The Great Destroyer
The Great Destroyer: modwheelmood
"The Great Destroyer" is the thirteenth track on the 2007 release Year Zero.
Contents
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
Versions
The Great Destroyer
This is the original album version. Consisting of two distinct but interrelated sections, the song begins with a drum loop similar in structure to that of "Every Day Is Exactly The Same." A simple guitar riff, panned right, and Reznor's vocals enter after four measures, playing the first verse. A loud synthesizer rings in the chorus, played with the same instrumentation but with different chords. The second verse features an additional e-bow guitar line in the left channel which drops out for the second chorus, after which the climax is reached when the title is sung in a multi-layered vocal harmony. It quickly builds in intensity and leads into the second section, which features much louder beat loops that were heard earlier underneath the verses and choruses as they are manipulated, crunched, and destroyed. By the end of this coda, its beats have been so mashed that the decaying delay effect sounds nothing like anything else in the song. The opening noise layers of "Another Version Of The Truth" quietly fade in underneath.
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)
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