Not the Actual Events

Nine Inch Nails - Not the Actual Events
Critic Score
Based on 15 reviews
User Score
Based on 371 ratings
2016 Rank: #219
Liked by 57 people
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CRITIC REVIEWS

80
Drowned in Sound

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.

80
DIY

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.

80
Sputnikmusic

The fairly impenetrable wall of sound Nine Inch Nails created here is admirable, especially since everything is presented in just over 21 minutes.

80
The Line of Best Fit

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. 

80
Alternative Press

Not The Actual Events is everything we would expect from Reznor and Ross, offering textures we’ve never visited and contexts with conscience.

80
The Needle Drop

Nine Inch Nails brings industrial rock back with a vengeance with this new EP.

67
A.V. Club

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.

67
Pretty Much Amazing

Better than 2013’s Hesitation Marks I think, mostly ‘cuz it’s shorter.

63
Pitchfork

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.

60
Exclaim!

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.

60
NOW Magazine

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.

50
Consequence of Sound

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.

Z.Younk
81

She's Gone Away performed at the Roadhouse really revitalized my interest and made me appreciate this record more.

Houdanny
63

Kinda average for NIN, which is still decent.

Standout: She’s gone away
Favs: Burning bright
Least fav: Dear World

opinionofnobody
75

She's Gone Away is still one of their best tracks of recent times

Nar_Mattaru27
60

Honestly, this was pretty damn boring. Trent tried to bring back the old school NIN vibe and didn't succeed.

SandpitTurtle
80

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".
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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.
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Tracks ranked:
1. The Idea of You
2. Branches / Bones
3. She's Gone Away
4. ... read more

Arcilis
95

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

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Year End Lists

#15/Treble
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Added on: December 16, 2016