
Thirty years after its release, Nine Inch Nails’ second LP is a crushing concept album about self-destruction and total loss of control. Reznor augmented the synth-heavy industrial rock of Pretty Hate Machine with quieter, personal songs channeling his anguish into discomforting beauty. Over 14 tracks, gorgeous melodies collide with near-violent soundscapes in what Rolling Stone called “a harrowing, deeply affecting story of one man’s descent into his own abject soul.” The Downward Spiral turned Reznor into an unlikely, reluctant rock superstar who would record some of the genre’s most influential and powerful albums. But for sheer emotion, this is the magnum opus. This limited edition 2LP features a gatefold jacket, printed sleeves, 180G black vinyl, limited edition lithograph insert, and a 12-page vinyl booklet.