Understanding Nine Inch Nails: The Downward Spiral

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INFO: The Downward Spiral was the second album by industrial rock and metal band Nine Inch Nails. It’s now 25 years since it was released and most fans agreed that it’s one of those albums that hasn’t aged a day since its release. The music on here is so dark, evocative and timeless that it stands out from everything i’ve ever listened to. It features a mix of metal, rock, techno and industrial music that cuts deeper for every listen. The sound was influenced by 70s rock like David Bowie’s Low and Pink Floyd’s The Wall. But trust me, it doesn’t sound anything like those albums. If the debut album Pretty Hate Machine catapulted band leader Trent Reznor to the front of alternative rock, The Downward Spiral turned him from a celebrity to a legend. But what exactly makes the album so outstanding?

[@LieLikesMusic]

What rock band or artist should i talk about next? Let me know in the comments.

[@bridges4232]

First and please do a video on seventh son

[@barbdrake5999]

Franz Ferdinand

[@bacht4799]

Ariel Pink..😜😎🎼👻

[@luizsouza2034]

Understanding The Who

[@ThatOneGuy7550]

Xiu Xiu or Deafheaven

[@TheGamer-br2gm]

I always look at the title track as Trent killing himself with all of the heavy and screaming sounds representing him going to hell. “Hurt” is like the song that plays as the credits are rolling

[@kravvall4869]

​@got MILK The title track contains the lyrics "he couldn't believe how easy it was, a lifetime of effing things up fixed, in one, determined flash" and "so much blood for such a tiny hole". I am not sure if the album is chronological, but given that it happens before hurt and transitions directly into it, I always had the impression that hurt is limbo following a suicide attempt. For me in the context of the album hurt leaves you guessing if he attempted suicide and failed, or if he has gone somewhere else entirely, or if the attempt was fictional and a result of his decaying mental state.

[@LieLikesMusic]

Jack Ging I can totally imagine this movie in my head. Interesting scenario.

[@dlegacy2796]

There was actually a song cut from the album, Just Do It, where as the title suggests he commits suicide. However it was removed after the producer Flood listened to it and thought it was just too dark and gritty, so he advised Trent to take it off the album. No recordings of the song have ever surfaced. All this is mentioned in The Downward Spiral Deluxe Edition booklet.

[@Cian._.]

I imagine the title track as the protagonist imagining people talking about his suicide after reading about it in the news and so on.

[@Dhakadice]

"Hurt" has a kinda ghostly feel to it, like he's already dead (metaphorically or literally). Either way, I like the "credits rolling" idea. :)

[@tashietherat7328]

this album is so atmospheric, like a soundscape to the life of someone who is crumbling and falling apart.

[@nem0men_901]

I was blown away the first time I listened to it. It sounded like my exact feelings turned into music. I didn't think that atmosphere could be captured in any way

[@andrewstephens5885]

@@nem0men_901 same here. Although I actually was doing pretty well considering the circumstances and things temporarily got worse and then I just related to the feelings even more besides the fact it’s musically brilliant especially since he did most of it himself. TLDR I really hope you’re doing better and well now

[@adamsmasher9769]

I mean that is basically whats happening. The guy dwindles until he commits suicide

[@markratcliff5646]

The Downward Spiral is one of the best albums ever

[@josephcontreras8930]

A great album you need to listen to it with headphones to enjoy it and hear every nuance

[@fabiogirardi2050]

Oh Yes.....what are loosing people who still haven t discovered listened and loved this album....WHAT.....

[@GHOST-iw3yb]

Definitely

[@mattiatosi8350]

Yes

[@uer-px1kd]

The Downward spirial is one of the albums ever

[@waterglas21]

The ending of Eraser might be one of the most extreme moments in any rock song ever. Its sounds like a giant wave of pure anger crashing into you.

[@Emerson9301]

Eraser is one of my favorites on the album. The build up with the off tempo bass combined with the synths is phenomenal

[@waterglas21]

@@Emerson9301 I agree, that bass is fire

[@brahms7454]

The way the song ends is super disturbing imo. The "kill me" just getting more and more distorted as the chaotic instrumentals begin to drown it out. Gives me chills.

[@nicolebacks5820]

Therapeutic medicine.

[@utax22]

It is one of the best moments on the album, it really reminds me of Swans and I love it

[@hurfhimself1426]

Always scares the shit out of me when the guitar rips in at the end of hurt

[@teosanchez6209]

@Jumpy Cat they've got a JoJo hat, though

[@timothyparks976]

Lmao me too😂

[@brandonmaddox4862]

I know it’s so jarring

[@HunterLyonIsAPerson]

Be teenage. Be depressed. Here's your new favorite album. Don't let it destroy you.

[@zo9419]

im 14 and I found this album a few days ago it’s already my favorite

[@HunterLyonIsAPerson]

@@zo9419 Sweetie be careful!

[@PaxBWithU89th]

Two Years Ago, I Was 13 Years Old When This Album Became My Favorite and I Misunderstood The Lyrics And Thought that it was A Positve Thing To Literally Fuel Up My Ego And Hate Everyone, And My Life Became Similar To The Downward Spiral's protagonist since then.

