Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral
Critic Score
Based on 6 reviews
1994 Ratings: #91 / 395
User Score
1994 Ratings: #5
Liked by 436 people
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CRITIC REVIEWS

100
AllMusic

The Downward Spiral positioned Trent Reznor as industrial's own Phil Spector, painting detailed, layered soundscapes from a wide tonal palette.

100
Sputnikmusic

Although The Downward Spiral is splenetic and furious, everyone can identify with it on some level. We may not like to admit it, but the way in which we propelled this album into the upper echelons of popular culture speaks louder than our words.

83
Entertainment Weekly
On its second full-length album, Nine Inch Nails advances further along the path of radio-friendly aural terrorism.
40
NME
The scale here maybe more cinematic than previously, but Reznor still only has two speeds – menacing croon or demented howl.
BradTasteMusic
98

disgusting. vid coming soon

PipePanic
100

Perfection. Listen to it if you have even a vauge interest in hard rock.

EDIT: OK, maybe I should elaborate. It album is dark, ugly, dirty, brutal and disgusting, like a pig playing in mud and relishing everything that is found in the dirt. But while it does house heavy, disgusting and brutal instrumentation, it's true perfection lies in the lyrics. The album is a concept album about someone taking their own life, what lead up to that moment and how it effects the people around the main ... read more

surlace
100

If you're reading a review of The Downward Spiral, odds are, you already know what you are getting into in terms of it's concept. But just in case you don't, I need to preface this review...

TRIGGER WARNING. JUST SAYING.

When you debate, review, and listen to music from every era, you are going to turn up albums that everyone has said everything about. At points, you are going to run into an album that has been discussed to death, so much so that it's near impossible to find something new to ... read more

95

i ate the wrong mushrooms guys...

Ilia
100

Gross, terrible, disgusting, awful, sickening

BenParker
100

The complete manipulation and evisceration of a man through the machine of loneliness, hatred, nihilism and hopelessness. One of the most fucked up, abrasive and distressing sounding albums I've experienced.

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Track List

1Mr. Self Destruct
4:29
96
2Piggy
4:24
92
3Heresy
3:54
94
4March of the Pigs
2:58
95
5Closer
6:13
97
6Ruiner
4:58
94
7The Becoming
5:31
92
8I Do Not Want This
5:41
90
9Big Man with a Gun
1:36
88
10A Warm Place
3:22
91
11Eraser
4:54
93
12Reptile
6:51
93
13The Downward Spiral
3:57
91
14Hurt
6:13
97
Total Length: 1 hour, 5 minutes

Year End Lists

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Added on: October 13, 2012