Nine Inch Nails -- The Day The World Went Away -- 1999

Trent Is Dead. Long Live Trent. Yes, that's right, the man who brought us Marilyn Manson and spawned a top 40 hit with the hook line "I want to fuck you like an animal" has returned and is in fine form. This lead single from the highly anticipated album "The Fragile" will come as a shock to the hordes of black clad, carbon copy industrial heads that are expecting another demonic blast of anger akin to 1994 album 'The Downward Spiral". Drop any concepts of electro-terrorism, for Trent has gone almost minimal with 'the day...".
Split between an aggressive, throbbing guitar line which cuts through the opening of the song like a scalpel and deathly quiet ambience and vocals, this song will alienate allot of people, but at the same time shows a producer fully aware that he is slamming off into uncharted territory. The same thing applies to the "quiet" version of the song, where Trent keeps loses the guitars but keeps the catchy "Na Na Na" outro and pumps up the deathly chilling vibes. It's only on the b-side "Starfuckers inc." that Trent loses the plot slightly. A vitriolic diatribe about the groupies and hangers on that populate Celebrity life is let down by some sub-KMFDM programming but does redeem itself somewhat with a lyrical nod to Carly Simon (You're So Vain anyone?). Vinyl fanatics are recommended to pick up the 12" as well for a remix of the single by German techno boffins Porter Ricks that drops Trent into a digital sandstorm with only pulsing sub bass as a guide home.