TRIGGER WARNING: this article contains discussion of psychological torture, physical abuse, suicide, and sexual trauma.
1.) Mr. Self Destruct
2.) Piggy
3.) Heresy
4.) March of the Pigs
5.) Closer
6.) Ruiner
7.) The Becoming
8.) I Do Not Want This
9.) Big Man with a Gun
10.) A Warm Place
11.) Eraser
12.) Reptile
13.) The Downward Spiral
14.) Hurt
BACKGROUND
Trent Reznor, born May 17, 1965, was the creator and only permanent member of the band Nine Inch Nails. It formed in 1988 and quickly gained traction as the music produced was aggressively in your face and had a new sound that others had not heard before. Reznor designed albums and singles that introduced the world to the new era of rock.
A big industrial/metal influence introduced in the late 80’s, Reznor released multiple albums that combined electronic and rock elements to create a unique sound. Reznor’s first of many albums was named Pretty Hate Machine, and was released in October of 1989. This was the start of his music career and a huge hit among alternative listeners at the time. His second album was released in March of 1994, and was titled The Downward Spiral.
THE TOP THREE
The first track of The Downward Spiral is “Mr. Self Destruct”. In the first few lines, listeners are introduced to “the voice inside your head”. This voice is the antagonist of the song, controlling and manipulating negative aspects of human nature, like addiction, sexual urges, inescapable fear, and warping feelings of guilt. These lyrics are directed at the assumed protagonist of the entirety of these songs and instill violence and suicidal ideals into the overall theme of the album as a whole. The voice powerfully insists on a sociopathic pathway, consisting of the overwhelming matter of mental and physical self destruction, illustrated in lines like “I am the bullet in the gun (and I control you)” and “You let me do this to you (I am the exit)”.
The fifth song of The Downward Spiral, “Closer” was the main headliner that stood out from the rest of the album. Listening to it for the first time, most hear a whiny, sexually-charged story of desperation. Digging deeper into the lyrics reveals that the vulgar language hides a much more depressive narrative. The lines cover themes of obsession, self-loathing, and the use of intimacy as a way of control. Almost two months later on May 12, Reznor created a music video to go along with his dark lyrics. This illustrated song contained provocative images that shocked viewers, with most finding it disturbing as it “promoted” sex. The explicit language combined with the video itself produced a misinterpretation of the real meaning behind the lines, which in turn made “Closer” gain the reputation of being an aggressive celebration of raw lust.
As the 14th and last song on the album, this track embodies severe implications of violent self destruction. “Hurt” carries broken thoughts of suicide, self isolation and pity, and a feeling of regret over the past and future. Reznor stated that this song was made while at his lowest, and the song successfully echoes his own personal pain and despair he endured. “Hurt” was originally written by Reznor in 1994, but in 2002 Johnny Cash covered the song which only created a bigger gateway that increased popularity in Reznor’s work.
LEGACY
As a whole, the album serves a raw and vulnerable perspective on mental illness and the chaotic lifestyle that comes with it. The Downward Spiral seeps with depravity and extreme decay of the mind and body. The name correlates with the overall theme of the entire piece; the anguishing descent of reality and consciousness. The spiralling and violent decline of life is represented in every track and contributes to an overwhelming cloud of depression looming over the album.
Nine Inch Nails not only changed the definition of industrial rock, but also changed the trajectory of many people’s lives. Reznor was the voice for those who couldn’t speak, and listening to his music allowed the silent to have some form of acknowledgment. Reznor composed many tracks featured in films, games, and television that have guided and shaped many pieces of media consumed today.
For his dedication in the music industry, he was given two Academy Awards in 2010 and 2020, multiple Grammy Awards for his track work in films, an Emmy in 2019, and two Golden Globe Awards in 2011 and 2020. Reznor continues to engage in movies and television, and was part of working on the soundtrack for the movie Tron: Ares. Other people like directors, game makers, and tv producers grab at the opportunity to work with Reznor due to his impact on the music world.
