Nine Inch Nails have been teasing us over the past few weeks about the release of their brand new EP, Add Violence. Well finally this morning it has landed, and boy is this one for the hardcore Nine Inch Nails fans out there.
Add Violence certainly is not the kind of record that will see newcomers warm to the band on their first listen. In fact, I get the feeling that this is the kind of album that will take a few listens to morph itself into my psyche.
Opening track “Less Then” is a throwback to the NIN sounds of old with a pushing electronic rhythm that seems set to explode while Trent Reznor throws in some snarly, to-the-point vocals to ram the song home. From there, however, the EP takes a turn to the deep, dark alternative side of things. The slowed down “The Lovers” sounds like it has been written for a soundtrack and it is made even more haunting by the out-there whispers throughout the track. That soundtrack ‘feel’ also consumes “This Isn’t The Place”, which is keyboard heavy with a sample of what feels like a dying piano in the background.
My favourite song from the EP though is “Not Anymore” which stands out with its screaming electronic tempo and a warped sound that from any other band would seem like a remix. Add Violence then closes with the drawn out “The Background World”, which ultimately just becomes heavily distorted electronic.
For fans of Nine Inch Nails, this album will be considered an experimental piece of art, but for those that not aware of the alternative nature of the band, this may all be a little too confusing. Still, it’s great to see Reznor and Atticus Ross still being some creative and edgy after all these years.