[@spoonmeanie5644]

It's funny, as a teenager it was one of my favorites but my very favorite record is Björk's Post, which is arguably diametrically opposed to The Downward Spiral

[@jeffery9543]

for me; be 20 (at the time). be head empty zero thoughts. gain conciseness. my life is in shambles :D (probably actually cause I almost lost my favourite type of headphones cause they’re not made anymore. had a bit of a breakdown)

[@himanishashar5649]

Words can't describe how many times this album's been there for me when nobody else has.

[@glassjaw2007]

i know that feel bro, probably one of those albums that you don´t recommend, but find yourself.

[@djesno]

Over. And over. And over again.

[@homerogarza3060]

Yes I feel you

[@enzinier4k623]

Yeah bro.... Same

[@CapeRides]

Legit go to for depression. Now that I've conquered depression I still listen to it, it's just endlessly amazing

[@smileygladhands]

If you've been through drug addiction, you know exactly what this album is about. It helped me through my darkest days.

[@Danny-wv8ec]

Exactly, DTS and The Fragile helped me a lot.Also APC’s 13th Step feels like it was written about me 😂

[@LieLikesMusic]

Undertow 82 Haven't been there. But i've been through depression. I think a lot of people find this album because of that too.

[@hanaboskova]

@got MILK yeah, if song hit mymood, i feel in some kind of sad ballance :) but its stable.

[@jadam8167]

well said.

[@winterlynn9012]

@@Danny-wv8ec I heard APC's The 13th step the very first time I used opiates which led to a decade long struggle with addiction. But yea that album really hits home for me.

[@SomberSora]

The Downward Spiral tells an incredible story, but With Teeth (arguably the most underrated album of all time) tells the pure truth. It tells the story of someone who figures out why the world is so ruined, at first, he begins as jealous, moves to hatred and vengeance, then, by the end of the album, he moves to acceptance, and ends off on a purely existential theory of life. One of the most real albums ever written, as well as one of the most depressing.

[@ambareeshmohan1933]

Yes, it's very underrated! I too felt the same.🙌

[@bandit816]

I love With Teeth

[@Torgo1969]

I may have to check that one out. I read a lot of Schopenhauer in the 1990s and to say that he resonates with me would be an understatement.

[@tcrijwanachoudhury]

@@Torgo1969 damn no wonder you're sad lol

[@protectourfreedom8221]

His two best albums for sure

[@muxz]

Still the most intense, darkest album I've ever listened to. The level of genius on this album has no definition.

[@nempatriarch]

Through the whole song, Hurt, the audio seems glitchy and low quality. I always felt like it was a metaphor for the state of mind of the protagonist. Ruined, no way back. He reflects on what he could have done, what he would do if he could, but sees no other exit. By the end of the song, when he says "i would find a way", an extremely loud and distorted noise drowns the voice, puts an end to the song and leaves a buzz for about 2 minutes. To me, at that point he shot himself in the head, maybe in the temple, and the buzz might just be the last thin he hears, a ruined hearing because of the gunshot near his ear.

[@y10christiem]

i feel like the way it was mixed adds so much emotion and physical feeling to the song, i actually feel somewhat nauseous especially at the start of the track which i think trent did on purpose, i think possibly the whole track is after hes injected a lethal dose of heroin but does not die and the start of mr self destruct is his heart restarting and him waking, some of the lyrics in it might suggest that, for example “I’m the high you can’t sustain” “I am the bullet in the gun” suggesting that the character is saying that he’s there even in the act of suicide and that that’s not an option for escape

[@smirkkink1663]

Absolutely agree with this. Popular belief say he kills himself in the title track but it makes so much more sense in Hurt

[@nempatriarch]

@TRAV AVIS technicisms are really not important in this case, just the intention of the author and whatever we can interpret from their work are.

[@LieLikesMusic]

The production and mixing really adds to the storytelling aspect. No doubt about that.

[@jonathandamours9967]

@@y10christiem I totally agree, 2/3 or the album, he is becoming this ''machine'' and right before ''HURT'' he shot himself, so I always thought of ''Hurt'' to be played by a broken ''machine''.

[@hardrockgaming2355]

I always thought the the extremely loud guitar at the end of hurt was meant to symbolise the actual gun shot

[@cm269]

a big jump scare for headphone users

[@hardrockgaming2355]

@@cm269 yes!! I shat myself

[@TheVinylBroadcaster]

Never thought that way--the "BANG" in TDS before it is the gunshot. The loud guitar, I've always interpreted as, his final moments, as the fade out happens to nothingness but the reverb.

[@heassik3088]

I swear that scared the shit out of me

[@sgt.purp1e]

Maybe. But in Downward Spiral, it is directly mentioned to us he has just committed the act. Hurt seems more like a reflection on the action. Shit, there's the glitchy distortion in the left channel of the song, almost like hearing damage

[@karinaube1750]

this is one of the albums that got me into concept albums, it's so beautifully done

[@jadam8167]

Did the same for me. What other concept album do you feel comes close to The Downward Spiral?

[@karinaube1750]

@@jadam8167 well there are the classics, such as the pink floyds the wall and dark side of the moon, tommy by the who, the rise and fall of ziggy stardust, sgt pepper etc... in addition i quite like year zero by nine inch nails, songs for the deaf by queens of the stone age, 2112 by rush, and i'm unashamed to admit the black parade by mcr is damn good and also looser concept albums such as ok computer by radiohead, mellon collie and the infinite sadness by the smashing pumpkins, pornography by the cure (some of those are debatable but good nonetheless) oh and i have heard dream theater have some good ones, gonna check that out... what are yours?

