“The Downward Spiral” by Nine Inch Nails is supposed to be an album under whose dark spell it’s easy to fall under. It’s an album rumoured to drive the listener mad. All of this may be true, at least in part. However, the fact that it is also one of the most influential alternative-rock/industrial albums is as factual as the songs’ beauty and enduring appeal.
This is why I am reviewing and revisiting this classic of alternative music.
Trent Reznor’s Rise as The Prince of Industrial Music
Trent Reznor is a self-made man. Part Napoleon Bonaparte, part Phil Spector, Reznor remade industrial rock and, indeed, alternative music in his own image. Talent and ambition were never in short supply for the musician. But like the aforementioned characters he resembled, Reznor could be cutthroat.
Nine Inch Nails’ music reflected this. NIN was the brainchild of Reznor. It was also a project to which many stellar musicians contributed, like Chris Vrenna, Mark “Flood” Ellis or Adrian Belew, and were usually reduced to a small album credit.
Trent Reznor had been inspired by the harsh yet sexy sounds of industrial pioneers like Ministry and Throbbing Gristle. In “The Downward Spiral”, that sexiness is turned to perversion, and the harshness is pushed to its outer limits.
Little of this would work, however, were it not for Reznor’s incredible musicianship and maniacal attention to detail regarding production and orchestration.
Down the “The Downward Spiral” and Its Influence on Alternative Rock
Trent Reznor became a hero of the X Generation, and it was “The Downward Spiral,” one of the most bulk records ever made, that did it. The story wasn’t much different from Nirvana‘s success with “Nevermind.”
Both bands had very talented and charismatic singers. Both had the ability to bring darkness to their music but also to make it palatable to the MTV audience.
But the pessimism of “The Downward Spiral” was no accident. Nine Inch Nails had found some success with the album “Pretty Hate Machine.” But working with record labels did nothing to please him.
“The Downward Spiral” had the objective of making Lou Reed’s “Berlin” sound like a birthday bash. The album would be recorded on 10050 Cielo Drive in Los Angeles, the address where the Manson Family had committed the horrific Tate Murders. It would be a concept album taking on board modern sounds and technologies.
“The Downward Spiral” Reviewed
For an album that was supposed to be highly modern sounding and revel in the use of technology, “The Downward Spiral” holds up. Sure, one has to let their imagination travel back in time to truly appreciate the blend of heavy metal, dance, techno, and industrial metal. But the compositions are great and, for the most part, highly complex.
The lofty concept of the decline, madness and fall of the main character also works really well. It stands alongside Pink Floyd‘s “The Wall”, David Bowie‘s “Ziggy Stardust”, and Green Day‘s “American Idiot” as one of the better concept rock albums.
The album opens with the relentless “Mr. Self Destruct,” and Reznor’s vocal delivery saves it from becoming a whiney parody. “Piggy,” a song inspired by future Filter singer Richard Pattrick and by the graffiti inspired by the Manson Family in blood, moves at half-speed and is positively sinister.
“March of the Pigs” moves from a whisper to a howl and proves to all the industrial metal bands who might’ve thought they had a chance out rocking Nine Inch Nails that this, on most nights, would not be possible.
A Dark Masterwork
“Closer” might be written for shock value as well as an attempt to get the tune played during industrial-goth parties and sexual orgies. But there’s a reason why the song and the music video became as famous as they did. It’s a memorable and frightening sound. Time has done little to dampen its impact.
Songs like “Reptile,” “A Warm Place,” and “The Becoming”, when listened to closely, proved that Trent Reznor was always a masterful musician. These are not the three-chord songs that most alternative rock bands operate in.
Finally, the album ends with “Hurt,” one of the most touching and emotionally raw performances captured on an indie/alternative release. It’s the best song Trent Reznor had written to that point. The fact that Rick Rubin encouraged an elderly Johnny Cash to cover it is, in fact, a marvellous fit.
Influence of “The Downward Spiral” on Alternative Rock and Beyond
“The Downward Spiral” was massively successful. It innovated and was influential. But its success also meant that indie and alternative bands were free to bring their experimental sounds to the mainstream like never before.
Nine Inch Nails music sold in the millions. It was featured in movies, most memorably in David Fincher’s “Seven” and quoted as inspiration for Chuck Palahniuk’s “Fight Club.” It helped and possibly launched the careers of other industrial metal/rock acts like Marilyn Manson, a Reznort associate, or Rammstein.
Predictably, it didn’t soften Trent Reznor or make him reconsider his opinion about fame. Reznor made even more miserable music, most notably “The Fragile,” but never brought the same level of anger and extreme inventiveness. “The Downward Spiral” is a great effort by one of the greatest alternative bands/artists of all time.