Nine Inch Nails: “The Downward Spiral” (Album Review)
Genres: Industrial Rock, Industrial Metal, Electro-Industrial Anger is a response to one’s perceived threats. The Downward Spiral crafts a wonderful narrative about how a man can perceive everything as a threat, even himself. Along with the harsh industrial noises, the lyrics contain a rough edge, turning the intensity of the album into animosity. When you push through this confrontational sound, you can dive into the deeper layers of the record, and realize that there’s so much more to it than pure rage. The Downward Spiral presents a simple story that’s packed with heavy emotion. It’s a concept album that takes the listener through the protagonist’s downward spiral. This simplicity allows for such a close look at the mindset of said protagonist, and continuous development throughout the record. With this intense focus, there’s so much depth given to this specific story. Spiraling downward, we follow a character who loses faith in everything from God and relig...