The Great Destroyer

Album:Year Zero

Length:3:17

Tempo:{{{BPM}}} BPM

Versions:The Great Destroyer
The Great Destroyer: modwheelmood

Live:Performance 2007 through Present

"The Great Destroyer" is the thirteenth track on the 2007 release Year Zero.

Theories

This could be a song from the perspective of the character known as the Angry Sniper, or also a song about the Red Horse virus referred to in the "hidden" lyrics. It could also state the thought process of somebody who is secretly rebelling against the government in Year Zero.

Appearances

Halos

• Year Zero
• Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D

Versions

The Great Destroyer

This is the original album version.

The Great Destroyer: modwheelmood

This remix by modwheelmood appears on Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D. It begins with the vocals sung over an acoustic guitar before bass and drums join in as the first verse is repeated. As the chorus comes in, a synth beat and melody play under echoing vocals, singing a melody different than what's in the original version. Layers of sound are gradually added in the second verse, creating an ominous sound and tone to the song.

modwheelmood was interviewed by The NIN Hotline on March 1, 2008. Band member Alessandro Cortini said the following about the remix of "The Great Destroyer":

"Trent {Reznor} asked me to pick a song off Year Zero and to give it a try while we were on tour in Europe. 'The Great Destroyer' is probably my favorite song off YZ, so I borrowed a bass and an acoustic guitar from Aaron and reconstructed the song in my hotel room in Amsterdam. I also used my Buchla 200e music box, which I love to death. I think I added a couple of tracks when I got back home, then mixed it and sent it in. To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that TR liked it. I thought he would hate it since I changed the melody and chords around…" interview link

Song Credits

• Remix by modwheelmood

Live

"The Great Destroyer" made its live debut on August 1, 2007 in Moscow, Russia during the Performance 2007 tour. More recent performances have included samples from "Happiness In Slavery" in the breakdown.

Lyrics

    Say your name
    Try to speak as clearly as you can
    You know everything gets written down
    Nod your head
    Just in case they could be watching
    With their shiny satellites
    
    I hope they cannot see
    The limitless potential
    Living inside of me
    To murder everything
    I hope they cannot see
    I am the Great Destroyer
    
    Turn it up
    Listen to the shit they pump into
    Your head
    Filling you with apathy
    Hold your breath
    Wait until you know the time is right
    On time
    The end is near
    
    I hope they cannot see
    The limitless potential
    Living inside of me
    To murder everything
    I hope they cannot see
    I am the Great Destroyer

The following phrase can be heard as plain speech at 2:24 when the song's left and right stereo channels are combined into a single mono channel:

         Red Horse Vector

External Links

• "The Great Destroyer" (live from Stockholm)

Previous track - "The Greater Good" Track 13 from Year Zero Next track - "Another Version of the Truth (song)"