Changes

| versions = Eraser<br>Eraser (Instrumental)<br>Eraser (Denial; Realization)<br>Eraser (Polite)<br>Erased, Over, Out<br>Eraser (InstrumentalDissonance)<br>Eraser (''[[Beside You In Time (halo)|Beside You In Time]]'')

}} '''"Eraser"''' is the eleventh track on the 1994 release ''[[The Downward Spiral (halo)|The Downward Spiral]].'' It consists of an instrumental ostinato that builds up from the odd sounds of humming and "erasers" at the beginning through heavy rhythmic drumming and very oddly tuned, distorted guitars before dropping out to the vocal area which gets progressively louder as [[Trent Reznor]] yells "Kill Me!" until it completely degenerates into noise and cuts off with a high tone. It starts in a 6/4 time signature before becoming 4/4 as Reznor's vocals increase in volume.

This is the original album version. It consists of a 6/4 instrumental ostinato that builds up from the odd sounds of humming and "erasers" at the beginning through heavy rhythmic drumming and very oddly tuned, distorted guitars before dropping out to the 4/4 vocal area, which gets progressively louder until [[Trent Reznor]] yells "Kill Me!" It then completely degenerates into noise and cuts off with only the fading out of the string synthesizer. The beginning crossfades from the end of "[[A Warm Place]]" and its ending crossfades with the introduction of "[[Reptile]]." ===Eraser (Instrumental)===Released by Reznor via his remix.nin.com account, this version is identical to the album version, save the lack of vocals and transitions to other songs.

This remix is very soothing yet still retains the darkness of the original. The first eight lines of the lyrics are repeated three times in the entire piece. The , but the lyric "fuck you" is the seventh line rather than the fifth.====Song Credits====Remixed by Danny Hyde, Drew McDowall, John Balance, Peter Christopherson

This remix consists of the lyric "erase me" slowed down and repeated eight times in the entire piece, surrounded by piercing and mechanical synthesizer and sample manipulations.====Song Credits====Remixed by Danny Hyde, Drew McDowall, John Balance, Peter Christopherson

===Eraser (InstrumentalDissonance)===This version of "Eraser" was only played during the [[Dissonance tour]]Tour. Beginning with a new drum beat loop and the humming/straw sounds, it builds with the same guitar parts as the album version. The atmosphere builds until approximately the middle of the song, where the lead guitar switches from the main melody and into a version of the "[[The Downward Spiral (song)|The Downward Spiral]]"-motif, which builds in volume into a distorted, start/stop climax and a final power chord left ringing. The variation of the motif found here is much shorter and played as follows, with variations that bend the notes similar to the song's regular guitar melody:

A music video directed by [[Simon Maxwell]] was included on ''Closure.'' It's a live performance filmed in early 1995. A screen is dropped down in front of the stage as footage of the Devil's Tower in Wyoming and other locations is shown as the song builds. The band is seen behind the screen, starting with guitarist [[Robin Finck]] sitting near the drum risers and Reznor playing guitar at the center of the stage. The light focuses more on him as the vocals begin. By the time it gets to the screaming finale, the footage consists of nuclear explosions, with the detonations timed with the song itself.The live video sequence continues as an actual performance into "[[Hurt]]" and "[[Wish (song)|Wish]]."

Often played with screen projections of some sort. During the [[Self-Destruct Tour|Self Destruct]] tours, these projections were of desert landscapes and microscopic "chaos". During the [[Live: With Teeth]] tours, these screens progressed from peaceful images of lush meadows and flowers to violent and disturbing images of war. During the European leg of the [[Performance 2007]] tour, no projection has been used during the performance. However, small lamps would float directly above each band member and sway back and forth.