13 May 2007
Nine Inch Nails: Year Zero
Several years ago I read an interview with some American rock band in which they claimed that the new Bush administration would do untold harm to their country but would give rise to some great music. I can’t recall their exact words or even who said them, but in recent years some very startling politically-inspired music has been released. Joining the likes of NOFX and Pearl Jam in criticising the US government, Trent Reznor has taken the fears and negativity of the current political climate and looked ahead fifteen years to an age of government control and abject pessimism.
With Trent Reznor’s reputation and only live and remix albums filling the gap since NIN’s last album, the expectations that the new record has to meet are inevitably very high. So, has the wait for Halo 19 been worth it?
Amidst the countless manufactured pop groups, pseudo- punk bands and no-brained ‘nu-metal’ there are number of musicians who do their own thing, regardless of the trend and have something genuine to say. Even a cursory listen to The Downward Spiral clearly shows that Trent Reznor is a member of this sincere and dedicated minority.
