Nine Inch Nails’ new album, "With Teeth," will be coming out in May (their first in 6 years), and on Thursday they posted a video for their first single, "The Hand That Feeds," on their website. Not sure if it’s headed for MTV–it’s really just Trent and the boys performing in a recording studio, apparently filmed in one take. The video kind of mimics the touching 1994 "March of the Pigs" spot, minus the fishnets and awkward moshing. The song isn’t breathtaking but it’s growing on me. Glen pointed out that they stole the guitar riff from the Kinks’ "You Really Got Me."
(If you’re into synth porn, go here.)
Reznor famously recorded "The Downward Spiral" in the house where Sharon Tate was murdered, for either inspiration or promotional effect. One wonders what kind of setup he’s using now to arouse and focus the pain he and his music are known for. If you poke around on the website you’ll find photos from inside the studios during production of "With Teeth."
First you’ll find this one. Hmmmm. Looks very clean and hi-tech. They’ve even got one of those gorgeous 30-inch Apple Cinema Displays. Not too shabby. Where’s the inspiration there? Aha. Don’t miss the various wires coming out of suspicious-looking equipment. Those attach to the scrotum. It induces great pain and thus translates to more cleaving, emotional work. Here you can see them in use. Look at that scowl on Trent’s face! He hates scrotum-pain so much!!!
There are several things to notice about this one. First is the hellish felinesque creature praying on the monitor (which is clearly labeled "BAT DRIVE?") No comment on that.
Second, you’ll see Trent’s Lite-Brite work in progress on the machine in the foreground. Here is where he plots his darkest visions, allowing the circuitry to translate them into haunting soundscapes (as displayed on "BAT DRIVE?" to the right.)
Third, there is the whiteboard in the background. This is where the NIN team brainstorm and lay out their FLOW CHARTS OF PAIIIIIIN. How will the clenching misery of this guitar track feed into the soul-scathing drum loops on song 2? Where should we place the cursed settee of the damned we purchased with that harrowing Victorian lamp over there? Who will bring donuts to the next meeting?
Next picture. Grandpa? What the fuck are you doing there? What a BADASS!!!
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