Nine Inch Nails The Downward Spiral
A review/analysis written for my English class :)
Few albums have been able to encapsulate the unraveling of the mind like The Downward Spiral. More than just an album, it follows the destruction and descent of a deeply troubled individual. An entire life and downfall, orchestrated carefully by the intelligent and provocative mind of Trent Reznor. What emerged wasn't only an extremely influential industrial rock album, but also a suffocating world where the listener is dragged down into the spiral alongside the protagonist.
Formed in Clevland Ohio circa 1988 by Trent Reznor, Nine Inch Nails is one of the most popular and influential industrial rock bands of the 80s and 90s. Nine Inch Nails Originally broke out onto the scene with their debut album Pretty Hate Machine. Released in 1989, it is a super catchy and punchy album, incorporating both aspects of 80s synthpop and hardcore industrial elements. Two years Prior to the Release of The Downward Spiral Nine Inch Nails Released an EP titled Broken. It was quite a shift away from the more radio friendly sound of Pretty Hate Machine. In terms of sound, Broken is essentially a precursor to the heavier grittier sound of The Downward Spiral.
The Downward Spiral is a concept album detailing the aforementioned “downward spiral” and self-destruction of a man, followed by his suicidal breaking point. Lyrically this album has a very dark, raw, and often guttural feel to it. It follows the protagonist's descent into madness with prominent themes of self-abuse and self-control. Many of the songs dial in on different themes and contributing factors to this decent such as violence, dehumanization, religion, society, sex, drugs, and suicide. The Downward Spiral is essentially introspection by the protagonist, it feels as if he is ripping the anguish and disparity straight out of his head and slapping you in the face with it.
The first track “Mr. Self Destruct” is somewhat fundamental as it is the introduction to our protagonist. It immediately familiarizes the listener with a common theme which is the strange samples that can be heard throughout the entire album. This song throws you headfirst into the album with its super high energy and aggressive electronic sound. Lyrically this song is the beginning of the protagonist's spiral. It illustrates the protagonist's realization that he has lost control over his own life. “I am the voice inside your head (And I control you) / I am the lover in your bed (And I control you) / I am the sex that you provide (And I control you) / I am the hate you try to hide (And I control you)” he realizes that things that once motivated him such as his thoughts, love, sex, and even hate have now consumed him.
The fifth track “Closer” has probably seen the most mainstream popularity out of any song on the album. It has got a super catchy synth bass sample as well as a modified drum sample from Iggy Pop’s 1977 single “Nightclubbing”. The lyrics follow themes of sex and dehumanization. The protagonist is so consumed with his own self-loathing that he no longer views sex as a good thing but rather he views it as a violation upon the other person. He feels he is so screwed up that the very act of having sex with someone is tainting them. This song also continues the theme of the protagonist's internal battle for control. Lyrically this song is quite graphic, it refers to sex and human behaviors in a very animalistic way. Despite its inappropriate lyricism this song does have quite a radio friendly sound in comparison to many of the other tracks off the album. It stands out because it sort of ties back to Nine Inch Nails’s initial synthpop style, as heard on Pretty Hate Machine.
“A Warm Place” is the tenth track of the album. It is purely instrumental, but it is one of my personal favorites. Some argue that this track serves as a last thread of hope for the protagonist but to me it has always conveyed a deeper sense of despair and hopelessness. While it may feature softer, brighter notes something about feels heavy and stagnant to me. In my eyes, this song is a moment of reflection for the protagonist, in which he concludes suicide is his only option. This track feels as though he is letting go and accepting his fate as he plummets further into the spiral. This song is featured in the 1994 film Natural Born Killers. The film is a whirlwind of chaotic over the top violence slathered in many layers of questionable editing styles, but the scene this song features in really stuck out to me. It raises the stakes in an already intense scene. The movie follows protagonists Mickey and Mallory Knox as they commit horrifically gruesome crimes in a Bonnie and Clyde style escapade. Near the end of the film Mickey ends up in a standoff with an officer, there is no way out of this that won't end in bloodshed. The scene is already gruesome and violent, but now we’re confronted with the possibility of the protagonist’s brains being splattered across the camera lens. “A Warm Place” can be heard softly droning in the background at around the 16 second mark, and it feels as though this tense moment is frozen in time. The tenderness of the track somehow blends perfectly with the high intensity of the scene. It complements the scene the same way it complements the scenario the protagonist of the album ends up in. He is so deeply troubled that the only plausible escape route he sees is suicide.
The thirteenth track shares its title with the album. “The Downward Spiral” is arguably the darkest and rawest track on the album. It feels as though you are a fly on the wall during the last moments of the protagonist's life. He has finally hit rock bottom and this ballad, for lack of a better word, offers a glimpse into the mind of this deeply troubled individual at the edge of his own existence. Mechanical samples buzz in and out accompanied by the sounds of bugs swarming. A slow, lonely, piano taps out notes, followed by a repetitive guitar motif. More than halfway through the song and it finally breaks down into heavily muffled and distorted guitar. Muffled screams can also be heard. A clearer monotone voice begins droning on, encouraging what's to come. “He couldn't believe how easy it was / He put the gun to his face / Bang! / So much blood for such a tiny little hole” the monologue continues on before concluding with “All fuzzy, this is spilling out of my head.”
