tells me this isn’t my genre. It felt like Nine inch Nails on a Chalkboard 😫

la misoginia de closer me hizo quitar el álbum, y en general el tono edgy de las letras es más para un adolescente de 13 años con el cerebro consumido por la porn*grafía y la violencia que para mí. otra nueva adquisición para la lista de álbumes que no envejecieron bien y que sin importar que tan modernos fueron en su época, es en esa época en la que deberían quedarse y no en el presente.

Hardcore elements Mixed with eerie techno sounds Odd cacophony

Tiring

trent reznor and his similarly angry friends (parental advisory explicit content)

Still strong!!!!!

Good go for when you're in the mood for this. Pretty Hate Machine is better, but this'll do the trick!

Depressing. Destructive. Delightfully so

Too hardcore for me, but I can tell it is good.

Not really my thing

Do their fans call themselves the knights who say NIN?

This album is insane, in a good way, every track is so good, and really different and experimental from EVERYTHING in the 90s. Favorite tracks: A Warm Place, Hurt

Y'know, I like this album quite a fair bit—I think it'd be weird if I liked Weird Al's pastiche of this album and not the album itself—but I'm not as gaga for it as I know the others in my group are. Sure, I like a lot and appreciate how it meshes together all of these harsh elements and melodies and makes it sound seamless, but it all comes down to that ever-so-intangible and unexplainable "X factor." Simply, industrial rock isn't my thing, and I didn't hear anything on here that made me wanna explore more. Johnny Cash's cover of "Hurt" is more up my alley, y'know. Still, I don't feel I can give this thing less than a 4; it's just that well put together. Still gonna bring down my group's average, but, hey, not as bad as I could have.

Just am absolutely sobering album about what it feels to just go through the worst feelings that one can go through in their life. It makes me want to not be around anymore, but I know I have to keep on trying to live through it. Phenomenal 5.

That’s an incredibly easy 5. I’ve never heard this album until today – the extent of my knowledge of Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails is the few times Weird Al has touched on them in polka stuff, and that Trent Reznor did the soundtrack for Quake 2. Yeah, I know, not a great basis to work with. This album is a fucking masterclass in using sound design to convey not only a mood, or an atmosphere, but personality traits and full-fledged storytelling, and I can’t say I’ve ever really heard an album break convention to use sound so effectively as a device in this way. I love the way harsher tones denote a more broken mind, and how calming stuff represents the last bastion of sanity left in this main character we’re following. I can only assume this is partially Trent Reznor himself, whether it’s a bit exaggerated or not. I’m really just stunned; that was a very fast 65 minutes, and it’s remarkably just how much it touches on while sticking to its harsher tones – there’s elements of electronica and dance in here, anchored by some very 80s-adjacent soundscapes, but really torn apart and deconstructed, like the last grasps of a mind trying to find comfort in the past and having them distorted and ripped away. Trent Reznor’s vocal range, as far as his emotional depth goes, is rather impressive here. I could keep going, but I’m just utterly blown away. Somehow, through all of its pain, it’s kind of beautiful in its honesty. This isn’t a playlist album, not by a long shot, but for 1994, this feels deeply fresh and somehow timeless, even if it’s the least traditional sound there could ever be. It’s a really, REALLY good album, and a highly recommended listen. An incredibly easy 5.

3.3. Closer + Hurt

Is Trent okay? Hah. I listened to this not too long back for the first time whilst doing a run of artist's second albums. Really enjoyed it then, and on relisten still enjoy it. Obviously Hurt and Closer are stand outs, but the whole album has a real cohesion, even if it is a bleak outlook.

There is a reason that the US military use Nine Inch Nails music as a form of torture in places Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib. Because its unbearable.

Overall mess screamy than I expected. I love Closer. Probably won’t ever listen to the rest of the album again .

Only got through about half of this — hated every minute of it. Just awful.

intense and brutal. And yet, some of these are bops?

I have known this album well for 5 or 6 years, and though I haven't listened to it for a long time, I can say that it still holds up to my memories of it. The album title is fitting because it captures a man's spiraling mental state quite well. I prefer the earlier NIN material to this, but I get why this is the most famous material.

