It sounds like Reznor working in the studio like no one is watching, shouting to himself, punching random synthesizers. It’s an artist free of any unnecessary expectations. In that way it’s very reminiscent The Fragile, perhaps the most creative body of work by the project.
It asks more questions and takes more risks than any welcome back should. It’s not a postcard of a legendary past, its a battlecry for something truly epic to come.
The fairly impenetrable wall of sound Nine Inch Nails created here is admirable, especially since everything is presented in just over 21 minutes.
In five tracks and just over 20 minutes, Not The Actual Events manages to build on Nine Inch Nails' past while stepping resolutely into their future.
Not The Actual Events is everything we would expect from Reznor and Ross, offering textures we’ve never visited and contexts with conscience.
Nine Inch Nails brings industrial rock back with a vengeance with this new EP.
Even with its moments of flawed excess, Not The Actual Events is so full of new ideas compared to the relatively “this again?” nature of Hesitation Marks or The Slip that it deserves its place in the NIN catalog.
Better than 2013’s Hesitation Marks I think, mostly ‘cuz it’s shorter.
Nine Inch Nails’ surprise-release new EP Not the Actual Events is slight, but at moments it delivers the kind of visceral fury that NIN hasn’t recreated since its mid-’90s Downward Spiral heyday.
Rather than offering a bold new step in Reznor's long, winding career, Not the Actual Events feels more like tentative first steps towards something bigger.
The burst of primal aggression is welcome (especially in today's political climate), but this EP is too meandering and amorphous to hit as hard as the band’s best stuff.
No matter how urgent its creators’ intent, no matter how explosive its highlights, Not the Actual Events stands, alas, as a pyre dependent on the kindling of nostalgia, as opposed to innovation.
She's Gone Away performed at the Roadhouse really revitalized my interest and made me appreciate this record more.
Kinda average for NIN, which is still decent.
Standout: She’s gone away
Favs: Burning bright
Least fav: Dear World
Honestly, this was pretty damn boring. Trent tried to bring back the old school NIN vibe and didn't succeed.
Fun, short EP. The wall of noise on some tracks overwhelmed me on my first listen, but once I got into it, the EP is pretty fun. I really like, that they broke with the sound of "Hesitation Marks".
-
Nette, kurze EP. Die Geräuschkulisse auf manchen Liedern hat mich beim ersten Hören etwas überwältigt, doch it der Zeit habe ich echt gefallen an "Not the Actual Events" gefunden.
-
Tracks ranked:
1. The Idea of You
2. Branches / Bones
3. She's Gone Away
4. ... read more
Rounding things off with my final "Normal" Nine Inch Nails album/ep journey before the ghosts albums, we have Not The Actual Events, the first part of this strange little trilogy, which I've listened to in the reverse order for... some reason. But who cares, because we got an ep to review! So, let's get to it and see how this one sounds! I've really liked the other two parts, so let's see if it started out strong.
Branches / Bones starts off the album with a bang, and is EXTREMELY ... read more
1 | Branches / Bones 1:46 | 92 |
2 | Dear World, 4:06 | 85 |
3 | She’s Gone Away 5:59 | 91 |
4 | The Idea of You 3:27 | 88 |
5 | Burning Bright (Field on Fire) 5:49 | 92 |
#15 | / | Treble |