A disturbing journey - A review of Nine Inch Nails' Ghosts I

It's rather surprising that a band as unconventional, experimental and courageous as Nine Inch Nails was ever able to achieve mainstream success but the unique band around controversial art director, performer and producer Trent Reznor somehow managed to make the improbable possible. The band from Cleveland, Ohio that has been around for more than three decades now has released two brand new records today to motivate people throughout the terrible Coronavirus Pandemic. These records are entitled Ghosts V and Ghosts VI and it only makes sense to listen to the first four parts as well to grasp the bigger picture.

The first part was released twelve years ago and recorded thirteen years ago. It consists of nine nameless songs revolving around the three-minute mark. The songs are entirely instrumental except for some incomprehensible vocal fragments in the eighth track. The material is vaguely described as dark ambient. Some songs focus on fragile, melancholic and slow piano sounds as the opening and closing tracks that come full circle. Other tracks are much uneasier such as the fourth tune with its heavily distorted guitar sounds and the even less accessible eight tune that flirts with the noise genre as the instrumental sounds blur into one another. There are obviously quite a few experimental tunes such as the third one that works with tribal drums, simple electronic beats and domineering bass lines and might surprisingly still be the most accessible tune despite its unusual style because it has at least a hint of conventional concept, rhythm and structure.

To conclude, the first part of Nine Inch Nails' Ghost series isn't easy to digest. It's very diversified, experimental and unconventional. Distorted noise sounds meet industrial rock patterns and uneasy ambient tones. In its radical execution, the album makes me think of releases by Lou Reed throughout the seventies. If you have an open mind for radical electronic and rock music, put your headphones on, close all the lights in your room and go on a most disturbing journey. Despite being overtly complicated, meandering and radical, this release has unique atmosphere, fascinating entertaining values and is obviously absolutely unique and unlike anything you have ever heard before.

Final rating: 65%