I always found it hard to rate NIN as this album shows. The first tracks are not very good. They are obscure distorted shouting with annoying guitars. Only with "Closer" the album becomes more interesting. Many tracks are an up and down, some better, some worse. I wouldn't obsess over this band and maybe it's a good testament of the 1990s harder rock music slowly grunging out (so to speak).

Sometimes sounds really hard. Others sounds like a Grunge band.

Haunting, aggressive, calm

Awesome

Driving, dedicated, blistering stuff. Truly enjoyable. I mean, I think the lyrics are kinda one-note and on the nose and repetitive, and they don’t say quite as much as he thinks, other than, yes, depression does suck. But it’s a great listen, and stands the test of time, in the face of thousands of imitators.

An interesting listen. A difficult one. I liked it but I don’t feel like I could ever listen to it again…

pretty good probably

Dark, chaotic, and deeply emotional, TDS captures a raw sense of despair. It blends heavy industrial beats with vulnerable moments, creating a balance between aggression and introspection. The harsh sounds crash against moments of quiet, almost tender reflection. It’s heavy, but there’s beauty in its chaos.

Downward Spiral was a punch to the ears when it came out. Several (no reason to mention how many…) years later and it still holds up. Listening as a teen it was volatile, aggressive and a perfect combination of metal, techno and songwriting. As an adult I now question how in Closer he states, “you bring me closer to God” but a few songs later in Heresy he states “God is dead / And no one cares / If there is a hell / I'll see you there” which implies that sex with the unknown participant is “dead” and therefore rather insulting to whomever. Don’t plan on a second date for that one Mr. Rezner! In my opinion, Pretty Hate Machine was a superior album but this one, like or hate it, left a mark on history.

The first 6 songs on this album are top notch, grade-A certified. Closer is a jam and should be an instrumental cover for someone (I'm sure it is). The interplay of soft-loud is on full display with some excellent melodies. The second half drags and is a little too much wallowing. Even Johnny Cash took Hurt and made it so much better. PS - the video for "Closer" is a classic and you can instantly picture it in your mind if you've ever seen it before.

On one level, this isn’t at all my thing. But there’s an underlying level of care for the music and something creative guiding it all. Maybe this guy should write scores?

It's not music I would choose to listen to on a daily basis but I do think that this is a great album.

I suspect there will be a lot of 1s and 5s for this. Either love it or hate it. So many of the songs sound like they would be in a horror film. It had me thinking “you okay, man? You seem pretty angry”

Other than the 2 songs I've heard before, avoid at all costs! Would never listen to again.

There is a lot I like about NIN. There are more than a few songs like on this album. But so much of it just sounds like noise to me. And Closer feels more and more cringey the older i get.

Wow! not what I thought Nine Inch Nails sounded like. Amazing Favorite Track: Mr. Self Destruct

Interesting album. A couple songs I was familiar with. Not really a fan of industrial type music. 2/5 Probably won’t listen again

If you are going to do "industrial" music, this is the way to do it. I bet Trent Reznor loves Einsturzende Neubauten. What is the fascination with pigs on this album? This album could have been the soundtrack for the movie Seven rather than just Closer over the opening credits. Closer is the biggest hit from Nine Inch Nails' career and for good reason, great song. The screeching saw on metal sounds are distracting from what is a pretty good album otherwise. There aren't too many songs that benefit from terrified screaming on a loop in the background. I love the piano on the album, it works great in creating the feeling of the album. It's hard to tell if Trent is mad at himself or someone else in these songs, very teenage angsty. You can feel the angry young male energy pouring out of each song. From Closer on it gets better. The industrial noise component of the album is tiresome. The Downward Spiral ties together the musical themes from Closer and Hurt, the two big singles off the album, it's interesting. Hurt is a great song, I think I like it better than Closer. Johnny Cash's cover is great too.

Definitely demonic BUT the album featured a lot of uncanny sounds that were used in interesting ways. A textured sonic experience.

