Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral
March 8th, 1994.
Nothing/Interscope
Nine Inch Nails' second studio album, The Downward Spiral, is a cornerstone of industrial rock. This year marks its 30th revolution around the muck-emanating sun. The Downward Spiral is where NIN really find their groove - the groove inside your spiralling skull; the spiral which spins you down.... and out of life itself.
Down in a hole - the depths. Efforts to escape only lead you further down. The sinking of the ship. Engulfed in an infinite nothingness. Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. Nowhere at all.
Dingy, sweaty, filthy, sexy sounds pour from The Downward Spiral. An energetic and invigorating rock bottom. A rock bottom that you can surrender to; you have no choice - but just can't fully accept. Needing to rest, but unwilling to lay down. The voices inside your head encroach on anything resembling a good life - the ear-to-ear conversations cease to give in. The good gets going, then it's gone. Start. Stop. Start. Stop. The respite from industrial grime is just as harrowing. 'A Warm Place' emanates a sense of unease; a sickly feel like a comfort that slowly kills you. A green-y grey hued skin tone. Ill and all lost. Trapped inside the belly of the beast; the beast that is yourself. The empire of dirt that you manifest will eat you alive; only after it's held you prisoner for an eternity and drained you for all you're worth. Breaking point feels more hopeful every day; re-birth via deaths door.
The most important story that you'll ever hear is the one you tell yourself.
Alan Moulder's mix only deepens the insanity of sound. In contrast to the material, none of the instruments are fighting for air - everything is comfortable in the mix. Calculated and mechanical. Methodically malevolent.
Woodstock 1994. A gig unto itself. A piece of cinema history. Mad Max. If you're going to watch anything today, make it this. Get inspired. Get loose. Get mad - toss shit everywhere. Get up and get down.
'Nothing can stop me now, cos I don't care anymore.'