[@jadam8167]

@@karinaube1750 Love all of those, I meant any modern ones. What about Rap concept albums any thoughts

[@karinaube1750]

@@jadam8167 i find rap to be less sonically pleasing to my ears, and therefore tend to be biased against it when choosing what music to listen to. it's just a subjective thing though, and i might get into it more at some point. i do like a few though, such as kendrick lamar, so good kid m.a.a.d city is probably the basic answer. i think rap concept albums can be great, because the storyline can be explored in detail through the lyrics to a larger degree than rock genres. i do wish i liked it more, i'm probably missing out, but then again there was a point when i disliked anything that wasn't over-produced and formulaic pop, so you never know. as for other modern concept albums king gizzard have a few, i quite like polygondwanaland. perhaps also the suburbs by arcade fire, and probably more that i have forgotten or didn't realise were concepts. but i'm guessing by your question that you are more well versed in modern and/or rap albums so i would love to hear yours

[@jadam8167]

@@karinaube1750 The reason I asked you about modern concept albums is because you sound like you'd know what is currently good to listen to and thanks I'll check what you mentioned out. As for rap not being your cup of tea, I know where your coming from. Some of my friends feel the same but the great ones with artistic quality are undeniable, I'm sure you agree. Love Kendrick Lamar as-well.

[@al112v4]

Also this will be the 20th anniversary of The Fragile. Please make a video about it aswell!

[@bigguy1164]

30th for Pretty Hate Machine as well

[@al112v4]

big guy Yes.

[@Danny-wv8ec]

Damn we’re getting old, i remember waiting 2 months for The Fragile to be available here in Beirut, i was 15.

[@zapiekank]

YES!

[@LieLikesMusic]

al112v5 Thanks for letting me know about this! I had no idea. I can't say i'll do it for sure though as i have a few other video ideas already planned.

[@alemirez]

I read somewhere that TDS was an inspiration for Chuck Palahniuk's "Fight Club". If you just listen to the lyrics in "Mr. Self Destruct", it absolutely matches with the plot of the book and what is happening to The Narrator. And yay, you actually used TDS font for this video, I love it! :D

[@djesno]

i can kinda see that

[@carterslade8771]

It's a rough ride. Gorgeously constructed. I used to listen to it constantly in high school, but it's an album that now, as an adult, though I still respect it, I usually pass up. It's brutality is just a bitter pill to swallow when you're feeling upbeat. But that savagery of emotion is a big part of what makes it art.

[@adamsmasher9769]

Im anout to listen to it for the first time since i got medicated for my depression so i can actually feel the full impact of it

[@AshokSingh-bc1zl]

The Downward Spiral is a mean album , so dark it puts most black metal to shame. Love that album so much, but I love pretty hate machine more.

[@derfgerps4016]

Ashok Singh I was up above it!

[@Aiphiae]

PHM is fantastic. If I had one album to take to a desert island, it'd be PHM.

[@dwarfchicken]

@@derfgerps4016 Now I'm down in it 😎

[@mayatrash]

PHM is completely underrated

[@direst9570]

That remark about black metal annoys me a little, comparing depressive industrial metal/rock to black metal is not a fair comparison at all and musically black metal is more representative of depression imho with the use of repetition being emblematic of the futility one feels when combatting depression.

[@jimszikk775]

Its about you, its about me, its about everything and all there in between. Its a piece of art.

[@SplotchTheCatThing]

I always saw "Mr Self Destruct" as a personification of depression or a mental illness, not a normal part of the character's psyche. A big part of real-life depression which doesn't get talked about very much is a loss of ability to feel emotions or to care, which can explain many lyrics across the album and especially on "The Becoming". And I always felt like the most important lines on that song, and possibly on the album for me, were the several lines at the beginning about "the me that you know" and near the end "it won't give up it wants me dead". It speaks to the fact that he knows however hard he fights he will lose this battle with his insanity (and he most certainly is proven right about that), but that he is still trying to fight the battle anyway. My favourite interpretation of Hurt is that the reason it feels so ambiguous is because the character isn't sure whether or not he killed himself.

[@djesno]

Depression is NOT sadness, as far too many think. It is the inability to experience joy, fulfillment and purpose. There is a point where a sort of freedom is found in that lack of ability to feel emotions. "Nothing can stop me now, 'cos I don't care anymore." I might add that empathy, though often a casualty of that empty emotional chasm, only truly dies in the heart of a narcissist. Which either sucks or doesn't. I can't speak to the narcissist's experience. I can only experience the narcissist's fallout. Being a depressed joyless empath means you can only recognize others' pain. Not share in their joy. hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2011/10/adventures-in-depression.html Sorry for word-barfing on your thread.

[@johnnymarlin1283]

One man against the world,like deniro in taxi driver, dealing with sex, drugs, depression and ultimately suicide.A pure masterpiece of an album !

