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The Downward Spiral (halo) (view source)
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[[Image:The_Downward_Spiral_Deluxe_Edition.jpg|thumb|10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (Halo 8 DE) with slipcover]]
'''''The Downward Spiral''''' (also known as '''''[[Halo numbers|Halo 8]]''''') is [[Nine Inch Nails]]' second studio album, though it is largely considered the third major release after the ''[[Broken]]'' EP, which consisted of entirely new material. It was released on March 8, 1994. It is likely the most acclaimed and well-known of the band's discography, and is said to have brought "industrial" music to the mainstream. A collection featuring remixes from ''The Downward Spiral'' was released as ''[[Further Down The Spiral]]'' on June 1, 1995.
==Track List==
<blockquote>"...it was during that tour ([[Self Destruct Tour|Self Destruct]]) that problems started to arise. Prior to that I would have considered myself pretty normal. With the Downward Spiral, I can remember where I was in my head, what I was thinking, and I can remember writing that record, and the mindset. This record that was about an extension of me, became the truth fulfilling itself.</blockquote>
Most fans seem to agree that "Closer" (noted for its "I want to fuck you like an animal" lyric) has meaning deeper than its surface lyrics (note the desperate dependency expressed by the final line, "you are the reason I stay alive"). The narrator was not exactly modeled after [[Trent Reznor]]'s previous life, though he would later go through his own sort of "downward spiral" during the Fragility tour, battling issues such as drug abuse.
==="A dissertation on The Downward Spiral"===
* "Mr. Self Destruct" begins with a sample from the 1971 film ''THX 1138.'' It is taken from a scene in which a man is being beaten by a guard depicted on a holographic television. [http://www.discogs.com/release/4404]
* The frantic drumming at the end of "Piggy" played by Reznor himself—his first and only attempt at live drumming on a record, and one of the few "live" drum performances on the album, ([[Stephen Perkins]] on "I Do Not Want This," [[Andy Kubiszewski]] on "The Downward Spiral" and [[Chris Vrenna]] on "Hurt"). He states that it was from him testing the mic setup in studio, but he liked the sound too much to not include it. [http://www.9inchnails.com/articles/articles.php?id=6]
* "Closer" uses a heavily modified sample of a kick drum from the song "[[Nightclubbing]]" from ''The Idiot'' album by Iggy Pop. [http://www.9inchnails.com/articles/articles.php?id=6]
* "A Warm Place" is based on the melody from [[David Bowie]]'s 1980 single "Crystal Japan." Some hear it as a complete rip-off, while others argue that from a music theory point of view that the structure has significant differences.
*The looping female voice that appears on "Reptile" (approx. 5:06) is from the 1974 film ''The Texas Chain Saw Massacre''. The strange mechanical sound before the drums start can be found in the movie ''Leviathan'' and the other sounds during all the song are found in ''Aliens'' (the escape in the vessel).
''For more information, see [[Self Destruct Touring Cycle]]''
The album was supported by a major tour that lasted nearly two years. It circled North America a few times and also visited Europe and Australia. The shows were very intense and included well-programmed lighting and very aggressive performances, with many instruments being mangled in the process. The A co-headlining leg with David Bowie, referred to as the [[Dissonance]] leg of the tour was co-headlining with David Bowie , took place in 1995. The tour culminated with a few club dates showcasing artists that were on [[Nothing Records]]. Portions of the tour were documented and released as part one of the ''Closure'' double VHS in 1997.
==Live==
*[http://tds.nin.com/index2.html tds.nin.com]
*[http://www.russellmills.com/mills/installations/committere.html Russell Mills on the inspiration behind the artwork for the album]
*[http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep12/articles/classic-tracks-0912.htm ''Sound On Sound '' article about ''The Downward Spiral'' the album and "Closer"]
*[http://www.nincatalog.com/index.asp?halo=8 ''The Downward Spiral'' at nincatalog.com]
*[http://www.nincollector.com/archive/releases/halo_08/halo08.htm ''The Downward Spiral'' at nincollector.com]