I like Nine Inch Nails ^_^

3.5

This was actually very good. I enjoyed the instrumentation and the songwriting was interesting and varied. I didn’t like how edgy the lyrics were and how the audio quality seemed to dip on some of the vocals. HOLY SHIT IT’S THE RICK AND MORTY SONG

A very solid industrial album

20240826 Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral 4.5/5 I’m going to start with a bit of a ramble here first. Please, if you are going to review an album, get a bit of context about it first. And leave your anti-art critique out of it. I got on my nerves reading people talking about a concept album about the path of a person through committing suicide with “this inspire people to kill”, “this is against God message”, or other bullshit. Just because some types of music sounds “satanic” or “noisy” to you is not an excuse to unappreciated or flout it. Please, be mature, we are talking about art here, that can be used to convey something as complex as the feelings of someone going through a “Downward Spiral” to end their life. Now, to the album itself. I had a metal music phase during middle and high school, and some of the bands I liked have stayed with me during the years, mainly System of a Down. Lately I’ve been listening to some metal again, like Deftones; and my ears are getting used to listening to more heavy stuff, like Deafheaven (Sunbather is a great album, go listen to it if you have the opportunity) thanks to appreciating the sound and diving more into noisier electronica and other similar styles. Thanks to that I think I have been able to appreciate fully the experience that The Downward Spiral offers, and what a surprise. Nine Inch Nails, a band I never fully appreciated before, creates music best described as Industrial Metal, mixing together heavy rock music with electronic sounds. I feel like the sound NIN crafted into the album is a perfect match with such a heavy theme. It sounds very well produced, and it shows the mastery both Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have and have showed in the soundtracks they have published together over the last few years. Both very heavy sounding, more electronic-like, and even instrumental soft parts complement the sound of the album. I understand that this album is not for everybody, but give it and opportunity, and it can surprise you like it has surprised me. Favourite songs: Heresy, March of the Pigs, Eraser, Hurt. Least favourite songs: Piggy.

what an absolute banger.

haunting and powerful

2 out of 5. Going into this I was not a NIN fan and I'm still not. Hurt is a good track and Closer was played on the radio a ton but those were really the only songs I resonated with. This album, and Industrial as a whole, doesn't float my boat.

Eeh. Production quality stood the test of time. Feels a lot like angry teenager music though, it's hard to listen to now.

3/5

2/10 it was cool not a big rock fan tho my mom would luv this album

woah! I love this album. This was one of my favourite albums in high school, so definitely major nostalgia. So so good.

Oof, in the way I listened to this album, that is, catching up after a vacation, this came in RAW. I do not dislike it but I will probably not return to it.

Scheiss Industrial mit pornografischen Texten

The highs are high enough that it deserves a 4.

I have never been a big NIN fan, but I listened to this with an open mind because I know how much Jess loves Trent Reznor. It was about as expected. Liked a few of the songs but not my normal jams

No need for me to review..as I am verify familiar with Trent and his beautiful melodies.

Heard it a few times before. Trent us quite the edge lord but it's a good album. March of the pigs and gave me nostalgia for mtv2. 7/10

Reading the wiki on this album is far more enjoyable than actually listening to it.

Meh album. I wasn't really into this as a whole. It's a little abrasive. There's some cool aspects and nice moments on certain songs, but I just don't vibe with it. **

Industrial rock isn't typically my cup of tea but I enjoyed a good portion of this album.

absolutely diabolical

Hurt is a masterpiece of a song, but unfortunately it can not carry this album

i cant listen to this album. its good, but too many bad memories

Hey kids, do you like violence?

Loud, intense and dark. Absolutely love this record. Always blows my mind that it was able to shift millions of copies in the pre-internet age and with no radio play.

Never thought I would be a metal fan, but I loved it. So much emotion and rage, and I hung on. It is timeless in the topics they explored, but timestamped by the style, but experimental all at the same time.

5/5 -

This was very long! But I enjoyed it. Don't know if I would listen to much of it again, but I appreciated it. Closer is obviously iconic, but felt a bit violent at the moment. Think that's a me issue though!

Actually not bad

I respect NIN. I loved "Head Like a Hole" when it came out. Great early 90s to mid 00s rock. That being said, I don't really need to hear another NIN album. Trent is good, but not great. Just my opinion.