[@dalei6694]

I just fucking love this album! It‘s so expressive, so melancholic and full of hate. It helped me out of my own depression and still helps me, when I'm down. It also led me to the industrial music that I now have industrial influences in my own music. For me, the protagonist failed in killing himself, so his story continues in NIN‘s next album „The Fragile“, Trent‘s masterpiece, in my opinion. Trents music really changed my life and is one of my great musical idols with MJ Keenan from Tool and Thom Yorke from Radiohead

[@TheFirestorm496]

Interesting you mention those three bands because my top 3 albums of all time are Tool - Lateralus; NIN - TDS; and, Radiohead - Kid A

[@dalei6694]

Oh, those are also my favorite albums from these three bands, although I'm no sure, if it's Aenima or Lateralus, in my case :) @@TheFirestorm496

[@Abruzzo333]

I'll never understand people mentioning The Fragile in the same breath as Downward. I'm personally not a fan of very much NIN after 'Further Down The Spiral". I bought the Fragile the day it came out, full of anticipation....and was highly disappointed. This was the 90's when, if you bought an album you didn't like, you listened to it for a while anyway because you didn't have access to endless music. So I gave it a fair shake. I really wanted to like it and it has a couple good songs but it's severely lacking in edge, texture, depth, layering, mood, vibe etc.. of previous NIN records. Star Fuckers Inc. is an abomination. I listened to the album a couple months before selling it to a used CD place. To this day, when I hear something off of The Downward Spiral, it's hard for me to believe that an artist responsible for that album could make the stuff he's made in the decade plus.

[@tavmansn1122]

​@@Abruzzo333its nice to see someone else who doesnt understand the fan hype behind the fragile. Musically, i thought it was great. But the lyrical and vocal approach to me seemed synthetic and contrived. There was some nice instrumentation on it, but it was bloated and always coupled with some cringy manufactured angst from a guy who was pushing 40 at the time. It just didnt feel nearly as authentic as the downward spiral

[@smileygladhands]

Love Ruiner. One of my top ten favorite songs.

[@andrewmello367]

The solo in Ruiner is one of the best things ever.

[@murderotica724]

I agree. That and heresy

[@LieLikesMusic]

The Becoming is one of my favorites. Love how he describes his transformation.

[@ZOMGItsTheLoganShow]

I have to agree. 2nd favorite NIN song behind La Mer

[@Armarosxxvii]

Funny that it's the one song on the album, that Trent said he doesn't like. Never felt finished. Annoys him etc. And so many of us love the shit out of it. 🙂

[@freudianslip2534]

Your video got me into Nine Inch Nails right after my brother died. They made me feel like I wasn't so isolated through everything so thank you so much for what you do with this channel, it's changed my life for the better.

[@glassjaw2007]

09:21 "it´s very positive and hopeful" hmm i don´t think so, that probably is the most soulful experience of depression i´ve ever heard, like the false calm before the real storm, its more like deceptively positive and hopeful.

[@warnerunterbrink9386]

I think it’s meant to represent a good time in his life that’s gone because the song takes you back to a time like that and the song is called “A warm place”

[@kimmolaine8069]

I've always felt the album is about Trent himself. It feels just too personal, like most of his music and lyrics.

[@mrclaytron]

The Downward Spiral is an absolute masterpiece, and Trent showed us that he is a true artist with this album. Still to this day, it's my favourite album of all time, and despite the negative subject matter, this was oddly the album that got me through some of the most difficult times of my teenage years. Sonically, it's incredibly inspirational, and completely changed the direction of my own music making at the time

[@neuralmute]

Agreed. This album was one of the security blankets that helped me survive high-school hell, as a queer (undiagnosed) aspie girl in the middle of rural nowhere in the '90s. Trent Reznor was a prodigy on piano, knows music like few others in the business, and damn, it shows on this album! Seeing it performed live was an ironically religious experience. For what it's worth, 90's Trent is also one of those guys that I actually find really attractive, too... For all his flaws and unhappiness, he had moments of perfection there.

[@rhaenyralikesyoutube6289]

It's one of my favorite albums. I can't describe how much it helped me with my lowest points of my life, and the rage in it felt cathartic to me as I played it. Reznor is a genius when it comes to his lyric writing, it's so poetic.

[@projetocaoskako]

In the song Downward Spiral, i always thought about the part with the screams, distorted guitars and heavy lo pass filtering as a perfect symbol for apathy and depression. It's like the body and mind are asking for help, but the character does nothing, show no emotion, because he think it's useless, but it's still there.

[@themawsjawz_9491]

Heresy and Ruiner are probably my favorites off this masterpiece. Very detailed and well presented video. The album is almost infinitely interesting.

[@ZuShin]

I know everyone hates the album 'Hesitation Marks', though I really like it, but I think Trent says that it is a reflection on the Downward Spiral. So if you want to know what happened to the protagonist in the Downward Spiral then maybe you should do a continuing video on Hesitation Marks.

[@gerhardjasongeick4229]

The year that this came out was the year that I was first introduced to Maralyn Manson, Tool, Spinny Puppy, White Zombie, Rammstein, Filter, and Leaether Strip. I was sixteen years old at the time and this new genre (for me) filled the void that grunge left behind after Kurt killed himself.

[@Walsh_entertainment]

This album felt like I was listening to something cursed, like something that I wasn’t supposed to hear, I was kind of speechless after just about every song

[@LieLikesMusic]

Same here!

[@caitlinbilancia8697]

Downward Spiral is one of my top favorite albums. It acts as a sort of relief for my depression. Trent Reznor has a way of allowing me to hear his thoughts and feel his feelings, no matter how gruesome and know I am not alone in how I feel these feelings.

