If anyone had told me a few years ago that I would be listening to a new Nine Inch Nails album, I would have laughed at them, although how wrong would I be?
We last saw Nine Inch Nails release new material in 2008 with Ghosts I-IV and The Slip. Then a year later Nine Inch Nails broke up with Trent Reznor saying that it was “time to make NIN disappear for a while”. There was no time given for when Nine Inch Nails would be reborn, but it sounded like someday they could.
Since then Reznor has been busy with numerous projects, appearing on the Sound City soundtrack alongside Dave Grohl and Josh Homme “Mantra”, and then appearing on Queen of the Stone Age’s latest album …Like Clockwork. In 2012 Reznor began writing new material with “NIN in mind”and now a year later we have Hesitation Marks.
The new album returns to a “traditional” sound of Nine Inch Nails, however it does lack some of the guitar-worship that was seen on previous Nine Inch Nails albums — here I’m thinking of With Teeth; the entirety of Hesitation Marks sounds more pop than anything Reznor has released so far.
I do actually like a few tunes from this album. “Copy of A” is a definite pick for me with its ambient-pop sounds, “Everything” is another favorite featuring some of the aforementioned guitar-worship from the past, “Running” is another highlight with its almost tribal-like percussion to it.There’s actually a lot to like on Hesitation Marks, especially if you’re like me and this is your first real taste of NIN.
However, I can’t help but feel that the album is lacking something, but I just can’t figure out what that “something” is. I’m happy that Nine Inch Nails are back where they belong and that they are making music again. While I’m sure Reznor already has ideas bubbling in his head for future releases, I just hope these future releases are less pop-oriented and darker. This is a good album for the die-hard fans to quench their thirst for NIN, but I feel that — in the long run — Reznor needs to add more guitar.
RATING: 3.5 / 5