This album holds a lot of significance and I respect the hell out of Reznor and NIN. There are some good tracks on here but also some experimental 90's duds. I can't bring myself to give this less than a 4 though due to Trent's brilliance.

Never really listened to industrial rock before this. The album is cohesive, some songs like closer and hurt are phenomenal. Overall album is about 3.5/5 for me.

Whiny and annoying. The only good thing to come out of this album is Johnny Cash's cover of Hurt.

A chilling, hateful album with the Sharon Tate-linked backstory to match. Experimental, sometimes to a fault, as distortions overstay their welcome and make lyrics (pretty important for a concept album) indiscernible. The timbre of Trent’s voice simply gets overpowered too often. There is a lot of thought-provoking artistic value here, but its rarely enjoyable to consume. My favorite aspect was the percussive synth lines that he’d heavily utilize in his film scores two decades later, with the heavily-instrumental final third of the album also hinting at that future direction. Listened to: on a bus to NYC. Favorite tracks: Heresy, Reptile, Hurt

vocals too rough and shouty for me

Cool

Liked what I heard, but I did kinda miss some due to focus on work. Need to give it a second listen for sure. Will I listen to again: 90%

Overly bombastic, overproduced, unnecessarily long, miserable. I think it’s the screaming ear rape vocals and screeching distorted guitars that I despise the most. There's a few good songs, 'Closer', 'Hurt', 'March Of The Pigs', a couple of others. But mostly, this is a drag after the first half an hour.

All time great. It is what it is, at maximum volume. It's the most it.

Not my cup of tea

No

😬

🫨

Dark, heavy and raw. These are the words this unique album make me think of. This isn't my first time listening to The Downward Spiral, but I always enjoy listening to it. There's not much else like it out there. I think Trent really shows off his creative side with this album. I can understand why some people might not enjoy how abrasive it can sound at times, but I think it works perfectly to create an atmosphere.

Classic. I had no idea it Hurt was a Nine Inch Nails song, but there you go.

3+

Legit Lärm kann Rhythmen z. T. ganz gut aber die Zusammenhänge sind mehr.

i liked the 2 songs that didnt sound like fingernails scratching on a blackboard

too long and didnt really clicked with it... felt like a watered washed down version of deftones tbh

It was good, but I had to stop after four tracks. So. Much. Existential. Misery. Man needs a cup of tea and a Hob Nob.

I get why this was a huge album. This was released when I was a kid and I understand I should have listened to it much before today. Solid album start to finish.

Missed out on this album when I was a teenager. It's great. 4.28

The fact that I was given this the day after 'Songs in the Key of Life's is a hilarious contrast. Sixty-five minutes; too long! I can picture the exact type of person this is made for, and knew a few of them myself. I don't want to be scared to turn the volume up for the quiet bits for fear of my ears. Occasionally enjoyed listening; and of course 'Hurt' alone is enough to add a star.

No.

NiN: fueling depressive suicidal angst ridden people since 1988.

A lot rawkier than my usual playlist but some great songs. Doesn't sound 20 years old.

i thought this was going to horny all the way through but he mixed in some suicide as a special treat !

I love NIN, but this is not my favourite album from them, as groundbreaking as it is. I love most of the songs and the delivery though. It definitely made an impact on the music industry.

My teen years and early 20s were awful and this album was a very strong contestant for my favourite at the time. It encapsulates raw emotional pain in a way few do and progresses through different stages of that pain. Purely musically, I also think it is fantastic as Trent Reznor is very clever and does interesting things. Listens: 1 Rating: 5

Didn’t fancy it but surprisingly enjoyed it

This album absolutely deserves a place in this book. As part of helping to bring the industrial rock sound more to the mainstream, the Downward Spiral has a claim based simply on that. I have always been more of a casual Greatest Hits type of NIN fan, though I have heard this album (along with Pretty Hate Machine) quite a few times. I also like this version of "Hurt" almost as much as I like Johnny Cash's version. There is more I like on this album than I do not like. Piggy, Heresay, Big Man with a Gun, Hurt and Reptile are all great songs. Of course, there is also March of the Pigs with the pretty piano part followed by more industrial rock which felt so original in 1994. Closer had a music video that scared me as a kid, as well as a pretty funny polka re-write by Weird Al, and enough curse words to satiate me as a 13 year old.