[@darknecropsy]

This álbum helped me get through some of my darkest most miserable times alive, it felt like drowning in a pool of filth and sudenly feeling the gentle touch of someone, making you feel you are not alone in this shit, and you can pull through eventually...

[@yes2evan]

I think all of NIN's albums flow together and create a story (excluding Year Zero, because that tells a story all its own) of this protagonist. Pretty Hate Machine is all about heartbreak, so that might have been what caused the protagonist to feel betrayal, sadness and hatred towards people close to him. Broken is his anger towards others finally coming out rather than sadness and self-loathing. "You know me, I hate everyone!" The Downward Spiral tells his story of madness, and his failed suicide attempt. The Fragile is the battle between the protagonist and Mr. Self Destruct, the alter ego. With Teeth is the recovery, though the protagonist still has a bit of negativity left within himself. Hesitation Marks is the reflection period, looking back on everything that happened.

[@djesno]

There are some songwriters who truly speak to me. And then there's Trent. Who actually somehow speaks FROM me.

[@jonathangillis4926]

PLEASE do a video on The Fragile! My favorite album of all time!

[@Declined469]

I am the needle in the vein, I am the high you can’t sustain.

[@liquidj2956]

One of the greatest albums of all time. More relevant than the Wall, more timeless than the White Album, and perhaps the single best produced album of all time. Trent is a genius and changed music in a very behind the scenes way. The Downward Spiral is a masterwork and will be appreciated by generations long after most "important" music is long forgotten.

[@LJLewis94]

Chill

[@radioguy1667]

It's great, but I mean, chill the other albums are still great y'know

[@Anonymiad]

its good but nowhere near the same caliber as the wall. I mean lets be realistic here.

[@TheCivildecay]

It''s good, but it's not as good as The Wall

[@kaylons]

Dude... The Wall is basically a prototype for TDS. All of the shit that happens in The Wall is just as relevant as TDS.

[@TheVIdeosOnly]

Incredibly powerful album. I remember listening to A Warm Place for the first time and just feeling how much emotion was poured into it

[@cyandinomashups]

Let's take a CLOSER look.

[@360zm4]

This video Broke Apart My Insides.

[@neckcheese1356]

This comment HURT me.

[@bikersk.777]

This comment is *Becoming* more popular

[@JoelsStuff]

Hands down a masterpiece from start to finish. If you haven’t heard it then get it NOW. If you don’t like it then listen to it again. If you still don’t like it then illuminati confirmed

[@SuzakuX]

FWIW, the 2013 followup album _Hesitation Marks_ does indeed indicate that the _Downward Spiral_ culminated in a failed suicide attempt, or rather a cry for help. _Hesitation Marks_ has a more positive slant overall, reflecting Reznor subsequently overcoming his addictions and depression and finding happiness in life.

[@caballus2222]

Reznor is one of the few songwriters who’s capable of making you descend completely inside the depths of his mind, it doesn’t matter if you are willing to do so or not.

[@undertheradar5863]

Hey man , you missed a major piece of info about this album. The very title and vibe of the album is inspired by a very real character : Jeff Ward, former drummer of NIN until he killed himself the year before TDS was made. While many songs are largely auto-biographical , the title track is in part a sort of reconstitution of Jeff Ward 's suicide ( here by gunshot ) - hence The Down Ward Spiral. And so Hurt is also ( not only ) about Reznor going forward with NIN after his friend's suicide and contemplating the fact that it could have been him - he's voluntarily harming himself ( ) to see if he still has the empathy for his late friend Jeff Ward for instance- and if he' s not fully disconnected from the world or if he became desensitized from everything, which is also what happens when you live the Rock Star life. There's nothing fictional about what Reznor wrote for that album, that's how he viewed himself and the world That's what makes the record so human and visceral. Sonically it's very carefully crafted yet still super raw and unique. That very sound signature is also what he lend to the first 3 Marilyn Manson records ( the best ones obviously ) around that time. Your "Protagonist" take is all wrong. And please, the track "Heresy" is not about there not being "enough" religion in the world. It's about Religion being an affront to God ( or the concept of it for y'all atheists ). Remember that album was not released yesterday , in the PC age , No my friend this here is mostly a Nihilist piece of Art. Although Reznor has evolved from that, I think it would only be right to perceive this Record as a huge question mark to try and see where the limits are as far as "going too far with Misanthropy". And I pretty much guarantee that it's what Reznor was into at the time. This approach makes it that more powerful as a work of art ( not a code for living, obviously ). And Reznor saying that it was a concept album centered around a fictional character is a classic artist's move to inject all of his real life experiences, include those of the people close to him, and his personal views of the world. It's a classic "distraction" move to allow himself to live the experience to the fullest , then move on. Of course, a song like "Big Man With A Gun" is not autobiographical - in general, I hope you catch my meaning. Check the videos of NIN from the first record... you'll get the idea. The entire body of work created by this man is an outstanding trajectory > I mean look at where he is now, coming from where he did and the never compromising approach that he always had. They don't make 'em like that anymore....

[@undertheradar5863]

@zach w I consider both "With Teeth" and Year Zero to be great records although less than TDS and The Fragile, sure.

[@radiopivot8031]

have you ever cared to google jeff ward? he commited suicide by carbon monoxide ingestion. "downward spiral" means "downward spiral" and anything else is a semi-humurously forced coincidence. TDS is an amazing album, one of the best of the 20th century in my opinion, but it does attract that sort of pedantic "this is Nihilistic Art Too Hard To Understand" commenter.

