Sound: Destructive, angry, tense and paranoid. Power drill riffs, pummeling beats and distorted digital freakouts create the prerequisite, futuristic chaos you expect from Trent Reznor. And, of course, there are always a few eerie calms that provide a break from the onslaught.
Lyrics: He captures the fear and anger of the violent and unstable world we live in. By going outside of his usual examinations of internal turmoil, he resonates with wider-reaching, fresher and more urgent themes than he tackled on 2005’s With Teeth. But he can fall into some comfortable clichés that feel lazy.
Heavy Rotation tracks: “The Good Soldier”; “Capital G”
Medium Rotation tracks: “Vessel”; “Survivalism”; “Meet Your Master”; “The Warning”; “Zero Sum”
Recommended: Year Zero is surprisingly song-oriented for an album that’s so reliant on machine-made electronics and intentionally jarring production. It’s missing the standout hits of the first two Nine Inch Nails LPs, but is impressively consistent in reflecting a bleak, on-the-brink vibe.
Grade: A- (Top 20 Albums of 2007 Candidate)

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