Never really been into NIN. This isn't my really thing but it's fine.

Awesome album. Reminded me of my angst filled teenage years

Pretty Hate Machine was a phenomenal album for its time, but by time Closer arrived I had lost interest in Trent Reznor. Closer was overplayed in clubs and the industrial sound of NIN wasn’t anything special.

A little screechy but I liked it

Just awful. Made me consider - do I really want to waste my time when there are so many bad albums in the 1001. This is offensive on so many levels. Couldn’t listen to whole songs. Still got a headache. I miss what anyone sees in this. Just awful!

Gear: DCA ÆON 2 Noire Artwork: 💊💉🖌️ Mix: 🔬💎🩹 Musik: 🐖🐖🐖 Wertung: 🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷/5

Had to skip some songs.

Álbum agressivo, cheio de ódio, depressão e solidão. Muito bom. Faixas favoritas: March of the Pigs, Closer, Ruiner, A Warm Place, Eraser, Reptile e Hurt.

First time listening to this band's album. Got that industrious rock sound that I've been looking for.

I don't like NIN. There. I said it. Now down to business. This album is exceptionally well crafted. Every note is intentional and contributes to the overall structure. If you enjoy industrial rock or if you're just having that kind of day, you should give it a listen.

the best

Goated. All-timer. We love you Trent 🖤

Bad rock, not hard rock

Industrial Rock I guess? I never listened much to NIN, because no one song pulled me in. So hearing the full album was a much more fair opportunity to assess. Turns out, I had not missed out.

So disgusting, yet so beautiful. Trent is such an incredible writer and this album feels so original and unique compared to anything else that was happening at the time. I can see the complaints of it feeling dated, but it doesn’t feel like that for me. The instrumental period towards the end makes the album drag just a bit, but the final two song finale makes up for it. Little complaints here. 4/5

Noise rock. A little obsession with God. Play this one loud.

If I ever here any song from this album, that isn't Hurt (and hopefully then it's the Johnny cash version), it's an instant skip. Industrial rock is just ear torture.

4.5 rounded down. Love the dark feelings with some lighter tracks thrown in there. It feels like there are many layers to unpeel for each track. Haven't listened to this album in 10 and forgot how much I enjoyed it. I don't care for the "I want to fuck" lyrics that show up a few times but I'm not normally a lyrics person when the music is so dense. I just like to ~~~feel~~~~ it

I respect the art but I just can’t get into it Edit: Ok, Hurt is a fantastic record!

It's pretty fucking miserable. It's good, but miserable. And a bit too edgy at times, I actually found it to be a bit cringey occassionally. But yeah it's very well made, it all sounds pretty dope. Fav songs: - Heresy - Closer - Ruiner - Hurt

Album that has both Closer and Hurt on it. Definitely prefer the Pretty Hate Machine era but Trent was definitely doing his own thing.

Amazing! Defined the '90s.

I haven't listened to this entire album for a long time, probably since the 90s. Reznor masters mood, angst, lust, hunger. It originally came out just in time for my teenage years, and the only thing I loved more than the music was the videos. Upon revisiting, I can genuinely appreciate the ebb and flow, quiet spaces, then pounding beats with his voice screaming over them. I would sum it up with one word: sex.

Man. Machine. This album blurs the line. This album feels a bit like prince - especially Sigh it the Times. It is meticulous. Contained. Except when it is allowed for boil over. The slow descent that wraps out the album - Eraser to Reptile to TDS to Hurt. It truly is the sound of coming undone...

Mg, me robé March of the Pigs (que ya la conocía de Fortnite).

I've been hooked on NIN for a few months now. Even though The Downwards Spiral is not my favorite album of his, it still goes hard and strong. Most definitely one of the best in my collection

Unlistenable. I liked Closer at the time but it's the only song I could listen to on this. I like Reznor's soundtrack work though.