The Downward Spiral
Missing image The_downward_spiral.jpg Album cover
LP by Nine Inch Nails
Released	March 8, 1994
Recorded	Le Pig, Beverly Hills; The Record Plant & A&M Studios, Los Angeles
Genre	Industrial
Length	65 min 02 s (original) 70 min 38 s (bonus)
Record label	Nothing Records
Producer	Trent Reznor, Flood
Professional reviews
Allmusic.com	4 stars out of 5	link (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:71aqoaeayijz)
Nine Inch Nails Chronology
March of the Pigs (1994)	The Downward Spiral (1994)	Closer to God (1994)

The Downward Spiral (also known as halo 8) is an album by Nine Inch Nails released in 1994. The Downward Spiral is usually considered to be Nine Inch Nails' third major release after Pretty Hate Machine and Broken.

The Downward Spiral helped the band to much greater prominence, especially after the release of the popular second single, "Closer," which was released with a controversial video directed by Mark Romanek.

The Downward Spiral powerfully evokes images of both aggressive and depressive states, and many people find it unlistenable. Others consider it to be Trent Reznor's finest work (although Reznor himself denies this). Critics have stated that this album demonstrates Reznor's underlying pop music sensibility, and credit his ability to blend it with typically taboo themes (as seen in the catchy "Closer"). Other critics have cited a "calculated nihilism" as the album's main weakness. Reznor has publicly stated that he has suffered from depression, and has been reported as suffering from bipolar disorder. The album's concept is based on a character trying to rid himself of what is holding him back, such as religion and society, and using sex to escape himself. The character eventually has to face his internal void. The album reaches a climax in the title track, followed by "Hurt", which acts as an epilogue of a sorts.

The Downward Spiral produced a remix album entitled Further Down the Spiral.

"Hurt" has been covered by Johnny Cash, the video for which was directed by Mark Romanek.

The Downward Spiral was recorded at Le Pig in Beverly Hills, California, a studio space located in the house where Sharon Tate was murdered by members of the Manson Family. Reznor has made conflicting statements regarding whether he knew of the house's history before choosing to record there.

In 2001 Q magazine named The Downward Spiral as one of the 50 Heaviest Albums Of All Time.

Contents

1 SACD/DVD-Audio versions 1.1 SACD version 1.2 DualDisc version 1.2.1 CD side 1.2.2 DVD side 1.2.2.1 DVD-Audio players only 1.2.2.2 Any DVD player 2 Track Listing 2.1 Original version 2.2 SACD version 3 Personnel 4 Chart positions 4.1 Album 4.2 Singles 5 External links

SACD/DVD-Audio versions

On November 23, 2004, The Downward Spiral was released on hybrid SACD and DualDisc (DVD-A on one side and CD on the reverse).

SACD version

The SACD verion contains two discs. The first disc has the album in SACD surround, SACD stereo, and CD (playable on CD players). The second has bonus tracks (listed above) in SACD stereo and CD.

It is labeled "halo eight DE" for deluxe edition.

DualDisc version

CD side

Contains the album tracks in stereo and is playable on CD players.

DVD side

DVD-Audio players only

• Surround and stereo mixes of the album tracks (both 48Khz 24 bit)

Any DVD player

• Dolby Digital surround and stereo of the album tracks playable in normal DVD players (this doesn't show up in DVD-A players unless you set it to play the disc as a DVD-Video Disc)
• Picture gallery (plays with the music in DVD-A players, viewable in the menu separately on regular DVD players)
• Music Videos
  • Closer (available in Dolby Digital surround and stereo audio)
  • March of the Pigs (stereo)
  • Hurt (stereo)
• Discography, including selected bits of music from each album (starting with Broken) that run about a minute each

It is labeled "halo eight DVD-A"

Track Listing

Original version

1. "Mr Self Destruct" - 4:30
2. "Piggy" - 4:24
3. "Heresy" - 3:54
4. "March of the Pigs" - 2:58
5. "Closer" - 6:13
6. "Ruiner" - 4:58
7. "The Becoming" - 5:31
8. "I Do Not Want This" - 5:41
9. "Big Man With a Gun" - 1:36
10. "A Warm Place" - 3:22
11. "Eraser" - 4:54
12. "Reptile" - 6:51
13. "The Downward Spiral" - 3:57
14. "Hurt" - 6:13

The Japanese version has an extra track, "Dead Souls," that fits in between "Big Man With a Gun" and "A Warm Place."

SACD version

(disc 1)

• identical to the original version

(disc 2)

1. "Burn" - 5:00
2. "Closer (precursor)" (remixed by Coil, Danny Hyde) - 7:16
3. "Piggy (nothing can stop me now)" (remixed by Rick Rubin) - 4:03
4. "A Violet Fluid" - 1:04
5. "Dead Souls" - 4:53
6. "Hurt (quiet)" (remixed by Trent Reznor) - 5:08
7. "Closer to God" (remixed by Reznor, Sean Beavan, Brian Pollack) - 5:06
8. "All the Pigs, All Lined Up" - 7:26
9. "Memorabilia" - 7:22
10. "The Downward Spiral (the bottom)" (remixed by John Balance, Peter Christopherson, Drew McDowall, Hyde) - 7:32
11. "Ruiner (demo)" - 4:51
12. "Liar (reptile demo)" - 6:57
13. "Heresy (demo)" - 4:00

Personnel

• John Aguo - Engineer
• Tom Baker - Mastering
• Sean Beavan - Mixing
• Adrian Belew - Ring mod & texture generating guitars
• Flood - Producer
• Bill Kennedy - Mixing
• Andy Kubiszewski - Drums
• Tommy Lee - Steakhouse
• Danny Lohner - Guitar
• Alan Moulder - Mixing
• Stephen Perkins - Drums
• Brian Pollack - Engineer
• Trent Reznor - Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Arranger, Producer
• Chris Vrenna - Drums, Programming, Sampling

Chart positions

Album

1994   The Downward Spiral    The Billboard 200                    No. 2
1995   The Downward Spiral    The Billboard 200                    No. 2
1996   The Downward Spiral    The Billboard 200                    No. 2

Singles

1994   Closer                 The Billboard Hot 100                No. 41
1994   March Of The Pigs      The Billboard Hot 100                No. 59
1994   Closer                 Mainstream Rock Tracks               No. 35
1994   Closer                 Modern Rock Tracks                   No. 11
1994   Closer To God          Hot Dance Music/Club Play            No. 29
1994   Closer To God          Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales   No. 29

External links

• A Dissertation on The Downward Spiral (http://www.sickamongthepure.com/files/2002/02/TDS/TDS.html)
• The Downward Spiral 10th Anniversary Edition website (http://tds.nin.com)
• Halo 8 Lyrics (http://www.rexer.com/nin/halo08.html)

Nine Inch Nails Halos
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