[@undertheradar5863]

@@radiopivot8031 That is correct - although he is still the inspiration ( in part ) for the record and 100% for the title track. My comment comes from written interviews from the 90s where Reznor said it. That in writing it, he put himself in the position of a suicidal man , which he was ( Reznor ), had he followed Jeff Ward's state of mind. He did mention the title hints at Jeff Ward. Now debating wether it is intentional or one of those coincidences often occurring in Art is futile. And your comment about my intention is insulting and inaccurate. There is nothing hard to understand about Nihilism. But it seems only right for me to state that this artist and probably his best 3 records drew their strength from being uncompromising , all the way true artist and an experimenter whose approach has often included Nihilism ( it's in the fucking lyrics that are quite simple and straight forward enough ) But with Reznor not limiting himself to that. Track "I Do Not Want This" being explicitly enough - all but nihilistic . "...I wanna do something that matters." My comment is inspired by the need to remind a lot of so called artists in the PC age, that this is what true artists do. They have vision and they stick to their guns. They don't systematically try to present themselves in a glamorous light. A lot of NIN's character comes from taking a lot of risks and allowing the artist to appear as fragile. I did not appreciate the parts of this video that - unintentionally - belittle that aspect as most people would with this sort of artists. ( Goth, Industrial, Metal or Rock for that matter ) While most people can only praise Reznor for the sonic signature he created, culminating with TDS, a lot of people would belittle his lyrical content, failing to see it is indissociable from the sound.

[@JamesBondBLHK100]

@zach w Idk. The only albums I really liked after Trent went clean were With Teeth, Ghosts, and the rest after. Year Zero, I think it's okay, but not bad. I still love With Teeth and Ghosts though.

[@undertheradar5863]

@zach w Agreed - although I never really dug into "Ghosts", I've had a special affection for "And All that could have been", the reworked songs and all the new instrumentals in there are pure magic. But about "With Teeth" the general idea was to go for songs with simple structure, shorter and very straight forward. Especially coming out of TDS and The Fragile, but still reminiscent of tracks like "Wish" or "Gave Up". While songs like "Every day is exactly the same" and "The Hand that feeds" can get on your nerves, songs like "Sunspots" and most of the second half of the record have a familiar "Broken" era or even hints of "The Fragile". But it's maybe not for everyone - I know my girlfriend at the time hated that record and she was a die hard fan of NIN up to that point.

[@elijahtxt2334]

One of my favorite albums of all time amazing masterpiece horrific beauty

[@martinefraser2817]

This is the video that got me into nine inch nails, they are now my favourite band and they have helped me so much in life. Thank you for showing us this amazing record and brilliant band

[@megyn_]

The last words in La Mer on the fragile, is “nothing can stop me now” although, it’s in French lol.

[@brianmo7763]

The fact that so little about the protagonist is know makes him relatable.

[@MediumDSpeaks]

Always love finding other music video essayists. I'm new in the video essay community and really like my music based video essays. Your videos are great and really inspire me to make more content and believe I can make it

[@domtheviewer]

Hurt sounds like the last minutes of the protagonist. The song itself is clarity after the failed quick ending of his/ her life ,the last heavy strum of the guitar and loud rush of sound and words underneath being the absolute final moment.

[@ThatOneGuy7550]

Love Nine Inch Nails, Downward Spiral was one of the very few records (along with Wu-Tang Clan's 36 Chambers) that got me into music. Reznor, as a musician, is very admirable. I love who he is and his work ethic, also his film scores? They are amazing! He's clearly talented and well, I think he's a cool guy. This video does justice to the album, Lie! I think the protagonist's story continues in the Fragile, if Downward Spiral is the storm than Fragile explores the aftermath of the destruction. Please cover Xiu Xiu and/or Deafheaven.

[@BarbaraMerryGeng]

/ I did not understand this at the time it came out. The guys I knew who were into NIN would describe the music as “industrial/gothic”.. I tried to get into it, but it wasn’t a good match for me. I already felt bad, ( depression ) why would I want to fill my head with those sounds ? ~ Great documentary film !

[@joshuadavid1804]

Xiu Xiu would be a very interesting video. Jamie Smith is a prolific musician and Knife Play, Fabulous Muscles, Women as Lovers and Dear God I hate Myself would be terrific albums to analyse. In addition, an "Understanding Jamie Smith" video would be incredibly interesting considering his almost fearless artistic approach towards taboo and emotional themes.

[@LieLikesMusic]

That One Guy Thanks for your support and for suggesting these artists. I'll see what i can do. I think the reason why someone would listen to this while being depressed is because you feel a bit better. Or at least you get the relief of having someone else feeling the same way as you (Trent). It's better to be depressed together than being depressed AND alone.

[@ThatOneGuy7550]

A video on Xiu Xiu or Deafheaven would be amazing! @@joshuadavid1804

[@nekozombie]

@@ThatOneGuy7550 I see you freaking everywhere. I even follow you on Twitter. Odd.

[@oxide1570]

“I speak religion's message clear (and I control you) I am denial guilt and fear (and I control you) I am the prayers of the naive (and I control you) I am the lie that you believe (and I control you)”

[@joshp5563]

"I take you where you wanna go!"

[@jcmick8430]

I always thought the opening song was about cocaine.

[@warnerunterbrink9386]

I used to think he said “I speak the legends message clear”

[@janferkl7649]

I love this video. But personally, I do not angree with the explanation of final lines of "Hurt". "If I could start again; a million miles away; i would keep myself; i would find a way." The lyrics says "if i could start again". That means that the "could" part of following sentence is referring to something unreal (like start all over again his life). And he is sure about one thing: that he would keep his character. For me, this means he did not kill himself but found a positive relationship with himself. Something very essential for dealing with depression.

[@cankhovich1796]

cloning

[@BabyBat14]

I listened to this album on a road trip and it was a mind altering experience

[@curiousworld7912]

I was fortunate enough to see NIN in concert, back in the early 2000's. Brilliant performance, brilliant writer. I believe Reznor will be remembered as one of the 20'th cent, fin de siecle's greatest composers.

[@0525loki]

Trent has opened up about this album quite a bit over the last few years. He said he was never comfortable with the commercial success of the album due to how deeply personal a lot of the songs are. In my opinion it’s a work of genius and can relate to quite a bit of the songs.

[@darnellmajor8895]

I dont GET why it's a bad thing to have commercial success when there are individuals OUT there who need something to discover in order to help themselves?

[@snizzleg4896]

@@darnellmajor8895 songs specifically like Closer, which is honestly a really powerful song about validation sex and male psyche got turned into a club anthem and sex theme. I love success as much as the next guy but i can see how that can be very upsetting especially if its a personal album

[@chriscole4879]

Nine inch nails is and always has been my favorite or Trent reznor rather , and also this has and will most likely always be my favorite album

[@LieLikesMusic]

I'd say NIN and TDS are in my top 15 or 20 i think. Amazing album. But the band never lived up to this peak sadly.

[@DerekPower]

Amongst the film samples employed: Mr. Self Destruct starts with THX 1138, particularly a "programme" where a police robot beats on someone. The Becoming uses Robot Jox and particularly when one of the mecha robots collapses into a crowd.

[@Stinkfist69]

The album is one long story. You can’t understand the whole until you hear them all. One of the best albums of all time & one that can and will withstand the test of time.

[@rileyjenkins3150]

The huge distortion blast at the end of hurt is supposed to symbolise the gunshot successfully or otherwise

[@Inimigor1]

That's one great video! I love The Downward Spiral and love Nine Inch Nails, always love to see content bringing new ideas and ways for me to intrepret it! Amazing work, as always!

[@brothadarrell8315]

I was 12 years old when I bought my first album by anyone. It was this album. You can imagine the affect it had on me since I continuously played it over and over with my headphones on. All I can say is that I went through my own downward spiral for over 2 decades. November of 2018..I found a way to keep myself. Great job explaining this work of art.

[@ANIpJs]

It blew my mind when just after I really got into analyzing this album that I went to chruch for what ended up being the last time and the preacher gave a sermon that mirrored my reading of TDS. Personally I see Hurt as the protagonist did attempt suicide and was fading away. We don't know if he died until the follow up album The Fragile which is a looser, more metaphysical sequel to TDS. Broken, bruised, forgotten Sore the protagonist is left to pick up the pieces. And by the end of that album he's basically in the same place he was but in a more introspective frame of mind. Reznor took a break from this storyline and Eventually we learn he survived and overcame his demons with the thematic end to this trilogy Hesitation Marks. Where I protagonist is a live and survived.

[@freudianslip2534]

This video got me into nine inch nails thank you so much for that

[@imcharming4808]

I think that the beauty of Trent is that he is able to conjure up empathy for these self loathing characters. There isn’t necessarily a source or real world influence. He’s just good at feeling bad and depicting it. He’s an artist. Therefore, this video stretches a bit and assigns meaning where there probably isn’t any, muddying the beauty of Nine Inch Nails. Good analysis and production, but not a positive or meaningful force.

[@michaelgeorge1737]

This album brings me to a whole different place. I can almost smell it.

[@jakispolak8289]

One of my favourite albums

[@oppaipoison2074]

Trent has a gorgeous mind.

[@ilovecody7514]

Such a legendary album, Trent can do almost no wrong imo. I love his soundscapes. The only other album that gives me a similar feeling ideal/lyric wise is Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown.

[@bacht4799]

Tha Swami that album by Danny Brown is also bloody awesome.. and yes Trent Reznor is brilliant.. except Bird Box but hey we all makes mistakes now and then..!

[@ilovecody7514]

@@bacht4799 Ikr, I love the level of anxiety you can feel through the music. Both are such revealing records.

[@solace3318]

Tha Swami because the intro track is called “the downward spiral” lol

[@kenshicomplex2918]

I used to listen to this when I was a kid and now have a new understanding of the album in its entirety, thank you

[@pedrovasconcelos3204]

One of the best albums ever written and created. Easily. Ask anyone who's been anguished, lost, sad, listened to it and survived. They'll tell you

[@LieLikesMusic]

Oh believe me they've told me that. And i've told the same to them ;) That's why i don't listen to this album too often. It takes me to a very dark place.

[@brianmannell9754]

I think in Reptile, he tried to get the same escape as he tried for Closer, but instead of feeling temporary relief, now he can't help but feel disgusted with himself even more. The "insects" she lets in are other people, signaling her as a prostitute. Her "lie" is that she pretends to be interested in him. He sees her for what she truly is now, and because he can't ignore the lie anymore his last refuge to escape himself had disappeared. At least that's my interpretation.

[@brianmannell9754]

@@TychoAnomaly0 oh, I actually like your take a lot more than mine. Nice. 👍

[@TheVinylBroadcaster]

The protagonist's girlfriend cheats on him. It's the final straw before "BANG" in TDS. "She spreads herself wide open, to let the insects in"--her cheating. "Seeds from a thousand others, drip down from within"--well, that's self explanatory.

[@Trashious12345]

Done masterfully as always. An amazing record and one of the best Rock albums of all time. I'm surprised you didn't get into the Tate house stuff, but for fans I think all of that is common knowledge where as the story gets overshadowed at times. I would like to see a Deftones video Around the fur is my favorite album but either understanding the band or any of there albums would be nice.

[@petrichor04_]

u dont truly understand nin til u have a manic episode driving through a severe thunderstorm listening to eraser on full blast

[@Matt-zu2lu]

I love how the lyrics are so vague so leaving it open for interpretation

[@thehobbler1349]

My brother showed me this album a few days ago so I'm trying to understand it better, as I'm not well versed in music. Everytime I've looked more into it and listened to it it has a greater impact on me.

[@LieLikesMusic]

Cool. I hope it grows on you. It definitely did for me. But every time I listen to it I go to a very dark place in my mind. And so I usually try to not listen that much anymore haha. I'd rather be happy.

[@yendorelrae5476]

Excellent breakdown, I didn't realize how much I didn't know about it!

[@Danny-wv8ec]

Such a masterpiece, i don’t know how Trent came up with this because it’s not your typical album with typical songs having guiar/bass/drums. The sounds and the effects are just brilliant. Songs like Ruiner,The Becoming, Heresy, Eraser are other worldly and the instrumentals like the title track and A Warm Place are haunting.Actually every single track is outstanding.

[@magneteye]

Heroin helped influence his creativity.

[@troyo.8294]

NIN November 20,1994. The self-destruct tour. The greatest concert I have ever seen!

[@winterlynn9012]

Interesting analysis. When this album 1st came out I was barely 10 or so and I purchased it after seeing the video for Closer really late on MTV one night and because I was obsessed with the film Natural born killers which had also just come out and featured music and a soundtrack I believe produced by Trent. Also some credit must go to my then 13 year old brother who used to blast Head like a hole constantly and started my interest in NIN. I was too young to understand that it was a concept album and just thought it sounded awesome. As I got older I started paying more attention to the lyrics and that really made this album all the more amazing to me. Also as a recovering addict I must say this album got me through some rough times. Amazing album that also takes me back to those angsty preteen/teen years in the 90s x

[@dajjalshahid3437]

I still listen to the whole album front to end.

[@technimechanical]

My last tattoo I got was the lyrics "Nothing can stop me now as I just don't care anymore"

[@necromora666]

This video just made me want to do a NIN binge

[@artfan101]

Man, I got this album in the 90's when I was way too young to understand its full scope.

[@oscarread3017]

Could u do a video on Marilyn Mansons Antichrist superstar, mechanical animals and holywood?

[@dragoon1090]

Yes please

[@autisticscreech7143]

Carlos SanderForbread yeah

[@JaredConnell]

Antichrist superstar for sure!

[@Abruzzo333]

Antichrist Superstar was practically a NIN album. Trent had such a big hand in the sound of that album that I remember his saying in interviews at the time of it's release that it was one of his crowning achievements. For MM, it was all downhill after that album.

[@austinmoore3785]

I remember being in a very dark place myself when I then discovered this record and it helped me and it's forever in my heart

[@puuxexil]

I was a Freshman in HS when this came out and we were reading Lord of The Flies. I drew the connection that Downward Spiral was its soundtrack

[@robertolanderos5308]

For me, I always took the loud gain/earrape section of Hurt’s ending to be the shot that kills Mr.Self Destruct.

[@timothyparks976]

Wow I never would have thought about that, that’s genius,like he’s basically casting mr.self destruct out of his thoughts and his head

[@mariliapinheiro5194]

You should do a video on Not The Actual Events, it has a great concept

[@auDipquid]

Not a landmark release.

[@emptysoul8462]

this album mesmerised me. i haven’t enjoyed anything quite like it before and it let me down a rabbithole of discovering amazing music.

[@saanasalonen8684]

one of the first albums that really got me. i will never forgive what i found because of his music...

[@earphonian]

this channel is getting darker

[@0525loki]

You should do Soundgardens “Down on the upside” it is incredibly dark and is arguably their most diverse album, sound wise.

[@trevor9900]

It's also a trip to know where this album was recorded.

[@icandointernets]

I think the fact that I already understood all of these things speaks to what a masterpiece it is, found it when I was very young and at the worst time in my life, and it sticks with me, comforts like an old friend

[@headbangerscastle]

Favorite NIN album... it's a masterpiece

[@sidswitch9040]

The Becoming Is My Favorite On The Album.

[@jotade2098]

have you heard this version? kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqWVopqGh9ySp8k

[@sidswitch9040]

Yes I Have. It's My Favorite Song Off Of Still!

[@dante224real1]

NOTHING CAN STOP.

[@angelamanrique9416]

This is the best video about this album I've ever seen, excellent interpretation.